Sansonina Merlot

Merlot Veronese IGT bottle image

Wine Description

This wine is a pure 100% Merlot from twenty five year old vines. It is the special project of Nadia Zenato and her mother Carla. The grapes are harvested by hand in mid-September, and fermented in temperature controlled wood uprights. The must remains in contact with the skins for 15 days to allow for greater flavor concentration and color extraction. Sansonina is aged in eighteen month old Allier barriques for two years, further adding elegance and finesse. After an additional year in bottle, the Merlot is released from the winery.

Carla Prospero
Sansonina vineyard
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Acclaim
Aromas of licorice and blackberries follow through to hints of minerals. Full-bodied, with a smoky, slightly raisin character and a medium-sweet finish. Like a dry Port. Lovely with blue cheese or game. Pure Merlot.
— Wine Spectator, Jan 2005
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Vineyard & Production Info
Production area/appellation:
Veronese IGT
Vineyard name
The Sansonina vineyard
Soil composition
Clay and limestone
Training method
Spur-pruned Cordon
Elevation:
490 feet
Vines/acre:
3,400
Exposure:
Southwestern
Year vineyard planted:
1977
Harvest time:
October
First vintage of this wine:
1997
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
15
Varietal composition:
100% Merlot
Fermentation container:
50 HL oak uprights
Length of alcoholic fermentation:
15 days
Fermentation temperature:
77-82 °F
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French oak: Allier
Length of aging before bottling:
2 years
Age of Aging Container:
New
Length of bottle aging:
12 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.75
Alcohol:
14 %
Dry extract:
36 g/L
Residual sugar:
3 g/L