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SoleTerrAVite is produced from 80% merlot
and 20% refosco grapes. It is ruby red, brilliant and
intense. The nose releases successive hints of blackberry,
blackcurrant, coffee, tobacco, and leather as well as
a vein of toasted oak. These characteristics carry over
into the mouth, accompanied by a pleasing tannicity and
supported by a firm inner structure.
The merlot vineyard was planted in 1968 in well-drained
soils rich in gravel and pebbles close to the river
Tagliamento. The refosco vineyard is located on benchland
at an altitude of 250 m (800 ft), in the west-central
Friuli foothills; the nutrient-rich soils are moderately
deep, mostly sandy in composition with some limestone.
The grapes are hand-picked in late September or early
October, depending on local weather conditions. The
merlot yield is 70 q/ha. (3.1 tons.acre), refosco 80
q/ha. (3.5).
The de-stemmed merlot grapes were inoculated with yeasts
and enzymes then macerated on the skins for about twelve
to fourteen days. The juice was then pressed off, racked,
and completed fermentation in temperature-controlled
stainless steel tanks. The base wine for this is the
same as for our Castelcosa Merlot, but the barrel-ageing
regime is different for the two wines.
The refosco received a ten-day maceration and went through
primary and malolactic fermentations in stainless steel,
where it remained until the assembling of the cuvée.
The Merlot rested for about 22 months in American Quercus
alba oak barrels, where it completed its malolactic
fermentaion.
The final cuvèe of the Merlot and Refosco was
done in February 2002; the blend was then clarified
and bottled unfiltered in June.
Total production: Approx. 275 cases.
Alcohol: 14%
Total acidity: 5.5 gr/li.
pH: 3.56
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