| When it comes to terroir – the unique expression of subsoil, exposure, macroclimate, and microclimate – Italy is by far the most interesting and varied winemaking country. From the volcanic subsoil of sunny Sicilia in the south to the Tortonian- and Helvetian-era subsoil of foggy Piemonte, Italy – the “garden of Europe” – offers a wondrous mosaic of terroir-expression wines.
Nestled in the Dolomite Alps, the winemaking subzone around Lake Caldaro in German-speaking Trentino-Alto Adige represents a fascinating combination of high altitude, warm summer days and cool summer nights, and excellent ventilation provided by the body of water.
Castel Sallegg’s vineyards lie on the slopes that rise up from the lake. In this alpine valley, temperature variation (warm days, cool evenings, essential for the thin-skinned Pinot Noir grape during ripening) and the absence of rot and mildew (thanks to the lake breeze) help to create wines that are fresh and well balanced.
Castel Sallegg uses temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel and judicious small- and large-cask aging to make a Pinot Nero with beautiful fruit flavors, bright acidity, and a clean finish. Note that the alcohol content for this wine is 13.5%. This gorgeous Pinot Nero is nothing like the over-oaked, concentrated, high-alcohol-content Pinot Noir grown in other countries (we don’t need to tell you where!).
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