Grape: Merlot 100%
 
The special microclimate of Lake Caldaro is where Merlot Nussleiten thrives on a vineyard measuring just 0.5 ha, which consists of only eight rows of vines.
The grapes hang just 40 cm from the ground (the normal distance is 70 cm) and can thus absorb the warmth from the soil, which aids the ripening process.
The plants are over 25 years in age and their yield is reduced to just one cluster per vine.
Merlot grapes are also carefully treated in the cellar: after gentle fermentation, the Nussleiten ages for two years in new barrique casks, providing elegance and longevity.
 
An opulent wine with a seductive aroma of plum. Elderberry and delicate notes of vanilla and roast coffee. Mature on the palate, rich and strong, reminiscent of a Bordeaux, with elegant and slightly spicy hints of red pepper.
 
Cellaring recommendations: 10 years or longer for particularly outstanding vintages
Wine and food pairing: Excellent with quick-roasted or grilled beef and lamb, game or dark poultry and aromatic hard cheese.
Terroir: Kaltern - Nussleiten: 230 m above sea level. Single vineyard at Lake Kaltern. Sandy loam hillside with sandstone gravel and an excellent microclimate thanks to its vicinity to Lake Kaltern.
Training system: Guyot. 60 cm maximum distance between ground and bunch zone.
Yield per vine: 1 grape cluster per shoot. Low per-hectare yield of 4500 kg - 30 hl/ha
Production process: Controlled mash fermentation for 2 weeks approximately, followed by malolactic fermentation. Gentle pigeage extracts colouring and flavouring agents from the skins.
Aging: 24 months in new French barrique casks that accentuate the wine’s typical aroma, followed by 12 months of bottle aging