Tenuta J. Hofstätter in Tramin is one of the historic wineries of Alto Adige, and Barthenau Vigna Sant'Urbano is its most famous wine. In 1987 it became the first South Tyrolean wine to officially name a single vineyard on its label, and it has been a benchmark for Italian Pinot Noir ever since.
The vineyard lies at Mazzon, the plateau above Egna considered the region's finest terroir for Pinot Noir, at 350-370 metres around the Barthenau farmstead. Some of the vines are over 65 years old, on clay-rich soils of the Werfen formation, cooled by the Ora breeze from Lake Garda. In the cellar, a share of whole bunches, then 12 months in barrique, 12 in large casks and further ageing in bottle.
The 2020 is elegant and deep: wild strawberry, cherry, rose, fine spice and silky tannins. One of the Italian Pinot Noirs that stands comparison with Burgundy; with duck, pigeon, mushroom dishes and salmon.
At a glance: Pinot Noir 100% · 13.5% ABV · 0.75 l · Hofstätter, Mazzon (Alto Adige)
