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www.buyersandcellars.ca Cellar Profile
This organic winery is situated in the picturesque village bearing its name in Alto Adige, nestled in the Southern Alps and Dolomite mountain ranges. Its hand-crafted mountain wines are painstakingly made with as little intervention as possible to best exemplify the unique terroir of the region. These red wine vineyards have some of the hottest daytime temperatures in all of Italy, rising to 40℃ during the summer months, but with a significant drop in temperature in the evening to retain freshness. The whites come from the hamlets of Hofstatt and Penon, with heroic vineyards planted on exceedingly steep mountainsides at elevations up to 2500ft above sea level. These rocky outcrops have a multitude of geological peculiarities, giving their wines intense, saline-like minerality. These are amongst the most aromatic and flavourful white wines on earth, ranging in style from steely dry to lusciously sweet.
Region
The region of Trentino-Alto Adige is bordered by East and North Tyrol (Austria) to the north-east and north respectively, by Graubünden (Switzerland) to the north-west and by the Italian regions of Lombardy to the west and Veneto to the south and south-east. It covers 13,607 square kilometres and is extremely mountainous, covering a large part of the Dolomites and the southern Alps. Südtirol (where Cantina Kurtatsch is located) has an area of 7,398 square kilometres, all of it mountainous land and covered by vast forests. The climate here is Mediterranean (hot summer and cold winters) owing to the influence of the many mountain ranges, which stand at over 3,000 metres above sea level, and the wide valleys through which flows (from north to south) the main river, the Adige, and its numerous tributaries.
Vineyard
The Kofl Sauvignon unites grapes from some of the steepest slopes of Kurtatsch’s white-wine terroirs (480–650 masl). The Sauvignon vines are planted in calcareous alluvial soil with excellent drainage. Streams and rockfalls have carried a rich array of minerals from prehistoric and sedimentary rocks into the clayey soil. The vineyard’s proximity to the overlying mountain range guarantees a comparatively early sunset in the beginning of autumn. The katabatic winds that arise during the evening also ensure continual, natural cooling of the delicate grapes.
Varieties
Sauvignon Blanc originates from the French regions of Loire Valley and Bordeaux. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage (“wild”) and blanc (“white”) due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. Sauvignon Blanc often buds late but ripens early, which allows it to perform well in sunny climates when not exposed to overwhelming heat. This popular and unmistakable white is loved for its “green” herbal flavors and inherently high acidity. Sauvignon Blanc grows nearly every wine making region on earth and is produced in a variety of methods resulting in a wide spectrum of styles that range from lean to bountiful.
Winemaking
Hand harvested. Cold maceration for three hours followed by temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Maturation on the lees in large oak barrels for a minimum of 5 months.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of gooseberry, lemon zest, fresh herbs and white peach entice the nose. The palate is brimming with intense acidity, complimented by a complexity from aging on lees. Apricot, tropical fruit and a hint of lemon drop with subtle herbs and a lengthy mineral finish.