Casata Monfort Teroldego Rotaliano

This wine made from an authocthonous Trentino variety is widely considered the region’s best red.  It shares some biochemical similarities with another native grape, Marzemino.  The grape name comes from a village, Teroldeghe, near the town of Mezzolombardo.  The DOC name combines the grape with the name of the ancient floodplain of Mezzocorona/Mezzolomabardo known as the Rotaliano, formed from alluvium deposited by the Noce river.  No other area in Trentino has been able to produce this variety satisfactorily.

The vine typically matures in the middle of each development phase, bud break, flowering, veraison and harvest.  This last is between the end of September and the beginning of October.  Bunch size is also medium, elongated and pyramidal shaped with 2 ears at the stem juncture.  Berries are regular and thick-skinned with a dark blue color.  The juice is pulpy, simply flavored and both sweet and acidic.

Vinification, including alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, is typically done in stainless steel.  Aging in barrel is sometimes used and aging in bottle before release is typical.  Like many native Italian varieties, Teroldego can be aggressively tannic but exotically fruited.  In the case of Casata Monfort, tannins have been well-managed without compromising the jammy, plush quality of the fruit.  The color is particularly attractive, as is the full, berryish aroma.  A fine accompaniment to classic red-wine matches, Teroldego should capture the fancy of customers who are looking for something unusual.