Cabernet Franc Riserva 2019
DOC Südtirol, Nicolussi-Leck, 750 ml
| Grape variety: | Cabernet Franc |
| Producer: | Weingut Nicolussi-Leck |
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Other vintages: |
Description
The Cabernet Franc thrives at 400 m above sea level below the Leuchtenburg ruins on loamy porphyry rock and moraine debris deposits in a slight southern exposure. This unique location with its deep soil makes it possible to produce a very complex, powerful wine with a unique structure. In the nuanced, filigree nose, the Cabernet Franc presents itself peppery, spicy, dark berry and ripe cherry notes. On the palate, it is very typical of the variety, elegant and with a long-lasting, aromatic finish. The aroma of this Cabernet Franc is reminiscent of small forest berries as well as currants and fine woods. Its fine-grained tannins, balanced acidity, elegance and density make it a wine that wants to be discovered; a wine for special occasions.
Attributes
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Grape variety: | Cabernet Franc |
| Label: | Vegan |
| Ripening potential: | 2 to 10 years after harvest |
| Drinking temperature: | 16 to 18 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Cold fish dish, dried meat, Spiced grillades, Roast veal with morel sauce, Roasted lamb gigot, Crispy roast chicken, Cheese board |
| Vinification: | fully destemmed, fermentation in wooden barrel |
| Harvest: | hand-picking, strict selection, in small boxes |
| Maturation: | in partly new and used barriques/ Pièces |
| Maturation duration: | 18 months |
| Volume: | 13.5 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
Weingut Nicolussi-Leck
The Kreithof, as the ancestral estate is known, is located near the idyllic Lake Caldaro in South Tyrol (Alto Adige) and has been cultivated by the Nicolussi-Leck family since 1915. Standing guard over it are the medieval ruins of Leuchtenburg Castle, which – like the estate – dates back to the 13th century and was presumably also associated with nearby Laimburg Castle in the Etsch Valley.
Today, the winery is run by Jakob Nicolussi and his wife Stephanie with his parents’ support. Around 5 hectares lie between the lake and Leuchtenburg. There are east, south and west-facing slopes at about 350 metres above sea level, some with a gradient of up to 40% and warm, loamy soils and the porphyry rock of Mitterberg mountain. Each vineyard or plot of land has its own unique microclimate and soil composition that distinguish it from the others. This diversity was used to select the ideal location for each grape variety.
Cabernet Franc
Forefather of the Bordeaux varieties
The Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest varieties of Bordelais and a parent of three other red grapes in the Bordeaux assortment: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère. It is distinguished by its complex, flavourful bouquet of raspberry, graphite, violet, liquorice and white pepper. In addition, it presents round, crisp tannins which turn out less strongly than those of Cabernet Sauvignon. While the Cabernet Franc always appears as part of a blend in Bordeaux, it is pressed alone on the Loire. The most renowned appellations are Chinon and Bourgueil. Incidentally, the Cabernet originates not in Bordeaux but in the Spanish Basque Country. Cabernet owes its name to the Latin “carbon”, meaning black.
Alto Adige
Alto Adige: Alpenweine mit südlichem Charme
Am Alpenübergang gelegen verfügt das Südtirol über eine grosse Palette an Mirkroklimata und Bodentypen. Dies macht es möglich, dass hier über 20 verschiedene Sorten optimale Bedingungen vorfinden. Vernatsch, Lagrein und Gewürztraminer gelten als alteingesessene Südtiroler Gewächse, doch auch die Familie der Burgundergewächse finden hier ideale Bedingungen vor. In wichtigen Weinführern wie etwa dem «Gambero Rosso» erhält das Südtirol regelmässig die meisten Höchstbewertungen («Tre Bicchieri») im Verhältnis zur Rebfläche in ganz Italien.
Italy
Italy – Where wine is a way of life
The Italian wine regions are extremely diverse, and this is made clear in their wines. Established varieties such as Merlot, Syrah, and Sauvignon can be found on just 15 percent of the total vine growing area. The remaining 85 percent is reserved for autochthonous, indigenous varieties. More than 2,000 different grape varieties are grown under diverse conditions and pressed with various techniques into wines that reach the top tier of the international wine market.
