Eleonora 2012
IGT Lazio rosso, Villa Caviciana, 12000 ml
| Grape variety: | Sangiovese, Merlot |
| Producer: | Villa Caviciana |
| Origin: | Italy / Lazio |
Description
A straightforward and honest wine where the spicy aromas of the Sangiovese (white pepper, cinnamon, and star anise) are accompanied by pomegranate, rose hip and apricot. A hint of rose scent and of herbs finalizes the complexity of the bouquet. The Eleonora is a pleasure for the senses with a lot of freshness and fruitiness, harmoniously balanced between acidity and agreeable supple tannins. At the International Bio Wine Prize 2016, it got 96 points!
Attributes
| Origin: | Italy / Lazio |
| Grape variety: | Sangiovese, Merlot |
| Label: | Vegan, Certified organic or biodynamic wine |
| Ripening potential: | 3 to 12 years after harvest |
| Drinking temperature: | 16 to 18 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Cold fish dish, dried meat, Saltimbocca, Orecchiette, Strozzapreti alla siciliana, Vegetable cous-cous, Pizza or Flammkuchen, Risotto with ceps |
| Vinification: | fermentation in steel tank |
| Harvest: | hand-picking |
| Maturation: | in steel tank |
| Bottling: | filtration |
| Maturation duration: | 12 months |
| Volume: | 13.5 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
Villa Caviciana
When, in the early morning, the sun slowly rises over the glittering mirror-smooth water of the Bolsena Lake, and the first blaring of the sheep, the quiet meowing of the domestic cat and the cheerful chirping of birds break the peaceful silence, then one understands that some people have found here their paradise on earth. Away from the big mass tourism of the coast, only an hour's drive away, in still largely intact nature, the lake spreads out in the charming hilly landscape, sometimes calm, sometimes foaming up, wild like the sea.
Before the Romans, Lazio was the land of the Etruscans. Time and again one comes across contemporary witnesses of that culture. The name Caviciana is derived from the ancient Etruscan name of the area where the vines grow today. The sphinx that adorns the name is a delicate Etruscan sculpture found in the surrounding caves. It stands for immortality.
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.
Sangiovese
Epitome of Tuscany
Chianti classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino nobile di Montepulciano: the Sangiovese is in each of the classic red wines from Tuscany. For a long time, it was assumed that its birthplace was here. After all, it appeared under various synonyms in Tuscan documents dating from 1600. But in 2004, researchers unveiled that one of its parents originated in Calabria in southern Italy. Today, it is the most planted variety in Italy. In addition to Tuscany, it fares well in Emilia-Romagna, Marche or Umbria. It is an exceptionally lovable wine: its aromas of cherry and plum, violets and spices are complemented by fresh acidity and a juicy texture. It wins people around both as cheerful, drinkable wines with pizza and pasta and as barrel-aged top class wines. Carried by Italian immigrants, it found its way to California and Argentina. However, it does not have the same reputation there.
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.
