Nose
Subtle notes of black berries, a hint of licorice and finely smoked notes define the bouquet, combining power and supreme elegance in this exceptional wine.
Palate
With density, black berries, and minerality, combined with fine and fresh tannins, the “Aton” convinces on the palate with a spicy, long finish.
Growing Conditions
The 2019 vintage of “Aton” Pinot Noir Riserva Alto Adige DOC comes from the selection of the best grapes in medium and higher altitudes between 400 and 600 meters a.s.l. The vines, which are up to 61 years old with greatly reduced yields, are located on both sides of the valley in Glen and Barleith and benefit from the complex, predominantly clay and limestone soils with traces of marl.
The higher the mountain profile, the more light, sunshine hours, and freshness reach the vineyards. Long hours of sunshine in a fresh climate and a large day/night temperature differences result in a Pinot Noir of great elegance with a fresh and expressive presence.
The selection of the two highest quality plots in an ideal combination of orientation and altitude allow a higher phenolic grape ripeness without excessive sugar content and a natural medium to high acidity that distin-guishes the “Aton” Pinot Noir Riserva 2019 with structure, elegance, and finesse. “Aton” sends you on a unique sensory journey that engages the senses in the discovery of its personality. A journey that tells the story of Alto Adige and delights lovers of Pinot Noir.
Harvest
The harvest took place in two rounds on September 20th and on September 24th, 2019, in order to allow the respective grape lots to achieve optimal maturity. 2019 was a cool vintage overall, which is reflected in the excellent quality of Pinot Noir with great complexity, finesse and excellent balance. An initially warm begin-ning of spring was followed by below-average temperatures in April and May with late flowering. The begin-ning of summer was very warm in June with high temperatures, followed by a cooler midsummer in July and August. Thanks to a harvest which took place about two weeks later than in the previous year, the grapes could benefit from a very beautiful autumn with high diurnal temperature variations.
Bottling
November 4th 2021
Winemaking
The hand harvest was followed by a gravity-fed and highly gentle grape processing in a new, state-of-the-art fermentation cellar. The grapes were gently transferred in whole berry form in a small “cuvon” to the small fermentation tanks, maintaining the delicate structure and quality of the harvest in its natural form.
This was followed by a 5-day cold maceration and fermentation at a controlled temperature of 23°C for a further 15 days in small steel tanks. After a further 12 months of ageing in French oak barriques with medi-um toasting, the wine rested and matured in steel for an additional 12 months.
This slow and gentle processing was carried out respecting the original quality of the grapes, and following the same principle, the wine was finally bottled on November 4th, 2021, without filtration to preserve its excep-tional structure and maintain its natural colloidal composition.
During the subsequent 15 months of bottle ageing, the "Aton" Pinot Noir Riserva 2019 quietly developed the broad spectrum of its potential until was released on the market on April 1st, 2024.
The Grande Cuvée can achieve a considerable lifespan, during which the wine matures and continues to develop.
Appearance
The wine presents itself a strong ruby red in the glass.
Food Pairing
A wine for important moments in life!
