Ca' di Alte, Merlot

Ca' di Alte, Merlot

Vintage: 2023

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2023CV501B236 x 75ScrewcapAvailable
Producer

The Ca’ di Alte wines are made at Cantina Colli Vicentini, to the east of Verona, by local winemakers Damiano Noro and Stefano Lovato.

The grapes for the Ca' di Alte range are grown primarily on hills south of Vicenza, known as the Colli Berici, whose high elevation and aspect ensure lower yields and optimum ripeness. The delicate aromas in the unoaked whites have been preserved through careful winemaking. The Sauvignon Blanc is surprisingly fragrant and varietal, ripe rather than herbaceous, while the Pinot Grigio has an attractive biscuity character.

The Pinot Nero shows the benefits of the vineyard's high elevations, which create cool nights and excellent freshness in the final wines. This expression is defined by appealing cherry perfume, decent depth on the palate and excellent length. It puts many a Bourgogne Pinot Noir to shame. The Merlot is riper and juicier than other Merlots from the Veneto and offers great value.

Ca’ di Alte’s Frizzante and Spumante Proseccos also reflect the quality of the grapes of this area. Delicate, clean and balanced, with 15-16 grammes per litre of residual sugar, these sparkling wines are fresh, fruity and easy to drink.

Vineyards

The vineyards are south-west facing and are situated on hillsides, where they experience cooler nights that allow the aromatic compounds in the grapes to develop. The vines are planted on calcareous soils of volcanic origin and are trained using the Guyot system.

Vintage

The 2023 vintage saw lots of rain which allowed the plants to hydrate prior to a very hot summer. The nights remained cool which helped the fruit maintain a fresh character.

Vinification

The hand-harvested grapes were destemmed, crushed and macerated on the skins for 10 days. Fermentation followed at controlled temperatures of between 22-24°C, with malolactic conversion allowed. A portion of the wine was then transferred to oak barrels and the remaining amount to stainless-steel tanks for a four-to-five month ageing period before bottling.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

This Merlot is an intense ruby red in colour. It has attractive aromas of ripe red berry fruit which follow through on to the palate. This wine is velvety, round and full-bodied.

Alcohol (ABV)

13%

Acidity

5.3 g/l

Residual Sugar

3 g/l

pH

3.42

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