Villa Fiorita, NERO DI VILLA

Region: Piemonte
Production Area: Castello di Annone (Asti)
Appellation: Monferrato Rosso DOC
Vintage: 2006
Varietal Blend: 100% Pinot Noir, clones from Bourgogne
Vineyard: 670 ft above sea level with a south-western exposure. Plant Density: 2.800 vines per acre. Average vines age: 20 years old.
Planting System: Guyot.
Soil: Calcareous, Clayey.
Harvest: Hand picked first half of September.
Yield: About 2 tons per acre
Alcohol: 14%
Vinification: Fermented in stainless steel tanks for 8 days with malolactic fermentation in the tank.
Aging: 18 months in small oak barrels (new and used), plus 12 months in the bottle.

Tasting Notes: Intense, bright ruby red color tending to garnet with aging. Intense nose with scents of rose, white pepper and small red fruit with nuances of vanilla and licorice. Soft and balanced on the palate showing good persistence and structure and noticeable tannins.

Food Pairings: Red meat dishes, aged cheese.