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| Bressan Merlot 2003. |
Wine review
5 of 5 stars
An outstanding wine
Here we have an outstanding wine. A clear ruby
colour is followed by an extraordinary bouquet. First there are raspberries,
cranberries, blueberries and blackberries and floral aromas of violets. The second
impression brings in developed aromas of sweet spices, cedar wood and amber. Finally, there is oriental perfume that
reminds me of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a
Night. The entirety on this pronounced nose is etherial, even
mystical as the layers of aromas open one after another.
When
tasting, the story of the striking bouquet continues as
its aromas are repeated seamlessly on the palate. I'm astonished by the
etherial mouthfeel that echoes the bouquet as the wine glides on the
palate. There is feeling of fluttering silk. The
medium body is well balanced with high acidity and developed, round and
plentiful
tannins. A very pleasant cranberry after taste lingers for a long
while.
This
wine, in my opinion, ought to be meditated. I wouldn't necessarily
combine it with food due to its delicate aromatic complexity that would
easily be overpowered by food. However, if you want to drink this wine
over dinner, I would suggest high quality roast beef with vegetable
pure. Due to its high acidity, this wine could also be combined with
acidic dishes without becoming flat, e.g. Italian tomato based recipes.
Complex, integrated and elegant. A truly divine wine.
Info in a nutshell
Price examples:
EUR 28,50 at Enoteca Ronchi webshop
DKK 235 (EUR 31) per bottle at Vinbar Terroiristen,
Copenhagen, Denmark
Country and region: Italia, Venezia Giulia IGT,
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Isonzo
Grape: Merlot 100%
Alc vol: 12,5%
Producer: Bressan
Background
Bressan Merlot is made by Fulvio Bressan, a vintner from
Isonzo in Friuli, Northern Italy. Bressan family has owned this land since the 16th
century, and made wine since 1726, now counting the 9th generation of wine makers.
The vineyards are on the riverside of Isonzo. Their soil consists of sediments
and has high minerality, including high levels of iron.
Fulvio Bressan is a character. His wine making philosophy is
all about terroir. The priority for him is to be fully responsible for the land
he has inherited, which means that he is brutally honest in his vineyard care
and wine making techniques. Practically all work at the vineyards is done
manually. No pesticides are used, no irrigation, no yeasts and no chemicals are
added to the wine (not even sulphites). However, the idea is not necessarily to
produce organic wines. Instead, the logic is to be as terroir driven as
possible, so that the wine would convey these vines and this land in
particular. Consequently, if on a given year under these circumstances the
grapes don’t reach high quality, then no wine is produced. This results in
Bressan producing 0 to 40000 bottles of wine a year. Nature gives, nature
takes. It is as simple as that.
Fulvio and Nereo Bressan themselves consider the vintage of
2003 amongst the best for Bressan winery. The Merlot of 2003 was grown on 50
years old vines. It has high extraction levels due to long maceration. Bold
tannins and ample fruit with high acidity give this wine an excellent aging
potential.
