{"product_id":"borgo-del-tiglio-collio-rosso-riserva","title":"Borgo del Tiglio Collio Rosso Riserva 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(210, 4, 4);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 points Vinous\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eDrink Date: 2026–2038\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eThe 2019 Collio Rosso Riserva wafts up with a sweetly floral bouquet, with vividly ripe crushed blueberries and cherries accentuated by suggestions of fresh mint and allspice. This is sleek and racy in feel, with tart wild berry fruits offset by a twang of sour citrus as rosy inner florals form and gently grippy tannins slowly saturate. The 2019 finishes with medium length and lightly structured, ending with lavender and blackberry tones. This is a beautifully balanced vintage for the Riserva with a later harvest and clocking in at just 13.5% abv. Of note, there was no Rosso delle Centa in 2019, so all of that fruit was included in the Riserva. - By Eric Guido, December 2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMade from \u003cstrong\u003e100% Merlot\u003c\/strong\u003e, the 2019 Collio Rosso Riserva is particularly special because Borgo del Tiglio did not produce its top \u003cstrong\u003eRosso della Centa\u003c\/strong\u003e bottling in 2019, so all of that old-vine Merlot was incorporated into the Riserva. The wine shows beautifully ripe blueberries and cherries layered with fresh mint, allspice and floral notes. Sleek and energetic rather than heavy, the fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and fine, gently gripping tannins. Aged for approximately two years in small French oak barrels, this is a wonderfully elegant and distinctly Friulian interpretation of Merlot, produced at just 13.5% alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Take:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is \u003cstrong\u003eserious Merlot\u003c\/strong\u003e, but don't expect the plush, heavy, super-ripe style the grape can produce in warmer climates. \u003cstrong\u003eDeep ruby in color\u003c\/strong\u003e, the nose is \u003cstrong\u003epronounced and complex\u003c\/strong\u003e, opening with \u003cstrong\u003eripe blueberry, blackberry and cherry\u003c\/strong\u003e, followed by lavender, fresh mint, allspice and savory earthy notes. The palate is \u003cstrong\u003emedium-full bodied\u003c\/strong\u003e, sleek and beautifully balanced, with \u003cstrong\u003emedium-plus acidity\u003c\/strong\u003e giving the wine surprising freshness and energy. The flavors are \u003cstrong\u003eintense but refined\u003c\/strong\u003e, with ripe red and blue fruits complemented by floral, spice and subtle savory notes, while \u003cstrong\u003emedium-plus, finely grained tannins\u003c\/strong\u003e provide structure without overwhelming the fruit. The finish is \u003cstrong\u003elong, fresh and gently structured\u003c\/strong\u003e, leaving lingering notes of blackberry, lavender, spice and a touch of sour cherry\/citrus freshness. This is Merlot through a very different lens—\u003cstrong\u003emore about elegance, freshness and balance than sheer power\u003c\/strong\u003e—and exactly the kind of red you would expect from one of Friuli's great white-wine producers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVariety:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e100% Merlot\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAppellation:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eCollio DOC\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVineyard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Estate vineyards on the \u003cstrong\u003eSan Giorgio hill in Brazzano\u003c\/strong\u003e, immediately surrounding Borgo del Tiglio\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial 2019 Selection:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNo Rosso della Centa was produced in 2019\u003c\/strong\u003e, so the old-vine Merlot normally reserved for the estate's top red was incorporated into the Rosso Riserva\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVineyard:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Rosso Riserva comes from a distinct \u003cstrong\u003emid-slope parcel planted in the 1970s\u003c\/strong\u003e; the neighboring Rosso della Centa parcel was planted to Merlot in 1970\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTerrain:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eVery steep, historically terraced hillsides\u003c\/strong\u003e, supported by traditional dry-stone walls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoils:\u003c\/strong\u003e Classic \u003cstrong\u003eCollio Ponca\/Flysch\u003c\/strong\u003e, composed of alternating layers of marl and sandstone, with underlying clay particularly well suited to Merlot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTerroir:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nicola Manferrari believes the \u003cstrong\u003eclay derived from Collio's marl is particularly favorable for Merlot\u003c\/strong\u003e, helping produce wines with richness and structure while retaining the freshness and tension characteristic of the site\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFarming:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sustainable\/close-to-nature viticulture, with careful yield control and an emphasis on vine balance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eLater harvest in 2019\u003c\/strong\u003e, contributing excellent fruit maturity while the finished wine remained at only 13.5% alcohol\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaking:\u003c\/strong\u003e Grapes are destemmed and moved by gravity into small conical stainless-steel fermenters. After fermentation, the wine remains \u003cstrong\u003eon the skins for approximately three additional weeks\u003c\/strong\u003e before being transferred by gravity to barrel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eÉlevage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Completes malolactic fermentation in small \u003cstrong\u003eFrench oak barrels\u003c\/strong\u003e, followed by approximately \u003cstrong\u003e24 months in barrique\u003c\/strong\u003e, typically with only one racking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e13.5%\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eServing Temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18–20°C \/ 64–68°F\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAging Potential:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eExcellent — Vinous recommends 2026–2038.\u003c\/strong\u003e Eric Guido's vertical tasting of Borgo del Tiglio's Rosso Riserva found remarkable freshness and longevity in older vintages, including wines going back several decades\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Vineyard \u0026amp; Soils\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe story of Borgo del Tiglio's reds begins on the \u003cstrong\u003eSan Giorgio hill in Brazzano\u003c\/strong\u003e, where Nicola Manferrari inherited old Merlot planted on steep, terraced slopes surrounding the winery. The soils are classic Collio \u003cstrong\u003ePonca—alternating layers of marl and sandstone—with underlying clay\u003c\/strong\u003e, and Manferrari came to believe that these heavier, clay-influenced soils were particularly well suited to Merlot. The vineyards are so steep that they were historically terraced with dry-stone walls, creating a site that naturally limits vigor while providing excellent drainage and exposure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eRosso Riserva comes from a distinct mid-slope parcel planted in the 1970s\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the estate's even rarer Rosso della Centa comes from an adjoining old Merlot vineyard. That distinction matters enormously in \u003cstrong\u003e2019\u003c\/strong\u003e, because Manferrari decided not to bottle Rosso della Centa at all; instead, that fruit was incorporated into the Rosso Riserva. The result is an unusually complete version of the wine, combining the elegance and freshness that define Rosso Riserva with fruit that would ordinarily be destined for Borgo del Tiglio's top Merlot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNicola's goal has never been to make a massive, international-style Merlot. His aim is \u003cstrong\u003efullness without sacrificing freshness and drinkability\u003c\/strong\u003e, and that's really the key to understanding this wine. The combination of old vines, steep Ponca terraces, low yields, long skin contact and two years in French oak produces a Merlot with plenty of depth and structure, but the signature remains \u003cstrong\u003eelegance, freshness and balance.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Collio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44377181159558,"sku":"KS-borgotiglio-rosso-riserva","price":94.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0075\/0338\/0543\/files\/BorgodelTiglioRossoRiserva2019.png?v=1789326005","url":"https:\/\/www.winesolutions.com\/products\/borgo-del-tiglio-collio-rosso-riserva","provider":"Wine Solutions","version":"1.0","type":"link"}