Bottega Vinai Trentino Merlot 2021

We weren't really looking for a Merlot from Trentino in North East Italy but when we tried this one we were amazed at the quality of the wine for the price and had to have it. The grapes are a selection of the Cavit co-operative's best and grown in the Valle dei Laghi near the smaller Lake Toblino, just north of Lake Garda, and harvested at the beginning of October. After fermentation the wine spends 15 months maturing in oak barrels before bottling. Classic red and dark berry, spice and cedarwood aromas lead onto a warm, broad, medium-bodied palate with ripe plum and cherry fruit flavours backed up with savoury developed notes and spice. Ripe, fine tannins, balanced acidity and good structure and depth finish off this accomplished wine.

Will work with quite a diverse range of foods, from red meat based dishes to rabbit and game, to tomato based pasta dishes.

Cavit is a leading co-operative in the mountainous Trentino region of northeast Italy, starting as a consortium of grape growers in 1950. Today, they bring together 11 cellars, over 5,000 growers, and more than 6,000 hectares of vineyards across the region. Their influence is so significant that Cavit accounts for more than half the wine produced in Trentino. They’ve built a reputation for quality and consistency, making a wide range of wines that showcase the unique terroir of the area.