“Phileo” Vinschgauer Weißburgunder Alto Adige DOC 2020

Tenuta Falkenstein | South Tyrol
Tenuta Falkenstein | Schlossweg 19 | IT 39025 Naturns

01170920 · 0,75 l · 52,00 €/lavailable immediately

Phileo is the Greek word for love, for affection, for sincerity in a relationship. Franz Pratzner did not choose this name by chance. He derived it from Filomena – his mother, the woman who shaped, moulded and lived the Falkenstein estate for decades. A wine as homage – it could hardly be more personal. The Phileo vines are planted on the Falkenstein vineyard itself, at 650 metres, south-facing, on a soil of gneiss, granite and slate – one of the most mineral-rich soils in the entire Vinschgau Sonnenberg. 9,000 vines per hectare, Guyot training, one kilogramme per vine. Maximum density, minimum quantity. What the vines achieve in this barren landscape is brought to the glass through malolactic fermentation and the targeted, restrained use of wood – creamy, structured, with a long ageing potential.

2020 was a year with good temperature fluctuations and clear ripeness in the Venosta Valley – ideal for a Pinot Blanc that strives for texture and depth rather than mere freshness. Brilliant golden yellow colour. Honey, orange peel, ripe Williams pear, vanilla and a hint of walnut on the nose – warm and multi-layered. Creamy and powerful on the palate, ripe pear, citrus, bitter almond – with malolactic softness and a long, salty-mineral final. Storage potential for many years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright straw yellow with golden reflections. Full-bodied nose of ripe yellow apple, apricots, pineapple and mango, delicately underlaid with buttery notes. The palate is full-bodied with well-integrated acidity. Long-lasting, warming final, noticeable use of wood." Falstaff

"The 2020 Pinot Bianco Phileo opens with an incredibly pretty blend of citrus-tinged peaches and apple, complemented by a whiff of mint. It sweeps across the palate with silken waves that usher in ripe pit fruits under an air of vanilla custard. The 2020 cleans up beautifully on the finish, long and rich yet fresh, mixing nuances of butterscotch and raw almond." Vinous

"Quite exotic with mangoes, papayas and apricots. Silky texture and medium body. On the palate, vibrancy and tension balance the sweet fruit profile. Grapefruit flavors as well. Long, savory finish." James Suckling