Castello di Morcote 2021
DOC Ticino, Castello di Morcote, 750 ml
| Grape variety: | Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Producer: | Tenuta Castello di Morcote |
| Origin: | Switzerland / Tessin / Sottoceneri |
Description
A Ticino Merlot with a lot of character, which will show its full complexity with a few years of maturity. The barrique ageing is clearly perceptible with noble wood notes. Floral aromas mingle with plum, blackberry and sour cherry. In the mouth, it is juicy, the tannins in its youth are crisp giving a slightly drying mouthfeel. We recommend decanting it when drunk young so that it can fully develop its aromatic diversity in the glass.
Attributes
| Origin: | Switzerland / Tessin / Sottoceneri |
| Grape variety: | Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Label: | Vegan, Certified organic or biodynamic wine |
| Ripening potential: | 3 to 10 years after harvest |
| Drinking temperature: | 16 to 18 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Fegato alla veneziana, Calf's kidneys with mustard sauce, Rabbit ragout with olives, Hearty stew with pulses, Mushroom ragout |
| Vinification: | fermentation in wooden barrel, Pumping over, fining |
| Maturation: | in partly new and used barriques/ Pièces, some months bottle storage before sale |
| Maturation duration: | 12 months |
| Volume: | 13.5 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
Tenuta Castello di Morcote
The vineyard of the Tenuta Castello di Morcote is widely held to be one of the most beautiful in Ticino. It lies some 200 metres above the picturesque village of Vico Morcote and offers a stunning view of the mountains and the Lago di Lugano. At the heart of this vineyard are the ruins of the Castello di Morcote.
It was in 1994 that the first vintage of the outstanding "Castello di Morcote" from Ticino came onto the market; with its 90% proportion of Merlot, it has since become a fixture of the Swiss wine scene. No less popular is the "Castello di Morcote Bianco", 90% of which is vinified from red Merlot grapes and 10% of Chardonnay.
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.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The backbone of Bordeaux
The Cabernet Sauvignon gives the Bordeaux its backbone, yielding deep violet wines with powerful tannins and endless ripening potential. It is the top dog in Médoc, and is placed in all five premier crus of Bordelais. When young, it often appears strict and unapproachable, but with advancing years, its tannins round off. It is wonderfully velvety, and yet always maintains its freshness. Typical flavours include cassis, graphite and cedar. Wherever Cabernet Sauvignon is found, Merlot is not far away. It complements the robust structure of Cabernet with softness, fruit and richness. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most-exported vine in the world. It delivers persuasive qualities in Italy as an ingredient of the Super Tuscan, or as the flagship variety from California. There, it is lovingly titled “Cab Sauv”. Meat fans should be aware that it fantastically accompanies a grilled entrecôte. The family tree of Cabernet Sauvignon is surprising: its parents are Cabernet Franc and the white Sauvignon blanc.
Tessin
Ticino: the Merlot Mecca of Switzerland
Ticino winegrowing is thought to date from Roman times, as early as 2000 years ago. But the foundation for today’s viticulture was laid just over 100 years ago, in 1907. It was then that the first Merlot vines were planted at Castelrotto in Malcantone. Since then, the variety has emerged triumphant here. Top selections matured in barriques more than measure up to those from Bordeaux’s Saint-Émilion or Pomerol regions.
Switzerland
Switzerland – A small country with enormous diversity
Switzerland is famous for its banks, watches, and cheese, but not necessarily for its wine. The Swiss didn't invent wine, but they have been extremely open and curious to it. Wine culture arrived in what is now modern Switzerland via several routes: from Marseilles to Lake Geneva and the Lower Valais region; from the Aosta Valley through the Great St. Bernard Pass to the rest of Valais; from the Rhone through Burgundy, across the Jura Mountains to Lake Constance; and from Lombardy to Ticino, and then on to Grisons.
