Poggio ai Merli is the pure Merlot of Castellare di Castellina, Paolo Panerai's estate at Castellina in Chianti. The name, "blackbird hill", fits the house tradition of labels devoted to a different bird each year. The first vintage was 1999.
The vineyard lies between 350 and 400 metres on limestone soils, a cooler setting than that of the coastal Merlots. After malolactic in steel the wine ages at length in new French oak barriques and then for about a year in bottle.
2019, a balanced, high-quality vintage in Tuscany, produced a Merlot that is rich and fresh at once: blackberry, black cherry, plum, cocoa and coffee, with soft, elegant tannins. This is Castellare's wine for lovers of great Tuscan Merlot. With red meat, wild boar and grilled liver.
At a glance: Merlot 100% · 14% ABV · 0.75 l · Castellare di Castellina, Castellina in Chianti