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Farnea

Il Pazzo 2019

Price: $35.95
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Tasting notes

This is Merlot with genuine soil character: the volcanic basalt of the Colli Euganei comes through as a savory, mineral spine that keeps the dark plum and violet fruit grounded. Whole-bunch fermentation for a full month adds freshness and a subtle spice that most Merlot at this price simply doesn't have.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Dark PlumVioletBlack PepperEarth
  • Style: Dry, medium-full bodied red; deep ruby; dark plum, violet, black pepper, earth; 13% ABV
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Merlot; biodynamic, hand-farmed; volcanic basalt and mineral-rich soils; south-facing hillside, Colli Euganei National Park, Villa di Teolo
  • Winemaking: Whole-bunch fermentation for approximately one month; aged nine months in large old barrels; no additions, no fining, no filtration, no added sulfites
  • Serving: Serve at 60-64F; 20-30 min decant recommended
  • Pairing: Braised rabbit, roasted duck, beef stew with polenta, aged Asiago or Montasio
  • Similar To: For fans of earthy, savory reds who want something beyond conventional Merlot; drinks closer to a structured Beaujolais or natural Cab Franc

Il Pazzo is 100% Merlot from a south-facing vineyard that Marco Buratti planted in the volcanic hills of the Colli Euganei National Park, near Villa di Teolo in Veneto. The grapes are fermented as whole bunches for approximately one month before being pressed into large old barrels, where the wine ages for nine months. Nothing is added at any stage: no fining, no filtration, no sulfites.

The name means "the crazy one" in Italian, and it is the darkest, deepest, and most savory wine in Marco's small lineup. The volcanic, mineral-rich soils and the south-facing exposure push concentration and structure, while the whole-bunch carbonic element keeps the wine fresh and the tannins approachable. Expect deep ruby, aromas of dark plum, violet, and black pepper, with an earthy, savory finish.

Production at Farnea is tiny, around 8,000 to 10,000 bottles across all wines per year. The cantina is a small room attached to Marco's house containing concrete and fiberglass vats, a handful of old barrels, and nothing else. What goes into the bottle is exclusively what the vineyard provides.

Il Pazzo is built for meat-centered meals: braised rabbit, roasted duck, or a Venetian-style beef stew with polenta. The savory, mineral finish also works well with aged hard cheeses like Asiago d'Allevo or Montasio. Avoid delicate dishes; this wine wants food with some weight to it.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Red Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Merlot
Farming:, Biodynamic
Vintage:, 2019
Alcohol:, 13%
Country:, Italy
Region:, Veneto
Appellation:, Veneto IGP
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Farnea

Marco Buratti grew up in Villa di Teolo in the Colli Euganei hills, near Padova, but spent years away before returning to farm. He studied enology without finishing his degree, then managed restaurants in Padova and later worked as a chef in New Zealand. He came back to the Colli Euganei after receiving an inheritance that allowed him to acquire and revive a small farm. His first vintage was 2007.

Azienda Agricola Farnea spans approximately 2.5 hectares of vines and 3 hectares of woodland within the Colli Euganei National Park. Marco works his vineyards entirely by hand, without chemical treatments, using only small amounts of copper and sulfur when necessary. He farms with biodynamic principles and keeps yields low through pre-pruning and careful canopy management. He has also acquired an additional hectare of vines in the nearby locality of Bettone, where he keeps pigs, chickens, and sheep.

The cellar at Farnea is a small room at the edge of Marco's house, containing concrete and fiberglass vats, old barrels, and basic tools. Fermentations are spontaneous with native yeasts. Nothing is added to the wines at any stage: no fining agents, no filtration, no added sulfites. Total production across all wines runs between 8,000 and 10,000 bottles per year.

Wine region

Veneto, Italy

The Colli Euganei, or Euganean Hills, rise abruptly from the flat Po Valley plain southwest of Padova in northeastern Veneto. These isolated volcanic hills reach up to roughly 400 meters above sea level and stand apart geologically from the surrounding flatlands. The soils are formed from the breakdown of basaltic volcanic rock, rich in minerals and trace elements, with pockets of limestone and clay. This volcanic origin gives the wines of the area a distinctive mineral and savory character not common elsewhere in Veneto.

The climate is near-Mediterranean: hot, dry summers with concentrated sunshine on the south-facing slopes, and mild, wetter winters. The day-to-night temperature swing on the hillsides preserves acidity and aromatic freshness in the grapes. The Colli Euganei DOC covers municipalities including Teolo, Arqua Petrarca, and Galzignano Terme in the province of Padua, and permits red wines from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and local varieties such as Raboso and Tai. The region's only DOCG is Fior d'Arancio, for Moscato Giallo-based wines. Producers working outside the DOC regulations, including natural wine estates like Farnea, typically bottle under the broader Veneto IGP.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

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