Nose
The aroma reveals earthy, minerally notes masterfully underpinned with fruit components, with morello cherry, dark chocolate and plum jam dominating.
Palate
These spicy and yet velvety fruit notes also intrigue the palate, where this Lagrein Riserva presents itself with multilayered opulence and great complexity.
Growing Conditions
Vintage:
The wine year 2017 will stay with us for a long time. It started with an exceptionally dry winter, which occasionally led to severe winter damage. A very mild spring caused a premature sprouting of the vines, which was already observable in some locations at the end of March, and progressed rapidly. As a result, the frosty night from 20 to 21 April in the valleys and the low slopes caused severe frost damage. The weather during the flowering/germination was characterized of consistently nice weather-already at this time an early harvest seemed likely. Many hours of sunshine and relatively low rainfall defined the summer months, only in August there were some major rainfalls. On August 22nd, the harvest began in the lower level vineyards. Due to the sometimes-unstable weather during the harvest, with consistent light rainfalls, it had to be interrupted and postponed, thus, the reading phase was demanding and challenging. Overall, one can speak of a quantitatively very small vintage but with good wine quality.
- Orientation: South - Southwest
- Slope: 0 - 5 %
- Altitude: 250 m a. s. l.
Soil:
- The quartz porphyry bedrock is of volcanic origin.
- The light, sandy-loamy soils are the foundation for naturally limited yields.
- The soils have a 55-60% quartz content and a slightly acidic pH.
- The minerally and distinctive wines are highly prized for their outstanding longevity.
Soil samples taken from three different sites have revealed the presence of a subvolcanic body around Terlano, which differs in composition from the classic volcanic rock. The skeletal sandy loamy soils have a high quartz content. The absence of calcium carbonate explains the slightly acid pH values. These factors result in a high permeability to water, a limited nutrient supply and thus balanced growth with naturally limited yields. Exceptional soil conditions influence the terroir of Terlano, where the vines have developed a specific reaction to micro-stress and produce their own terroir-specific polyphenols, which give the Terlano wines their distinctive character. The result is particularly salty wines with great tension and depth. The special mix of crystals and minerals in the Terlano soils produces white wines whose unique longevity never fails to impress the world’s wine gurus.
Climate:
The high peaks of the main Alpine chain protect South Tyrol from the Atlantic winds and cold northerlies, while the region benefits from the Mediterranean climate from the south. Terlano has a remarkable microclimate, with pronounced differences in temperature between day and night caused by the cool downslope winds from the mountains.
To the south, a number of mountain massifs like the Adamello also have a protective function. As a result, annual precipitation is only about one-third of the average for the southern Alpine foothills, and the number of hours of sunshine is higher. The climatic conditions are not unlike those to be found in wine-growing areas like the Swiss Canton Valais.
When the sun rises behind the mountains east of Terlano on one of the year’s 300 sunny days, it is already high in the sky as the wine-growing area has a westerly to southwesterly exposure. The lower atmospheric density permits more direct solar irradiation with less diffuse sunlight. That increases the difference between the slopes on the sunny and shady sides of the valley.
- Microclimate in Terlano
Continental climate (Cfa Köppen-Geiger)
Annual sunshine hours: ø 2135
Maximum temperatures: 38,2 °C
Average temperatures: 12,9 °C
Minimum temperatures: -10,7°C
Annual precipitation: ø 600 - 700 mm
Average global radiation: 150,1 W/m²
- Winds
North foehn: cool and dry down-slope wind
Ora: valley wind system from the south, bringing in air from the Po Valley
Harvest
Manual harvest and selection of the grapes.
- Yield: 56 hl/ha
Winemaking
Destemming followed by slow must fermentation at a controlled temperature and gentle agitation of the must in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation and aging for 12 months partly in big wooden barrels (50%) and partly in barriques using one third new barrels (50%); blending three months before bottling.
Appearance
Deep ruby to garnet red with a delicate shimmer of violet.
Food Pairing
Combines well with roast chamois with root vegetables and with veal cheeks braised in Lagrein and served with root vegetables.
