Merlot

Merlot Siebeneich sparkles in a rich ruby red colour. The bouquet has aromas of cranberries and dried plums, mint and eucalyptus. The spicy flavour is equally multi-faceted with beautiful fruit. Structured, deep and long. SUPERIORE.DE

"This Merlot from the mountains shows its connection to Bordeaux and at the same time preserves its South Tyrolean identity. When the wine opens, aromas of black plums, herbal tea, tobacco and mixed spices emanate from the glass. Elegant and balanced, the wine shines with restrained fruit and balanced tannins and finishes with a minerality of gravel." Wine Enthusiast

"A bright and fruity merlot with ripe cherries, spiced plums, hibiscus and chocolate. Juicy and tense, with good volume and bright acidity. Medium- to full-bodied. Round-textured and mouth-filling, with notes of bitter oranges at the end." James Suckling

Deep garnet red, in the fruity bouquet notes of red berries, wild herbs, cherries, plums and a hint of undergrowth and figs. Beautiful structure and elegance, spicy, dense, round, smooth tannins and a subtle vanilla note. A charming Merlot that spoils the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Le Merle" is named after the Merlot-loving blackbirds that compete with the harvest workers during the grape harvest. Eleonora and Elena Charrère deliberately decided to grow Merlot, a very rare variety in the region, of international origin, in order to challenge the terroir on the one hand and to create a wine of great consistency and richness on the other.

Bright ruby red. A cornucopia of small black fruits, cranberries and blackberry jam on the nose, with floral notes of violets and roses. Tasty spices enhance the flavourful experience on the palate, closing softly with notes of roasted cocoa. Very successful alpine interpretation of the grape variety. SUPERIORE.DE

The single-varietal Merlot Focus beguiles with its elegant aroma of red fruits and warm, balsamic tones. The fresh taste is characterised by the typical spiciness and the lively tannins of a high-quality and rare Merlot from the Colli Orientali. SUPERIORE.DE

"Deep ruby. Cool climate Merlot aromas and flavors with flinty red berries, wet stones, fresh herbs, with only minimal notes of coffee and cocoa. Vibrant and long on the juicy finish. A 22 years old, single vineyard Merlot from Prepotto." Vinous

"A soft and beautiful wine with hazelnut, coffee and chocolate aromas and flavors. Mint and eucalyptus notes, too. Full to medium body. Round and soft tannins. Complex and long." James Suckling

Beautiful interpretation of the grape variety: Herbaceous and minty notes on the nose, plus lavender and sage. Then very tasty and complex on the palate of dark fruits, dried cherries, complemented by tones of undergrowth and tobacco. A touch of fine tannins, minerals and traces of rosemary and liquorice lead this medium-bodied red seductively into a sophisticated final. SUPERIORE.DE

Villa Gresti is an exciting cuvée of Merlot and Carménère that represents a very nice balance between fruit intensity, spice, ripe cherry and sweet tobacco. Medium-bodied on the palate, with a softness and a very attractive, drinkystyle and a rich, fruit-accentuated finish. Classic Bordeaux style. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium garnet red colour with slightly limited transparency and an orange rim. Elegant nose of cherries, blackberries, wild berries and beetroot, underlaid with thyme and leather. Fresh and juicy on the palate with good balance, round and fine-grained tannins and a herbaceous final." Falstaff

"The 2020 Villa Gresti di San Leonardo enchants with a beguiling bouquet that mingles pine shavings with incense, white pepper and wild blueberries. It is a model of purity, with silky textures and medium body weight, while a wave of ripe red and blue fruit swirls over a stream of cooling acidity. The finish is exceptionally long yet fresh and lively. A hint of sour citrus and slightly grippy tannins punctuate beautifully. The 2020 is a profoundly elegant yet savoury vintage from Ville Gresti. I love it." Vinous

"Stemy herbs, tea leaves, white pepper and dried lychees on the nose. Also a hint of charcoal. Juicy and round on the palate, with silky tannins and a herbal, peppery finish. An effortlessly drinkable red wine with excellent acidity." James Suckling

Elegant, full and soft Merlot Siebeneich with a slightly balsamic, earthy and meaty bouquet. Firm and multi-layered on the palate with flavours of small dark berries and herbs, gentle tannins and good length. Very delicate and with great potential. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark, intense ruby red with violet reflections. Ripe nose with hints of plum, blackberry and dark chocolate. Slightly vegetal on the palate with fine tannins, balanced and lingering on the finish." Falstaff

From the highest corner of the Vigna Istine (the name 550 refers to the metres above sea level), surrounded by cool forests, this balanced Merlot is vinified in concrete before spending around 15 months in lightly toasted tonneaux. Due to the cool location, it is - unusually - harvested after the Sangiovese, so that it has more time to mature on the vine. The result is a wine with a fine tannic structure and juicy, ripe blue fruit, with a hint of red fruit and some coffee notes leading to a long, graceful finish. Production is 2,600 bottles per vintage. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2021 550 is 100% Merlot planted in Vigna Istine, in Radda, at an elevation of 550 meters. Dark and sumptuous in the glass, with terrific energy, the 2021 captures all the pedigree of the year. Blackberry, sage, menthol, licorice and chocolate abound. This sumptuous, decidedly Tuscan Merlot hits all the right notes." Vinous

A 100% Merlot from the Colli Orientali is always special: intense, full thrust of fruit with a wonderfully plush texture and simultaneous definition, although the style remains powerful, ripe and intense. Flowers, spices and liquorice add race and class to this exceptional wine. Great Merlot cinema. SUPERIORE.DE

Dark garnet red with ruby red reflections. Complex bouquet of wild berries, underlaid with a hint of spice and cocoa. Dark fruit again on the palate, some smoke and tar, the fine-meshed tannins lend a wonderful structure, with a delicate woody spice on the finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark, impenetrable purple-red colour. Flattering aromas of dark chocolate, liquorice and stewed plums on the nose. Surprisingly fresh on the palate with soft tannins and a long, chocolaty finish." Falstaff

"A youthful and juicy red showing aromas of black cherries, vanilla, chocolate and orange. It’s medium- to full-bodied with creamy and broad tannins." James Suckling

A 100% Merlot from the Colli Orientali is always special: intense, full thrust of fruit with a wonderfully plush texture and simultaneous definition, although the style remains powerful, ripe and intense. Flowers, spices and liquorice add race and class to this exceptional wine. Great Merlot cinema. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep ruby red colour, lush notes of cherries, strawberries and sweet oak spice, vanilla and black pepper. The Sangiovese gives the blend great freshness and is in perfect balance with the silky and soft tannins of the Merlot. Overall rich, but always elegant and with great persistence. A complex, excellently structured red of absolute Supertuscan quality. SUPERIORE.DE

"The Gianni Brunelli Le Chiuse di Sotto 2020 Amor Costante is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Sangiovese and offers a lovely richness with a medium body interwoven with blackberry, wild plum, spice and sweet tobacco. The softness and texture come from the Merlot, while the Sangiovese provides freshness and fresh cherry flavours. Only 2,360 bottles were produced." Wine Advocate

"The 2020 Amor Costante keeps the glass swirling as dried violets, stone dust and exotic spices accentuate an enticing blend of wild berries and red plums. This is velvety smooth with medium-bodied weight, ushering in textural waves of red and blue fruits offset by sour citrus tones and saline-tinged acidity. It finishes long and structured with fine-grained tannins and a tart resonance of currants and licorice, yet the 2020 remains surprisingly fresh through it all. Patience will be required, yet also rewarded. What a treat." Vinous

Now available again in small quantities after a break of many years: Dario Raccaro's Merlot is a deep, expressive wine that presents opulent tones of blackberry jam and blackcurrants. In other circumstances, such a fruit-driven wine would taste heavy and one-dimensional. However, thanks to the unique buffer of cool Collio air and the heavier clay soils, the wine shows a fascinating personality and, despite its concentration, a great elegance that increases with further aeration. A dense vein of minerals and spices is woven into the long finish. A true showpiece for this grape variety, which is also rarely found in the Collio. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep ruby red colour, lush notes of cherries, strawberries and sweet oak spice, vanilla and black pepper. The Sangiovese gives the blend great freshness and is in perfect balance with the silky and soft tannins of the Merlot. Overall rich, but always elegant and with great persistence. A complex, excellently structured red wine in absolute Super Tuscan quality and produced in a very small edition of just under 3,000 bottles. SUPERIORE.DE

"A round, juicy and flavorful red. The nose shows notes of currants, cassis and some sweet spices. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Refined texture with control. A lively core of juicy berries at the center meets vivid spices and herbs funneling toward the vibrant finish." James Suckling

Rich, deep dark ruby with violet glints. Its scent reminds of black fruits, liquorice, coffee and dark chocolate. Tasty and determined on the palate, full of exuberance and with great length. A very emotional Merlot in a class of its own. SUPERIORE.DE

The vines of this fascinating cuvée grow on deep, loose moraine soil. The eye sees dark garnet red. Intense bouquet of flowers and black berries. The body of this cuvée is well structured, blackberry is joined by currant, some tobacco and a hint of tar. Fine tannins lead into a long and juicy finish. Great ageing potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"Packed with opulent blackcurrants, black cherries and violets with velvety tannins, a compact texture and a lush vanilla, chocolate core." Decanter

Since the 2018 vintage, a small amount of Merlot has been vinified separately at Rampolla, named after the mother Donna Liù. The unfiltered wine was matured for 12 months in terracotta amphorae and fermented to almost 0 g/l residual sugar. Very elegant, fresh nose of sour cherry, laurel and cassis. Fresh on the palate and without the sometimes exuberant opulence of some other Tuscan Merlots, with a precise cherry fruit and salty-minty component. A finely chiselled Merlot that is hard to beat in terms of freshness, clarity and personality. It bridges the gap wonderfully between the Chianti Classico and the two flagships of the house, Sammarco and d'Alceo. Needs a few more years in the bottle. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense, sparkling ruby colour with a pronounced violet hue. Open and accessible nose of blackberries and fresh plums, delicate spicy notes in the background, some cigar box. Lots of juicy fruit on the palate, fine, delicate tannins, savoury." Falstaff

"Lots of crushed blackberries and blueberries with flowers follow through to a medium body with fine tannins and a bright, tangy finish. Needs a couple of years to open." James Suckling

"The 2020 Merlot Liu' bristles with extreme purity. Aging in 3/4 cement and 1/4 amphora helps preserve tremendous purity of fruit. Blueberry, spice, lavender, chocolate and licorice are all dialed up. Sweet floral and spice notes add brightness throughout." Vinous

"Vinified in cement and in amphorae made of cocciopesto, a mixture that includes ground up tiles, stone fragments and sand, this savory Merlot is simply delicious. Smooth and polished, it boasts juicy black cherry, blackberry, orange zest and star anise before a minty finish. Lithe tannins give a silky mouthfeel while fresh acidity keeps it bright." Wine Enthusiast

"Now in its third vintage, the Castello dei Rampolla 2020 Liù is a fine and impeccably detailed wine. You taste bright fruit, cherry and dusty limestone with incredible focus, as if these things were under a microscope. That dusty mineral note of pencil shaving or chalkboard is especially beautiful. The finish is lean, or mid-weight, and there are hints of dried mint and black olive on the close. The bouquet is beautifully nuanced and the mouthfeel is more compact." Wine Advocate

It could easily be mistaken for a very high-quality St Emilion from a cooler vintage! A compact and finesse-rich Merlot-Cabernet from old vineyards and vinified according to traditional methods. Deep dark red in colour, with complex, berry aromas on the nose. On the palate, the Cuvée Anticus impresses with pleasantly ripe fruit, velvety tannins and a wonderful texture. Lush and almost endless finish! SUPERIORE.DE

"Brilliant ruby red colour. Ripe fruit on the nose, Amarena cherry and blackcurrant, as well as spice and forest floor. Precise fruit and balanced acidity structure on the palate, lingering finish with great spicy notes." Falstaff

"Currant, cigar tobacco and hints of blackberry aromas follow through to a medium to full body, with creamy tannins and a juicy finish. Light velvet. Some tar and black olives as well." James Suckling

The vines of this fascinating cuvée grow on deep, loose moraine soil. Dark garnet red to the eye. Intense bouquet of flowers and black berries. The body of this cuvée is well structured, with blackberry, blackcurrant, a little tobacco and a hint of tar. Fine tannins lead into a long and juicy finish. Great ageing potential! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby colour with a dark core and fine rim. Elegant, dark bouquet of blackcurrant, with a hint of paprika and fine wood spice. Velvety on the palate, firm tannins, precise fruit and a long finish." Falstaff

"This is a creamy and spicy red blend that has plums, vanilla, chocolate, oranges and mint on the nose, as well as some smoked paprika. It is medium to full-bodied, rich yet bright, with powdery tannins." James Suckling

"The 2021 Linticlarus Cuvèe Riserva is unobtrusive and restrained. A bouquet slowly rises from the glass, combining sage and orange shavings with redcurrants and a hint of white smoke. This juicy and round wine has a core of lively acidity that perfectly balances the depth of ripe raspberry and blueberry fruit, while silty tannins gather towards the end. On the long and structured final, the 2021 leaves behind a primary concentration as a bitter hint of tart blackberry fades." Vinous