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 2500 ft 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 northeast and north respectively, by Graubünden (Switzerland) to the northwest and by the Italian regions of Lombardy to the west and Veneto to the south and southeast. It covers 13,607 square kilometres, is extremely mountainous and includes 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 covered by vast forests. The climate here is Mediterranean (hot summer, cold winters) owing to the influence of the many mountain ranges (> 3,000 metres above sea level) and the wide valleys through which flows the main river, the Adige, and its numerous tributaries.
Vineyard
Chardonnay Freienfeld is a blend of the best Chardonnay vineyards around the village center of Kurtatsch. Originality and cultivation in harmony with nature are the guidelines in the vineyard.
Winemaking
Fermentation in barriques followed by aging (incl. batonnage) for 12 months with partial malolactic fermentation. Aging on the fine lees in large oak barrels for six months, with an additional six months of bottle aging.
Tasting Notes
This is stylish opulence with lots of exotic fruit and delicate, roasted aromas. A complex bouquet reminiscent of ripe citrus fruits and coconut, with a hint of vanilla. Extract and acidity form an appealing balance. Round on the palate, with velvety fruit and pleasantly integrated tannins. A multifaceted, elegant Chardonnay with great ageing potential.
Varieties
Chardonnay is the world's most famous white-wine grape and also one of the most widely planted, with the most highly regarded expressions of the variety coming from Burgundy and California. Climate plays a major role in dictating which fruit flavours a Chardonnay will have. Broadly speaking, warm regions such as California tend to give more tropical styles. While many Chardonnays have high aromatic complexity, this is usually due to winemaking techniques (particularly the use of oak) rather than the variety's intrinsic qualities. Malolactic fermentation gives distinctive buttery aromas. Fermentation and/or maturation in oak barrels contributes notes of vanilla, smoke and hints of sweet spices such as clove and cinnamon. Extended lees contact while in barrel imparts biscuity, doughy flavours.