Description
Girlan is one of the finest ‘grower collectives’ in Northern Italy’s spectacular Alto Adige, a stone’s throw from the Austrian and Swiss borders and encircled by the saw-toothed Dolomite Mountains, producing exemplary whites and reds. They have long encouraged their growers to focus on those varieties that best suit their soils, aspects and altitudes and they have led the way in single ‘commune’ and single vineyard wines. Girlan was also one of the first collectives in Alto Adige to pay its growers according to the quality of their fruit and apply strict controls on yields.
It is important to understand the central role that collective wine growing has had in Alto Adige. For a multitude of reasons including: geographic isolation, mountainous topography and tiny average holdings, local growers have historically banded together to form co-operatives. Over 70% of the region’s wines are produced by such co-ops and a number, including Girlan, control a wonderful array of the region’s finest sites.
Over the last 10 years Girlan has been busy establishing itself as one of the most interesting names of Alto Adige. It was the arrival of new cellarmaster Gehard Kofler in 2006, however, that really kicked things up a gear. By 2008, Girlan had five wines competing for Gambero Rosso’s ‘Tre Bicchieri’ (‘Three Glasses’) with one 2008 wine eventually winning this top designation. Girlan and Kofler control some great sites in Alto Adige’s Uberetsch-Unterland subregion. Their wines are of great freshness, delicacy and aromatic complexity, a sure reflection of great sites, low yields and the rigour that Kofler brings to Girlan’s spotlessly clean cellar.
About this wine: Named for the altitude of Cantina Girlan’s historic farmstead—448 metres above sea level—this is a blend of Alto Adige’s three key red varieties: Lagrein, Schiava and Pinot Nero, grown on mineral-rich soils shaped by glacial sedimentation. Lagrein comes from deep, sandy sites in the warmer Bassa Atesina, ideal for ripening; Pinot Nero and Schiava from the sunny, well-aerated hillsides of Cornaiano, where Pinot Nero in particular has found real affinity with the terroir.
Hand-picked into small containers to protect the fruit, destemmed and fermented slowly at controlled temperature in steel, then through malolactic and ageing in concrete. The result is fresh, light and fleshy, with a velvety, juicy texture and compact aromas of red berries, cherry and plum, lifted by herb and spice. Alpine Beaujolais, anyone? Pair with grilled and roast meats, game or spicy cheeses.
RRP $39 Our Special Price $31.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
