Poggio ai Merli di Castellare

Poggio ai Merli Merlot Toscana IGT bottle image

Wine Description

Poggio ai Merli is made entirely from Merlot, and named after the single vineyard from which it is produced. Located in the heart of Chianti Classico, grapes are imbued with all the terroir-driven characteristics of Tuscany's most famous viticultural area. This wine embodies Castellare's innovation by producing international varietals in an area world-famous for Sangiovese.

Alessandro Cellai
Castellare Vines
Castellare Vineyard
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Acclaim
“A real stunner, the 2012 Poggio ai Merli (Merlot) shows just how compelling this vintage can be. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, tobacco, mocha, sage and new leather are just some of the many notes that race out of the glass in a wine that takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. The 2012 finishes with notable intensity, and a combination of power and silkiness that is remarkable. Readers who have an opportunity to taste the 2012 should not hesitate, as it is fabulous. This is one of the best vintage of Poggio ai Merli I can remember tasting.”
— Antonio Galloni, Sep 2014
“The 2012 Poggio Ai Merli is a pure expression of Merlot that opens to a huge sense of opulence and roundness, as only the best Merlots can do. This is a seamless expression that is beaming with cherry and blackberry backed by soft spice, tobacco and leather. I loved the textural richness and the way it so softly caresses the palate. If you are a fan of Merlot, this is one of the best from Italy. It’s set for either near-term or long-term consumption.”
— Wine Advocate, Oct 2014
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Vineyard & Production Info
Production area/appellation:
Toscana IGT
Vineyard name
The Poggio ai Merli Vineyard
Vineyard size
5 acres
Soil composition
Calcareous Clay-Loam
Elevation:
1,450 feet
Vines/acre:
2,000
Exposure:
Southern
Year vineyard planted:
1996
Harvest time:
August
First vintage of this wine:
1999
Bottles produced of this wine:
3,500
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
12
Varietal composition:
100% Merlot
Fermentation container:
Stainless steel tanks
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
14 days
Fermentation temperature:
79 °F
Maceration technique:
Racking and Pumpovers
Malolactic fermentation:
Yes
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
14 months
Age of Aging Container:
New-One year
Length of bottle aging:
10 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.7
Acidity:
5.3 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Residual sugar:
2.5 g/L