Wine Description

The muscular Girolamo is a 100% Merlot from 40 year-old vines. After the harvest, the grapes are crushed and fermented in stainless steel for extra smoothness and complexity. Girolamo is then aged in Allier barriques for approximately two years, to achieve an elegant combination of fruitiness, softened tannins and body.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby-red with purple reflections, Girolamo offers sumptuous aromas of raspberry, blackberry, spices and tar. On the palate, Girolamo has a soft and silky texture backed by a substantial backbone and culminates in a long, fruit-laden finish. Serve with rich meat dishes, barbecue, rich risottos, game and medium-aged cheeses.

Vineyard Characteristics

Production area/name of vineyard:	Castelnuovo Berardegna/The Girolamo vineyard
Size of vineyard (acres):	15
Soil composition:	Clay and limestone
Training method:	Spur-pruned Cordon
Elevation (feet):	1,155
Vines/acre:	1,400
Yield/acre (tons):	1.2
Exposure:	Southern
Year vineyard planted:	1970
Agronomist/Vineyard manager:	Federico Curtaz

Winemaking & Aging

Varietal composition:	100% Merlot
Harvest time:	September-October
Winemaking consultant:	Alberto Antonini
First vintage of this wine:	1997
Number bottles produced of this wine:	20,000
Fermentation
Fermentation container:	Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation (days):	9
Fermentation temperature (°F):	84
Maceration technique:	Pumpover and delestage
Length of maceration (days):	28
Aging
Aging container:	Barriques
Size of aging container:	225 L
Age of aging container:	New
Cooperage:	French oak
Length of aging before bottling:	24 months
Length of bottle aging:	9 months
Analytical Data
Alcohol:	14.0%
pH level:	3.4
Residual sugar (grams/liter):	2.0
Acidity (grams/liter):	5.7
Dry extract (grams/liter):	33.4

Reviews

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