Merlot Riserva Georg 2020
DOC Südtirol, Nicolussi-Leck, 750 ml
| Grape variety: | Merlot |
| Producer: | Weingut Nicolussi-Leck |
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Other vintages: |
Description
The Merlot Riserva «Georg» thrives at 350 m above sea level below the Leuchtenburg ruins on porphyry rock and moraine debris deposits on warm western slopes. This unique site with its deep soil makes it possible to produce a complex, powerful Merlot with very good storability. The Merlot from hand-picked grapes offers a complex bouquet on the nose, reminiscent of blueberry compote and white pepper as well as rose petals and Christmas spices. A hint of sweet vanilla and cherry tobacco resonates. On the palate, this South Tyrolean Merlot offers great drinking pleasure with its velvety, elegant characteristics and charming sweetness of fruit. Fine-grained tannin, precise fruit, fullness and harmony stand for this Riserva.
Attributes
| Origin: | Italy / Alto Adige / Alto Adige |
| Grape variety: | Merlot |
| Label: | Vegan |
| Ripening potential: | 2 to 10 years after harvest |
| Drinking temperature: | 16 to 18 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Cold fish dish, dried meat, Roast saddle of venison, Beef Stroganoff, Cheese board, Pizza or Flammkuchen, Vegetable flan, quiche |
| 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: | 12 months |
| Volume: | 14.0 % |
| 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.
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.
