Nose
Color: deep impenetrable ruby with violet reflections
Smell: This Lagrein selection is a multifaceted wine. It reveals aromas reminiscent of morello cherry and bilberry, with notes of licorice, coffee beans, vanilla, clove and black tea, which makes it spicy and fruity at the same time.
Taste: The wine is harmonious on the palate with very compact and concentrated, multilayered flavors combining juicy fruit with spicy, peppery elements and a slightly sweet note of dark chocolate rounded off with silky tannins.
Growing Conditions
In 2019 the growing season was extremely varied.
It began with a dry and warm March followed by a changeable April and a rainy, very cool May. This long period of cool weather led to very slow development in the vines and slightly delayed flowering until early June. This was followed by a hot month of very summery weather in June, with an extreme heatwave with record temperatures approaching the 40° centigrade mark. These conditions promoted fast and luxuriant growth in the vines. In the following months of July and August, temperatures were more moderate. There were occasional thunderstorms, which provided welcome relief from the heat on the one hand but were also accompanied by heavy hail on the other, and that caused a lot of damage, especially in the Bozen-Gries area.
Harvest
The harvest began in the first week of September which, looking back over the last 10 years, was slightly late. Beautiful autumn weather enabled the grapes to achieve full maturity, which gives promise of a good 2019 vintage.
Winemaking
Manual harvest and selection of the grapes; destemming followed by slow must fermentation at a controlled temperature and gentle agitation of the must in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation and aging in barriques for 18 months using one third new barrels; blending three months before bottling.
Aging
Cool storage at constant temperatures, high level of humidity and as little light as possible
Cellar temperature: 10 - 15 °C
Good ageing potential > 5 years
Food Pairing
Perfect with pink roasted saddle of venison in a walnut crust with root vegetables and red cabbage, rib of beef braised in Lagrein with mixed polenta and baby vegetables, or braised calf’s cheek with Lagrein sauce on celeriac foam.
