Leave it to a former professional chef to bridge the gap between New California minimal-intervention winemaking and unapologetic old school classical. Pietro Buttitta’s Prima Materia winery grows 10 acres of estate fruit at 1,500’ elevation in between the Mayacamas mountain range and the Mt. Konocti volcano in Lake County without herbicides or pesticides. His wines are very limited gems born of careful winemaking and grape growing, spontaneously fermented, unfined, unfiltered, and super precise with an almost French sensibility. Crafted only in small quantities these bottlings are very limited.
Prima Materia, Zinfandel, Kelsey Bench, Lake County NV - Estate bottled Lake County, Ca. (12/750ml)
Perfect for wine club offerings or BTG programs
Case 1 — $192.00
Case 2 — $168.00
BTG on 3 cases — $152.00
Pietro wanted this to echo old school California field blends with a bit of delicacy and restraint while blending in small amounts of Petite Sirah and Aglianico for earthy complexity.
“The fruit—wild blackberry, black plum, boysenberry, pomegranate, cranberry, and cherry—is certainly juicy, but not at all in a cloying way; rather, it mirrors the delightful freshness of just-squeezed, unripe forest berries. Accents of damp moss, sage, tobacco smoke, freshly turned earth, and black pepper add savory layers of complexity to a Zinfandel that reminds us how good this variety can taste when it’s not masked by aggressive winemaking and excessive ripeness. Elegant and refreshing are two words I don’t usually use to describe California Zinfandel, but they were the first two that came to mind when I popped this savory bottle from Prima Materia.” - Ian Cauble, Master Sommelier
Prima Materia, Barbera, Kelsey Bench, Lake County 2019 (pre-release) - Estate bottled Lake County, Ca. (12/750ml)
A new vintage of an old favorite.
California Barbera is here to stay. Piemonte’s most planted grape works just as well in California, possibly better, with bright acidity, juicy fruit, and savory herbal nuances that make it extremely versatile with or without food. Comprised of three different clones harvested separately then combined after fermentation, guaranteeing delicate layers and nuances. Only 10 barrels made.
Case 1 — $250.00
Case 3 @ 5% — $237.50
Case 5 @ 10% — $225.00
(We have 6 cases of the 2018 vintage still in stock | 92 points – Wine Enthusiast)
Prima Materia, Sangiovese, Kelsey Bench, Lake County 2019 - Estate bottled Lake County, Ca.
Another new vintage of an old favorite. Pietro is obsessed with Sangiovese, and how California has screwed it up. He grows Brunello, Romagnolo and Prugnolo Gentile types in separate vineyard blocks, harvesting them separately over 20 days in 2019. Aged 22 months in neutral oak and with a small portion of whole cluster and dried stem inclusion, you have ample California fruit up front, and a positively Burgundian mid-palate leading to a long, complex finish. Only 9 barrels made.
Case 1 — $228.00
Case 3 @ 5% — $216.60
Case 5 @ 10% — $205.20
Case 2 (Must Retail at $24.99) — $200.00
BTG on 2 cases — $180.00
Prima Materia, Aglianico, Kelsey Bench, Lake County NV - Estate bottled Lake County, Ca. (A blend of 2017 and 2018 vintages)
Lake County’s altitude and volcanic soils are the perfect match for this challenging Southern Italian grape, and one of Prima Materia’s pinnacle bottlings. Aged 32 months in neutral Hungarian oak, and moved all by hand, this is a full bodied red that is also full of minerality and brawny complexity, even a bit Bordeaux-ish. 8 barrels made.
“Superconcentrated black-fruit flavors and a firm, grippy texture combine for a powerful expression of this Italian grape variety. Blackberries and boysenberries practically explode on the palate, while good, moderate tannins nicely balance out their fruitiness. Winemaker Pietro Buttitta blended it from the 2017 and 2018 vintages.” 92 points- Wine Enthusiast
Case 1 — $280.00
Case 3 @ 5% — $266.00
Case 5 @ 10% — $252.00



