THE VINEYARD

SOIL: In the heart of the Treviso plains in the Ponzano Veneto area, on loose, coarse, gravelly soil

SURFACE AREA: 3 Ha

GRAPE VARIETY

GRAPE VARIETIES: 100% Merlot

AVERAGE AGE OF THE VINES: 12/18 years

VINES/ha: 4.000

VINEYARD ASPECT: flat terrain, rows running north-south

TYPE OF PRUNING: spurred cordon

MEAN LOAD: maximum 6-8 bunches per vine

YIELD (100kg/ha): 70/90

VINE MANAGEMENT: integrated pest control and possibility of irrigation

OPERATIONS ON VINES: leaf removal, tipping, bud removal and working of the soil between the rows to avoid the use of weed killers

HARVESTING AND VINIFICATION

Hand picking in 10/12 kg crates when the grapes are perfectly ripe. The grapes are sorted in the vineyard, then on a vibrating table in the winery, followed by destemming, crushing and fermentation at a controlled temperature with low sulphur dioxide content in horizontal macerators. After drawing off, it is transferred to stainless steel tanks where malolactic fermentation takes place, followed by stabilisation, again in stainless steel, until bottling and short bottle-ageing.

ANALYTICAL DATA: alcohol content: 12.5% vol.; total acidity: 5 g/l

TASTING NOTES: pleasingly bright ruby red. The wine immediately reveals an attractive diversity of fragrances with good intensity, complexity and character, progressing from small woodland berries, blackberries in particular, to red roses, sweet spices, pipe tobacco and incense, followed by a pleasant "mineral" openness with hints of graphite. On the palate, it has a caressing smoothness against a warm background with silky, gentle tannins, developing a balanced richness of flavour and fresh finish, with fruity notes reminiscent of red plums and macerated marasca cherries. An ideal wine to accompany roast white meats, barbecued poultry and pork, Vicenza style dried cod and semi-mature cow's cheeses.