Alto Adige, Italy
Pinot Bianco is the Italian name for the Pinot Blanc grape variety. Some earlier members might remember the Alsace Pinot Blanc (Albert Mann) we sent out to members a few years back. Plus, all you Pinot Noir fans out there, take note, Pinot Blanc/Bianco is actually a genetic mutation of the Pinot Noir grape and it is not uncommon for the odd Pinot Noir vine to bear white fruit.
This wine is sourced from Alto Adige in Northern Italy between Austria and Switzerland and is one of the oldest wine growing regions in Europe.
The vineyards of Nals Margreid are positioned between 200 and 900 meters above sea level, stretching from Nalles in the north to Magrè in the south. These locations benefit from both the climactic-barrier protection of the Alps to the North, and the warmth of the Mediterranean influences from the South. (Ideal for a long cool ripening period) This wine is sourced from the Penon Vineyard, which is one of the jewels in the area, with its high altitude and limestone / clay soils.
The 2010 Nals Margreid Penon Pinot Bianco begins with great aromas of apple, and stone fruits. The wine has a smooth and creamy texture with great acidity. The primary flavors include melon, apple and lemon with a stone/mineral base that is sensational. A full bodied wine that really does give you the structure and complexity that is important in quality wines.