2022 Girlan IGT Vigneti d Dolomiti 448 Rosso

• Producer: Girlan
• Varietal: Pinot Noir Lagrein Schiava
• Region: Alto Adige
• Alcohol: 13.0%
• Net volume: 750ml
• Vintage: 2022
• Cellar until 2029

From a vintage built on fresh, vibrant fruit and soft, ripe tannins, the 448 Rosso is drawn from grapes grown (unsurprisingly) at around 448 metres above sea level in the Alto Adige. It's crafted from a blend of two indigenous Südtirol varieties—Lagrein and Schiava—along with Pinot Nero, with which the terroirs of Alto Adige have a proven affinity. The Lagrein comes from the deep, sandy soils of the Bassa Atesina (a warmer terroir, ideal for ripening this variety). The Pinot Nero and Schiava are grown on the hillside vineyards of Cornaiano, in sunny, well-aerated vineyards. Fermentation is in tank and old barrels, and the wines complete their maturation in concrete vats.
 

It's a moreish, aromatic, fleshy Alpine red with delicious notes of dark cherry fruit, aniseed and alpine herbs, textured/slippery fruit, sappy freshness and fine, food-friendly tannins. We could drink a lot of this, and without apology.

Girlan
Wines from isolated, mountainous pockets of the world can be exhilarating discoveries for those seeking new drinking experiences. The Alto Adige in Italy’s remote, mountainous north is perhaps the quirkiest high-altitude region going. Yes, you are technically in Italy, but forget about pasta, tanned youths on Vespas and your high school Italian. This is the Südtirol, a stone’s throw from the Austrian and Swiss borders and encircled by the saw-toothed Dolomite Mountains. Südtirol is the German name (South Tyrol in English), as the region borders Austria’s Tyrol state to the north. In fact, this area was part of Austria until WW1, and so the Germanic influence runs deep, here the restaurants serve hearty dumplings; smoked pork and sauerkraut; you drive a snow plough in winter; and the locals speak German as often as Italian, or even Ladin, a local dialect spoken only in this part of the world.

Alto Adige’s wines are as singular as their setting. This is isolated, high-altitude viticulture at its most extreme. Here, an endless variety of stony, well-drained, south-facing slopes look down on the Adige River from highs varying from 750-3250 feet. A wide range of grape varieties have long been grown here and intense aromatics, fresh acidity, and spiciness run through all the best wines. For wine buyers looking to Italy for diversity and value, this is as good a place to start as any. We think these wines offer some of the brightest, most exciting values we ship—with not a Pinot Grigio in sight!

The style of Girlan’s wines is very much in the zeitgeist; aromatic, textural, snappy whites and delicious, fragrant, crunchy-fresh reds.

Founded in 1923 as a small co-operative winery with 23 growers on their books, Girlan is based in the heart of Italy’s beautiful, mountainous, Alto Adige region. This historic Cantina has always been determined to do things differently. It was one of the first in the region to pay a premium based on the quality of grapes received. That charter has only been strengthened under the current direction of Oscar Lorandi and cellarmaster Gerhard Kofler. Today they work with 200 families who farm around 215 hectares of vines (small in the context of the region), meaning the average grower’s holding still lies under a single hectare of vines. If the grower delivers grapes of a quality to make it into a premium Girlan bottling, they get a generous bonus. This incentive clearly goes a long way and it is therefore little wonder that this address is held up as one of the beacons of the Valle dell’Adige. The wines speak loudly of their region’s mountainous, stony terroirs in a way that belies their humble price tag.

It’s therefore no accident that we have happily worked with this over-delivering Alto Adige outfit for as long as we can remember. The quality and value are outstanding. The Adige produces many outstanding wines and the best of these are typically in the upper price ranges—so to have a producer that offers such value is something to cherish. 

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