Italo Cescon, Pinot Noir 2022

A delightful Pinot Noir from Italo Cescon's line of "Il Tracetto" of wines.

Il Tralcetto translates as “The Little Grape Vine Cutting”, a sample of which can be found tied around the neck of each bottle. This physical representation of vineyard authenticity was first done by Italo's mother, Anna, in 1957 and has become the recognised feature of their wines since.

This 100% Pinot Nero (aka. Pinot Noir) was grown in the clayey and medium-textured soils of Cescon's own Basalghelle and Fontanelle vineyards, with the ideal microclimate (typically characterised by cooler evenings) for slow and steady ripening. Their situation actually protects the vines from pretty savage wines that run off the Alps, which is a nifty thing to have.

The wine sees four days of cold pre-fermentation maceration for extraction of colour, followed by another six to eight days of traditional malolactic fermentation.  The wine is then aged for six months in cement vats, followed by three months in bottle before release.

The result is a charming wine, ruby red in colour, with aromas of dark red berries, andn cherries. This is followed on the palate with ripe boysenberry flavors, balanced by a pleasant tartness of redcurrant, notes of clove and warm spice, with really beautiful, balanced tannins.  In Venice, this Pinot would traditionally be paired with gnocchi in Bolognese sauce, also perfect with our familiar weekday workhorse Spag Bol!

A tasty and interesting wine, you really do get the impression that this wine is made from high-quality fruit and that no set design for the wine has been followed other than that set out by the fruit's characteristics.

It's a wine that is engaging, vibrant and authentic that doesn't cost the earth and just happens to be made from a famous variety in a very attractive bottle!