Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The vineyard lies at 350 m on steep, southeast-facing limestone soils threaded with clay and sand. Every bunch is harvested and selected by hand.
Grapes
Merlot, Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The cuvée draws on the best red grapes of the vintage.
Vinification
All varieties apart from the later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon are picked on the same day and processed together. Fermentation lasts about 10 days in stainless steel, followed by malolactic fermentation. Since 2015, gravity-fed handling, a highly sensitive destemmer and the rail-mounted Cuvon container have enabled gentle whole-berry processing.
Ageing
The wine matures for 18 months in French oak barriques from Limousin and Allier, almost all new, followed by several months in bottle.
Technical data
The 2023 has 14.0% alcohol, total acidity of 5.6 g/L and residual sugar of 2.4 g/L. Formats comprise 0.75 L, 1.5 L, 3 L and 5 L. Ageing potential is stated at 15–20 years.
Tasting profile
Deep, intense purple-red. The layered bouquet combines spice, lightly smoky tobacco, pepper and chocolate with red berries, wild berries and dried figs. Powerful yet elegant and harmonious, the palate has integrated tannins, delicate toast, spicy breadth and a long finish, with finesse, character and substantial ageing potential.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 16–18°C with meat or game.
Vintage notes
The 2023 growing season alternated between warm and cool spells and included periods of rain. Midsummer conditions in June and July gave way to heavy rain in early August, followed by a long, sunny ripening period. Harvest started relatively late, in early September, under ideal weather before conditions became less stable toward its conclusion. Warm days and cool nights supported full ripeness, balanced acidity, clear fruit and good structure.
Label / history
Kermesse was created as the red counterpart to Beyond the Clouds. Its use of varieties extending beyond the Alto Adige DOC register leads to the Vino rosso d’Italia designation.
