Merlot Riserva Siebeneich 2018
DOC Südtirol, Cantina Colterenzio, 750 ml
| Grape variety: | Merlot |
| Producer: | Cantina Colterenzio |
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Other bottle sizes: | |
| Other vintages: |
Description
Lovely intense purplish red colour. Scents of liquorice, cinnamon, and black fruit marmalade. On palate the wine is smooth and dense with fine, captivating aromas of cherry and blackcurrant. The tannins are very fine-grained. Great young with the capacity to age.
Attributes
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Grape variety: | Merlot |
| Ripening potential: | 3 to 8 years |
| Drinking temperature: | 16 to 18 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Brasato di manzo al Barolo, Roast saddle of venison, Wild fowl, Hearty stew with pulses |
| Vinification: | long must fermentation, Pumping over, biological acid degradation in barrel |
| Maturation: | partly in barrique/ Pièces, partly in wooden barrel/foudre |
| Maturation duration: | 16 months |
| Volume: | 14.0 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
Cantina Colterenzio
The vineyards of the village of Schreckbichl, or Colterenzio in Italian, near Girlan are among the oldest vineyards in Europe. The origin lies in the Roman estate Cornelianum of a Roman named Cornelius. From this, almost 1000 years later, the present name Girlan or Coriano developed.
In 1960, 28 wineries and estates from Schreckbichl, Girlan and Frangart founded the Schreckbichl/Colterenzio Winery. Under the management of Luis Raifer, the cooperative developed into one of South Tyrol's flagship businesses. In 2010, his son Wolfgang took over the management of the cantina, which today has around 300 cooperative members.
Anyone who has ever visited the picturesque and hospitable South Tyrol knows that wine is inseparably linked to this magnificent landscape, to the culture and traditions of this land. The winegrowers, and Wolfgang Raifer in particular, feel obliged to preserve and cultivate all of this. Consequently, the cooperative members have to work according to strict prescribed guidelines and environmentally friendly methods of integrated viticulture. In all production steps, from cultivation to bottling, traditions have their place as well as the most modern techniques according to the latest findings: from the traditional pergola (a kind of pergola) to the modern new winery built in 2011 with a photovoltaic system to generate clean energy.
The enormous diversity of landscapes, microclimates and soil conditions of the Alto Adige offers optimal growing conditions for a large number of different grape varieties. Lagrein, which we present to you here, thrives best in the warm Bolzano valley basin on deep river sand scree soils. Pinot Bianco likes it cooler, at higher altitudes, on gravelly, partly very calcareous soils.
Try these two typical representatives of South Tyrol! The Cantina also offers a wide range of wines in three quality lines: the classic line (single-vineyard wines without wood ageing), the Praedium line (single-vineyard wines) and the Cornell line (barrique wines).
Merlot
Everybody’s darling
Merlot is the most charming member of the Bordeaux family. It shines with rich colour, fragrant fullness, velvety tannins and sweet, plummy fruit. It even makes itself easy for the vintner, as it matures without issue in cool years as well. This is in contrast to the stricter Cabernet Sauvignon, which it complements as a blending partner. Its good qualities have made the Merlot famous worldwide. At over 100,000 hectares, it is the most-planted grape in France. It also covers large areas in California, Italy, Australia and recently in Eastern Europe. The only catch is that pure Merlot varieties rarely turn out well. Its charm is often associated with a lack of substance. Only the best specimens improve with maturity. They then develop complex notes of leather and truffles. This succeeds in the top wines from the Bordeaux appellation of Pomerol and those from Ticino, among others.
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.
