Merlot Cabernet Curtis – 2021

Merlot Cabernet Curtis from Cantina Kurtatsch in the warm south of South Tyrol

The Merlot Cabernet Curtis from Cantina Kurtatsch is a Bordeaux-style blend from the south of South Tyrol, grown in the warmest hillside vineyards in the region. Not a heavy barrique wine and not a light summer red, but a cuvée with a soft core and firm structure.

The Merlot Cabernet Curtis from Cantina Kurtatsch is a dry South Tyrolean red wine made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, bottled in 750-milliliter volumes. The vines grow in the low-lying hills around the village of Kurtatsch, where these three varieties reach a level of ripeness that no one would expect them to achieve further north in South Tyrol.

Cassis, blackberry, and a hint of pepper

A deep ruby red with a violet rim fills the glass, and dark berries rise from the depths as soon as you swirl it.

Blackcurrant and blackberry dominate the nose, followed by a hint of pepper and dried bay leaf. On the palate, the Merlot leads with soft, almost velvety tannins before the Cabernet Franc adds its spicy edge. At 13.5 percent alcohol, the wine remains medium-bodied and dry, with the sweetness of the ripe fruit remaining merely a suggestion.

In the finish, the tannins linger for quite a while without ever becoming astringent or drying. This very combination of fullness and edge is what defines this cuvée.

With braised roasts and aged mountain cheese

This red wine is right at home with braised beef, game from the oven, and aged mountain cheese. The tannins cleanse the fat from the palate and make room for the next bite.

Pasta with a rich ragù and a plate of Speck with Schüttelbrot bread also find a match here, as the spice in the wine holds its own against salt and fat. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in a wide-bowled glass; half an hour in an open decanter visibly benefits it.

If you are looking for a lighter South Tyrolean wine, you will find it in the light Grauvernatsch, and even more depth is packed into the powerful Lagrein.

On the fine lees in large wooden barrels

The vines for the Curtis grow on red, sandy-loamy soils with dolomite, clay minerals, and oxides, in hillside locations between 220 and 400 meters. These soils store heat and release it at night, allowing the berries to ripen evenly.

After fermentation, the wine is transferred to large wooden barrels where it remains on the fine lees. These dead yeast cells gradually release substance, which is exactly what gives the Curtis its soft center.

The malolactic fermentation, during which the harsh malic acid converts into the milder lactic acid, takes place in the same barrel. A large barrel does not impose itself; it rounds out the wine rather than defining it. In the end, the fruit remains the loudest voice in the glass.

A casserole and a long evening

It gets dark early outside, there is a casserole in the oven, and the bottle has been open and waiting nearby for a while. There is a cheese board on the table, the glass is sitting next to it, and no one is in a hurry.

The 2021 vintage can easily handle a few more years in a cool, dark cellar without losing its fruit. Once opened, it keeps for two to three days in the refrigerator; after that, it loses its structure. More from the south of South Tyrol can be found in the Cantina Kurtatsch range. A Bordeaux with mountain air.

Origin, values, and awards

• Origin: Wine from Italy
• Region: South Tyrol - Alto Adige DOC
• Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
• 13.5% vol. alcohol
• 5.2 g/l acidity
• 2 g/l residual sugar
• Awards 2021: 17.5 points Vinum