New Arrival from Boscarelli!
Northeast of Montepulciano, perched on a rolling hill in the Mediterranean countryside, the Tuscan village of Cortona has soils rich with clay and organic compounds–similar to that of the right bank of Bordeaux, this is a place where Merlot has proven to express reliably vibrant. Cortona's history is older than Rome and Troy, with a true origin lost in time. Legend and fact mingle in speculation that Cortona may have been one of Europe’s first established cities.
We are excited to announce a new arrival! The reputable Boscarelli family expanded their roots from Montepulciano to Cortona in 2006, planting a single vineyard to produce this unique 100% Tuscan Merlot.
Boscarelli Cortona 2017 100% Merlot $39.99 per bottle
A combination of red and black fruits. Cranberry and blueberry, blackberry. Very fresh with nice acidity and tannins. Not overdone like some merlot-based wines. Was much better with the introduction of food and time. As the wine sat in the glass over two hours the darker fruits came forward suggesting this wine will improve over time in the cellar or time in the decanter. Great value for a Cortona wine. Pair with tomato basil risotto or Filet Mignon à la Florentine.
Grapes
Produced with hand-selected grapes, it is a wine that seeks to enhance the fresh and fruity aromas of its 100% Merlot composition.
Vinification
The grapes are picked manually and after de-stemming and soft pressing, are fermented using indigenous yeast in steel vats filled to no more than two-thirds of their capacity. The fermentation process lasts about a week at controlled temperatures from 28 to 30 degrees. A short manual re-passing of the must and pomace is completed in the initial phase.
Ageing
The wine matures for several months in vitrified cement vats where malolactic fermentation occurs. Before bottling the wine is lightly filtered and shipped the summer after harvest.
Optimal maturity
Our Merlot has a fruity and floral freshness. Due to the particular fragrance, we recommend drinking it within the first 4 to 5 years of its life.
The Boscarelli family respects and maximizes the expression of their different soils and clones, recognizing they are distinctive and unique. These principles constitute a philosophical belief that is then applied to enology. Their commitment starts directly in the vineyard with intensive care for grapevines and continues during harvest with differentiation of grapes according to the age of plants as well as close attention to optimum ripeness and soil composition. Fermenting each selection separately, yearly harvest produces at least 30 different cuvées. After separate ageing and few weeks before bottling, they are joined in final cuts depending on their own yearly characteristics. This process requires a lot of work but it allows for the deepest expression of the character of each plot. Every single bottle expresses special care and the complexity of characteristics, precisely what they try to convey to each of the wines.