Pinot Nero

Pinot Noir, which originates from France, has been cultivated in South Tyrol since 1850. The best sites, low yields, accurate care and perfectionism in the cellar guarantee a fine, extremely sensual Pinot Noir with considerable ageing potential. In his constant search for perfection, cellar master Hans Terzer presents this year the third edition of the Pinot Noir Riserva "The Wine Collection". SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby with light rim. Opens with slightly smoky notes, behind it fine forest raspberry, some blackberry, after spicy forest floor. Gripping, gripping tannin in the attack and course, shows a lot of pressure, dark berry fruit, can still mature for a long time." Falstaff

"A dark-fruited and spicy red with aromas of mushrooms, bay leaves, incense, espresso, dark cherries and black plums. Firm tannins frame a toasty core of dark-berry fruit. Medium to full body." James Suckling

"The St. Michael-Eppan 2018 Alto Adige Pinot Noir Riserva The Wine Collection shows medium-rich fruit weight and a dark ruby hue. The wine presents a modern or contemporary expression of the Burgundian grape from the cool mountain climate of the Italian Dolomites. It concludes with soft shades of oak spice and toast." Wine Advocate

"A sumptuous Pinot Noir, the final result of a 25-year-long research. The nose is faceted and shows great variety of sensations, such as sour cherries and orange zest, rhubarb and undergrowth. Breathtaking density to the palate, iodine-brackish tannins and balsamic finish with return of rhubarb." Luca Gardini

Pònkler is the top wine of the house and at the same time Franz Haas' essence from decades of experience with the non-demanding Pinot Nero grape. The vines, planted in 2007, grow on soils of weathered porphyry in a single vineyard at an altitude of 750 metres. The selection of French clones that have proven to be eminently suitable for high altitudes, the high density of vines and the low yields ensure a very high quality of grapes.

The stronger sunshine in the South Tyrolean altitudes gives the wine its typical ripe fruit notes. The nose is concentrated and deep, revealing ripe red and black berries, star anise and leather. In the mouth, it builds up the precise primary fruit in layers, reminiscent of medicinal herbs and cinchona bark. With every sip, it shows its class, great substance and precise tannin structure. And in the endlessly long finish, it is there again, this boundless depth and complexity.. SUPERIORE.DE

"Very pure pinot aromas of sliced strawberries and lemon bush as well as flowers such as lilacs. Subtle sandalwood. Medium to full body with ultra fine tannins and a bright and fresh finish. Linear and fine. Seductive single vineyard Alpine pinot." James Suckling

With the Pinot Nero Riserva Vigna Das Langefeld, the Pfitscher family has undoubtedly created an elegant top wine that perfectly reflects the identity of the terroir.

The small vineyard Das Langefeld is one of the highest and oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in South Tyrol. It is located in the Glen vineyard above Montan at around 550 metres above sea level. Alongside Mazzon, this site is certainly one of the best known and most recognised for this grape variety in Italy. Like all of the Pfitscher family's vineyards, this plot of only 4,000 square metres is cultivated exclusively organically. The vineyard faces west and is characterised by deep clay and limestone soils. The Guyot training system enables an enormous planting density of around 8,000 vines per hectare.

Today, Vigna Das Langefeld is a family project that Klaus Pfitscher started back in 1984 at the age of 24. Even then, he recognised the potential of the site and decided to plant Pinot Noir clones from Burgundy. Looking back, he states: "When I planted this vineyard in 1984, I was convinced that something great would come out of it. This wine is the fulfilment of a dream". His son Hannes, a trained Oenologist and cellar master at Pfitscher, is now passionate about the winery's wines together with his father. He adds: "We are all constantly striving for perfection. The age of the vines, the microclimate of Glen and the organic cultivation form the basis for a wine with great depth as well as excellent elegance and finesse, of which we are very proud".

Eros Teboni, WSA Best Sommelier of the World 2018, already had the masterpiece in his glass: "The Vigna Das Langefeld has an elegant, modern signature that is nevertheless strongly linked to the typicality of South Tyrolean wines. In other interpretations of this grape variety, you sometimes find more rustic traits: here, on the other hand, elegance and vibrancy predominate. A Pinot Noir with a strong identity and great personality, produced with the greatest commitment and attention to detail."

This wine is the result of a careful selection process in which healthy, fully ripe grapes from a small harvest are picked by hand. This is followed by a two-day cold maceration of the largely undestemmed grapes and a spontaneous fermentation of around 14 days. After a further 12 months of maturation in barriques, the wine rests and matures for six months in a 10 hl wooden barrel and then 30 months in the bottle. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. The new top wine from Pfitscher is released in an edition of only 1,296 numbered bottles and we are delighted to be able to offer a few examples of this exclusive wine. SUPERIORE.DE

"A rich, savoury Pinot with ripe red and dark berries, bark, cocoa, damp earth and a hint of tar. Full and layered, quite weighty and deep, yet balanced and focused, with a firm tannic structure and a lingering finish. Earthy and spicy." James Suckling

"Elegant ruby red colour with a brightening rim. Inviting nose of blood orange, rosehip and raspberry, with light spices and fine, fragrant floral notes on the finish. On the palate with great, cool fruit and savoury tannins, shows beautiful depth, comes in many layers, salty, precise and with a lot of tension." Falstaff

Gulfi's top Pinò is a pure expression of Pinot Nero from Etna. When the Etna appellation began its rise about ten years ago, many producers committed themselves to growing the Burgundian grape variety on the charred slopes of this mighty volcano. Significant plantings of Pinot Nero never occurred, however, as many winemakers opted instead for the autochthonous Nerello Mascalese grape variety. Gulfi remains faithful to Pinot Nero on Etna, the grapes for Pinò come from 800 metres above sea level on the northern slope of the volcano.

It opens with a dark saturated colour and heavy aromas of dried cherries and cassis, plus a hint of floral notes. Its mouthfeel is polished and fresh, on the palate Pinò shows all the characteristics of a lean, compact but very intense wine that has plenty of tension and energy. Its slightly bitter note, a combination of cherry pits and sour citrus fruits, lasts until the tense final. Ultimately, this wine is more an expression of the Etna than the grape variety, its proud yet joyful personality making it irresistible. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Pinò, or Pinot Noir, is much darker in the glass that you might anticipate. It delivers masses of ripe black cherries and sweet autumnal spice, all engulfed in an air of crushed-stone minerality. The textures are silky, cast upon a medium-bodied frame, with tart cherry and balsam herbs energized by brisk acidity. Notes of licorice and rich plum sauce linger as this tapers off with a delicate feel. The Pinò hails from the northern slope of Etna, with vines planted in 2008 at 800 meters of elevation." Vinous

"An excellent pinot noir from Sicily? Yes! The wild-strawberry and sour-cherry nose pulls you into this ripe yet elegant red that's very silky, in spite of the healthy tannins that anchor it at the deep, dark finish. Plenty of life ahead of it!" James Suckling

"The organic Gulfi 2016 Pinò gives us a good look at Pinot Noir cultivated on the volcanic soils of Etna at an impressive 850 meters above sea level where solar luminosity is aplenty but average temperatures are cooler. With a restrained 13% alcohol content, this wine delivers elegant and lean fruit weight with steady aromas of cassis, wild cherry and summer rose. The wine's overall personality remains subdued and true to the grape with plenty of fresh berry fruit spread over a lean and crisp mouthfeel. The results are terrific in this 3,000-bottle release that should hold firm to the 10-year mark and beyond. Despite these extreme growing conditions, this wine remains elegant and pure." Wine Advocate

"The best of the best - you don't drink this wine every day. It needs attention, time to mature and likes to play the leading role: as the crowning glory of a festive table or even as a proud solitaire." Michael Graf Goëss-Enzenberg, Weingut Manincor

Noble and pure, the Mason di Mason Pinot Nero shines with flavours of raspberry, rose blossom, undergrowth and sweet spices. Elegant and seamlessly round on the palate with incredible balance, complexity and detail. A knockout Pinot Noir! SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, brightening ruby red colour. Noble, delicate nose of ripe wild berries, notes of spruce shoots, citrus, fragrant. Light-footed and elegant on the palate, with clear fruit, beautiful acidity, red berry flavours and freshness, balanced, with a high drinking flow and medium length." Falstaff

"The 2020 Pinot Nero Mason di Mason delivers varietal tones of pressed violet, candied orange and sweet watermelon. You also get a pronounced savory quality with tobacco leaf, steeped tea, ozone, tar and wet asphalt. The wine has a pretty, lean-bodied approach with fine tannins." Wine Advocate

"The 2020 Mason di Mason seduces with aromas of foreign spices, cedar, curry leaves, crushed stones and dried black cherries. This is pure class, silky and supple, with a core of mineral red fruit and vibrant acidity that keeps the energy going. The 2020 finishes with a concentrated and remarkably long finish of blood orange and tart raspberry notes that fills the cheeks. It could do with a short stay in the cellar to mature a little more. The Mason di Mason is the cru in the cru Pinot Noir of Manincor, which comes from the oldest vines of the Mazon vineyard." Vinous

Mason di Mason is described by the winery as "a Grand Cru within a Grand Cru". It comes from the highest and oldest parcels of the Mazzon vineyard with thinner moraine soils over hard limestone, resulting in smaller berries. The aromas of red and black cherries are joined by bitter herbs, cocoa and earth, which are reflected in the mouth, where the flavour is intense, structured and woody. It is juicy and combines good concentration with excellent length." Decanter

"This wine is very aromatic, with a very pure fruit, with notes of pink roses, blood orange and potpourri. Also some iodine. Medium to full-bodied with plenty of tension and mouth-filling juiciness. The tannins are supple and melt into the fruit. Delicious and long. Beautifully made." James Suckling

The pure Pinot Nero Franciacorta Annamaria Clementi Rosé is bright pink in colour with delicate amber tones. It beguiles the senses with a subtle bouquet of dried strawberries and zesty citrus fruits, contrasted by the richness of raw almonds and sweet white smoke. It is silky and supple, with a slowly rising structure, yet still manages to surprise with notes of apple and savoury spices, which are then enlivened by a juicy acidity. There is a lingering inner sweetness that mingles with an aftertaste of concentrated red forest berries that lingers for over a minute. One of Italy's greatest sparkling wines! SUPERIORE.DE

"A salmon-orange colored sparkling with inviting aromas of dried flowers, honey, grapefruit, hazelnuts and gingerbread. Hints of cloves, too. Firm, driven and dry, with excellent structure and weight and tight bubbles. Long, spicy and almost chewy finish. Might even be better in a few years when it has softened." James Suckling

At the end of the 19th century, Ludwig Barth, a university professor with a love of wine, built the estate of the same name in Mazon and planted the Pinot Noir grape there for the first time, with success, as it turned out. The year 2016 was very good for Pinot Noir and for the Roccolo vineyard at Ansitz Barthenau on the Mazon plateau. Particularly rich grapes from vines that are more than 70 years old and tend to grow on the traditional pergola were to be reserved for a new top wine. They were harvested separately, pressed separately and matured in small oak barrels and are only made into the single-vineyard wine "Roccolo" in the best vintages.

It convinces with its smooth, filigree acid structure, the backbone of every Burgundy. Martin Foradori's "Burgundy instinct" had pointed him in the right direction; working late into the evening had paid off. A top-class Pinot Noir now enriches the estate's Pinot Noir range - from the outstanding site of the Mazon plateau. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2017 Pinot Nero Vigna Roccolo takes its time opening in the glass, at first blowing off some youthful reduction, then delivering a gorgeous mix of dried strawberries and roses in an air of crushed stone. The textures are unreal, silky and soothing, yet deep, ushering in masses of ripe red berries and sweet spices. This leaves a saturation of primary concentration while tapering off with grippy tannins, yet still, it’s remarkably fresh. The warmth of the vintage has imparted this with a powerful boost of intensity, but I’m loving it. The 2017 succeeds through its lively acidity. " Vinous

At the end of the 19th century, Ludwig Barth, a university professor with a love of wine, built the estate of the same name in Mazon and planted the Pinot Noir grape there for the first time, with success, as it turned out. The year 2016 was very good for Pinot Noir and for the Roccolo vineyard at Ansitz Barthenau on the Mazon plateau. Particularly rich grapes from vines that are more than 70 years old and tend on the traditional pergola were to be reserved for a new top wine. They were harvested separately, pressed separately and matured in small oak barrels and are only made into the single-vineyard wine "Roccolo" in the best vintages.

It convinces with its smooth, filigree acid structure, the backbone of every Burgundy. Martin Foradori's "Burgundy instinct" had pointed him in the right direction; working late into the evening had paid off. A top-class Pinot Noir now enriches the estate's Pinot Noir range - from the outstanding site of the Mazon plateau. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Pinot Nero Vigna Roccolo is understated and coy in the glass, as dusty rose and dried cherries are complemented by nuances of clove. This is elegant and polished in feel, with a wonderful balance of acids and minerals that frame its dark red fruits and inner spices quite nicely. There's a power that lurks beneath the surface, as notes of licorice and fine tannins linger incredibly long. This is a Pinot for the cellar and has the balance to go a decade or more." Vinous

Elegant Pinot Nero with a complex bouquet of blackberry and raspberry, with candied orange peel in the background. On the palate it is clear and straightforward, with fine, polished tannins and a very long final. SUPERIORE.DE

Elegant Pinot Nero with a complex bouquet of blackberry and raspberry, candied orange peel in the background. Clear and straightforward on the palate; polished, fine tannins and a beautiful melt in the very long final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Healthy, youthful ruby. An enticing, complex, sweet oak and balsamic red-fruit nose. Juicy cherry and raspberry palate. Elegant and long with super-fine tannins and plenty of freshness." Jancis Robinson

At the end of the 19th century Ludwig Barth, university professor with a love of wine, had built the estate of the same name in Mazon and planted the Pinot Noir vine there for the first time, with success, as it turned out. The year 2012 was very good for the Pinot Noir and the Roccolo vineyard at the Barthenau estate on the Mazon plateau. The grapes from vines over 70 years old, which are particularly rich in content and which are planted on the traditional pergola, should be reserved for a new top-quality wine. They were harvested separately, pressed separately and matured in small oak barrels and are only processed in the best vintages to the single vineyard wine "Roccolo".

It convinces with its supple, filigree acid structure, the backbone of every Burgundian. Martin Foradori's "Burgundy instinct" had shown him the right way, working until the late evening hours had been worthwhile. A top-class Pinot Noir now enriches the Pinot Noir range of the estate - from the outstanding location of the Mazon plateau. SUPERIORE.DE

Pinero is a dark, full Pinot Nero with an attractive bouquet of cherries, blackberries, herbs and smoke. A mature, extroverted wine, remarkably complex and harmonious. SUPERIORE.DE

Pure-varietal Pinot Nero, produced only in the best years. Fine, very elegant bouquet of redcurrant, blueberry and sweet spicy notes. Cool and lean on the palate, of Burgundian finesse and structure, the fruit discreetly underpinned by fine spice and wonderfully polished tannin. Long and complex with aristocratic restraint and blessed with great ageing potential. SUPERIORE.DE

Palazzo Lana Extrême Riserva is a masterpiece from a great vintage. The pure Pinot Nero is characterised by a complex bouquet of fresh yeast, pear and lemongrass. Bright fruit on the palate, firm, with lively acidity and wonderfully consistent perlage. SUPERIORE.DE

"Noble straw yellow with a drop of copper and a persistent perlage. A nose of cold smoke, elegant precious wood, milk chocolate, candied fruit and fine porcini mushrooms, sea salt, very complex and inviting. Balanced and very elegant on the palate, with plenty of juice and fruit flavours, simultaneously pure and bone-dry, with a tightly meshed perlage and a long finish." Falstaff

"Complex notes of grapefruit, fresh figs, lemons, green apples, walnuts, chalk and salted nuts. It is lively and racy, with a medium body and broad, creamy bubbles. Excellent flavour intensity and persistence with a dry and nutty finish." James Suckling

"This 100% Pinot Noir from the classic and historic Berlucchi estate does not disappoint. Aromas of roasted pineapple, grilled peach, warmed honey, baking spices, and fresh bread define the heady nose. The rich and structured palate shows notes of candied citrus, white strawberry and crushed stone, finishing with crisp and radiant." Wine Enthusiast

"A bouquet of sweet smoke, crushed pear, chamomile and dusty dried flowers makes the 2011 Franciacorta Riserva Palazzo Lana unmissable. On the palate, this wine displays a balance of soothing bubbles, salty minerals and ripe, ginger-flavoured apples that provide pure elegance. Despite being labelled Extra Brut, the wine is bone dry on the finish, leaving notes of raw almonds, hazelnuts and citrus that linger. The 2011 is complex, with fantastic depth and balance. It is an absolute pleasure to taste." Vinous

"The 2011 Franciacorta Riserva Palazzo Lana Extrême Extra Brut from Guido Berlucchi has a thick layer of creamy peach or apricot that goes beyond the bouquet and ultimately colours the palate richly. These fruits are framed by small hints of exotic spices, cinnamon and caraway. The acidity is lively and the wine finishes on a dry note with a slight effervescence. This is certainly a delicious sparkling food wine." Wine Advocate