Nals Margreid "Sirmian" Pinot Bianco DOC 2020
(Alto Adige, Italy) - [JS 95] [DM 94] [WA 93] [WE 91] [WS 91]

Nals Margreid is a cooperative of about 100 small growers located in the Alto Adige region of Northern Italy. The cooperative was formed in 1985 by the merging of The Cellars Nalles (established in 1932) and Magre-Niclara (established in 1954) – two well-respected entities, both steeped in tradition. While cooperatives are typical in the Alto Adige (where parcels are often small and at high altitudes in mountainous terrain) their goal in joining forces was to unite some of the best wine growers from the Strada del Vino (wine road) of Alto Adige into something of a “dream team”. Today, 140 growers cultivate a wide range of local varieties in over 150 hectares of vineyards for the Nals Margreid Cellar.

Terroir
The steep slopes, exposed to the south-east and with an altitude of between 500 and 700 metres, are located above Nalles, in Sirmian. Composed of limestone, gneiss, mica, slate and marble, and having originated millions of years ago from the glaciers in the Alpi Occidentali, the morainic deposit is permeable and sits on top of porphyry, the prehistoric bedrock.

Climate
The Alpine climate is characterised by mild summers and cool autumns and allows for a longer period of growth and a late harvest in mid-October.

Vinification
The grapes are harvested by hand. After a brief period of pre-fermentation maceration, the clarified must is fermented for around three weeks in 12 and 30 hl wooden barrels. Afterwards, the young wine is aged on the lees for a further eight months.

Tasting NotesBright straw yellow, with a beautiful depth of colour. Very clean notes of pink grapefruit, kiwi and a hint of thyme on the nose. Full-bodied, deep and flavourful with an impressively long finish. Pair with spaghetti with sardines or white fish stew. Serve at 10-12˚C.

95 Points - James Suckling:
"The nose of this remarkable dry pinot blanc is a deep well of citrus, pear and stone-fruit aromas. But, despite the impressive ripeness, there’s no hint of the exotic-fruit character that overripeness brings. So concentrated and precisely delineated, the finish very bright and energy-laden. Many years ahead of it! Drink or hold." (Jul. 2022)

94 Points - Decanter:
"A standout single-vineyard wine and the cooperative’s flagship white. Bright, stony and impeccably balanced, it charms with scents of melon, white flowers and peach flecks. Ripe, juicy pear and melon contrast with spice and minerals, finishing with succulent peach and freshness." Drink 2022-2028. - James Button (Oct. 2022)

93 Points - Wine Advocate:
"I tasted this wine twice, once in my office and once at the winery with slightly different results. When tasted in my office, the Nals Margreid 2020 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco Sirmian was a more neutral and closed. At the winery, it was singing loud and clear. I've gone with an average of both scores here. With 40,000 bottles released, Sirmian delivers great textural richness achieved with eight months of barrel age. Fruit comes from a cool growing site ranging from 500 to a much cooler 700 meters in elevation, and the harvest lasts three or four weeks due to how slow the berries ripen. Some 6,000 bottles were put aside to create a late-release wine that will hit the market six years from now." Drink 2022-2030. - Monica Larner (Dec. 2022)

91 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Delicately scented, this has light aromas recalling stone fruit and Alpine hay. On the palate, oak-driven spice accentuates ripe apple, pear and cedar before closing on a hint of hazelnut." - Kerin O'Keefe (Nov. 2022)

91 Points - Wine Spectator:
"An elegant white, creamy and framed by orange peel acidity, this integrates a minerally layer of smoke and stone with a subtle, finely meshed range of ripe pear, chopped almond and star fruit flavors. Drink now through 2027." - Alison Napjus (Nov. 2022)