Chardonnay Lafoa 2020
DOC Südtirol, Cantina Colterenzio, 750 ml
| Grape variety: | Chardonnay |
| Producer: | Cantina Colterenzio |
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Other vintages: |
Description
Golden straw yellow hue. Nose marked by smokiness from oak ageing, that gives way to aromas of fine fruits, nuts and pear. Silky and concentrated on palate, the body is powerful and balanced, with a clean aromatic flavour profile featuring mango honey and almond. The long elegant finish shows the grand origins of this characteristics Chardonnay.
Attributes
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Grape variety: | Chardonnay |
| Ripening potential: | 2 to 8 years |
| Serving temperature: | 10 to 12 °C |
| Food pairing suggestion: | Grilled fish, Meat terrine, Crispy roast chicken |
| Maturation: | in tonneau |
| Maturation duration: | 24 months |
| Volume: | 13.5 % |
| 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).
Chardonnay
King or beggar?
Hardly any variety of vine shows such a broad spectrum of quality as the Chardonnay. Its wines range from faceless neutrality to breath-taking class. It is an extremely low-maintenance vine, which explains why it is grown around the world – even in places where it probably should not be. The aromas of the Chardonnay variety are not very pronounced: a bit of green apple, a little hazelnut; in warmer latitudes, also melon and exotic fruits. The wines are often defined by maturing in casks. They develop more or less subtle notes of butter, toasted bread and vanilla. The grapes achieve their highest expression in their region of origin, Burgundy. Its heart beats in the Côte de Beaune: one might think of the plant growth of Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet. With their finesse and complexity, they can survive for decades. Chardonnay also achieves first class in some Blanc-de-Blancs champagnes. It additionally yields great wines in the Burgundian Chablis, and increasingly in Australia and Chile. A simple rule of thumb for pairing with food: When butter and cream are involved, you cannot go wrong with Chardonnay.
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.
