*Lagrein (a cousin of Syrah and a grandchild of Pinot Noir)*

For those unfamiliar with Lagrein, this grape variety combines many of the favored traits of its ancestry, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Firm and tannic but with lots of elegance, it takes well to the Alto Adige terroir, where both sides of its parentage are moderated by the climate, producing deep, vibrant wines with great aromatics! The alluvial soils in the Bolzano suburb of Gries are ideal for the indigenous red Lagrein wine, which is mentioned in a historical document dated 1379.

91 pts Wine Spectator
A fragrant version, with an expressive note of steeped boysenberry, plus a warm mix of baked cherry, fig cake, dried sage and cocoa powder. Fine, chalky tannins firm the savory finish, with hints of olive, smoke and milled pepper.

Winemaking: Manual harvest and selection of the grapes; destemming followed by slow must fermentation at a controlled temperature and gentle agitation of the must in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation and aging for 12 months partly in big wooden barrels (50%) and partly in barriques using one third new barrels (50%); blending three months before bottling.