Classification
Bolgheri D.O.C. Rosso
Vintage
2023
Grape Variety
Merlot
Climate
The 2023 vintage in Bolgheri began with a rather mild winter and
little rainfall, which led to a slightly early budbreak, which began on March 20th. During the spring,
marked by frequent, albeit moderate, rainfall,
careful work in the vineyard was necessary to maintain the health
of the vines. July was generally warm and dry and
positively slowed the vines' growth vigor, creating optimal
conditions for veraison and the beginning of grape ripening. In August,
temperatures were normal, although between the 20th and 25th of the month
an unusually warm and dry wind from the north caused some
dehydration of leaves and berries in the most
exposed areas. At the end of August, a disturbance from the Atlantic brought
rain and cool temperatures, restoring favorable conditions for the continuation
of ripening. The sunny and dry month of September allowed
full ripening to be achieved in every vineyard parcel, with excellent
quality levels. The Merlot harvest for Cont’Ugo took place
between September 6th and 18th, with perfectly ripe and intact grapes.
Vinification and Aging
After manual harvesting and careful selection in the cellar, the grapes
were transferred to temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks where
alcoholic fermentation and maceration took place, lasting approximately 20 days.
The fermentation temperature was managed according to the level of
ripening of the grapes: lower temperatures, around 25°C, were chosen to
maintain greater aromatic freshness, and higher temperatures, up to
around 30°C, to emphasize polyphenolic extraction and structure. The different
lots, divided by characteristics, were transferred to barriques where they completed malolactic fermentation
by the end of the year. The best lots were blended and transferred back to
second-use barriques for an additional 12 months of maturation. Bottling took place in
the second ten days of March 2025.
Alcohol content
14% Vol.