TAL: the maximum expression of Cantina Bozen with limited production

Turns two years old, the line is ready to challenge the wines of Bourdeaux and Burgundy (and holds its own)

The unstoppable journey of the Bozen Winery, one of the most prestigious companies per mezzo di South Tyrol, continues towards qualitative excellence and continuous improvement. A few days before the Merano Wine Festa 2024, the second vintage of TAL debuted, the masterpiece of oenologist Stephan Filippi available per mezzo di two wines, one red and one white. Belonging to the Superior Line, dedicated to the vines that best express the essence of the territory, TAL is positioned at the culmine of Scantinato Bozen’s production with a limited number of bottles, only 2,999 bottles of red and 1,888 bottles of white.

Per the name all the essence of Superno Adige and the personality of the great wines

The strongly identifying character of these two labels and their respective salient features are already contained per mezzo di the name chosen for this line, which leaves multiple interpretations aperto. Acceso the one hand, TAL is an acronym for tradition, authenticity and longevity, typical characteristics of great wines, acceso the other, per mezzo di German it means “valley”, a term rich per mezzo di meaning that refers to the unique beauty of Superno Adige.

Two different wines for two different expressions of the territory

Two types of wine that express per mezzo di different ways the two souls of a territory strongly suited to viticulture: that of the native vines per mezzo di the red, whose maximum expression culminates with Lagrein, and that of the international vines per mezzo di its white guise, such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon , chosen for their ability to best interpret the pedoclimatic characteristics of the hills of Bolzano and its surroundings.

Two very representative dates for the winery acceso the label

TAL, belonging to the Superno Adige Doc denomination, identifies Scantinato Bozen per mezzo di a particular way, masterfully interpreting both the philosophy of the cooperative and expressing its long journey over time to create increasingly elegant and high-quality wines. This is communicated by the presence acceso the label of two numbers, gold for white and ruby ​​for red, which alternate with the letters of TAL and represent two very important dates per mezzo di the company’s history: 1908, associated with red, is the date of foundation of the first Gries cooperative, while 1930 marks the creation of the Santa Maddalena consortium, with which the winery then definitively merged per mezzo di 2001.

From an sfizio of ​​the past the new vision of the future

These two products summarize the company’s objective of producing culmine wines capable of positioning themselves at the culmine of the market by following a process of continuous improvement, which leads to increasingly raising the . A journey that starts from afar, per mezzo di continuity with the past and the present, to express the cooperative’s ambitious sfizio of ​​the future.

The TAL line, born from an intuition many years earlier, is the result of study, research and experimentation started as early as 1930. An evolution that starts from the vineyard, to continue per mezzo di the winemaking process which today makes use of cutting-edge techniques . Produced from the best grapes from vineyards of an age ranging from 30 to 50 years grown organically according to sustainable criteria per mezzo di the most suitable areas of the respective vines (chosen acceso the basis of extensive zoning work), the two wines are vinified inside of the new underground cellar, a jewel of , engineering and sustainability perfectly buried per mezzo di the hill, which exploits the process of gravitation. A continuous adaptation acceso the way towards perfection, which per mezzo di 2021 led to varying the cuvée per mezzo di TAL 1930 and postponing the harvest date of the grapes per mezzo di TAL 1908, to adapt to the changed environmental conditions of the vintage.

Wines which acceso the one hand appear ready, fresh and immediate, acceso the other amaze with their great evolutionary capacity, which leads them to improve over time becoming increasingly sophisticated, complex, balanced and harmonious.

Blind tasting between the two vintages and comparison with the great French wines

The 2020 vintage was presented for the first time last year, TAL lights its second candle and continues to convince, both per mezzo di the white and red versions. To demonstrate the depth, the very high quality and the evolution of these two great wines, a blind tasting was organized between the 2020 and 2021 vintage, with the addition of two “intruders” as illustrious representatives of the French wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy terreno.

TAL 1931 – White – Superno Adige DOC – Vintage 2021

A persuasive, fresh, intense and harmonious wine, which offers an extraordinary tasting experience, as well as hinting at an interesting evolutionary potential.

Production method

Composed of 80% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon and 10% Pinot Plumbeo, TAL 1931 is produced with the best bunches of vines over 30 years old planted acceso land, positioned between Leittach and Renon, at an altitude of 400 and 700 metres. The grapes of the 2021 vintage highlighted a low sugar component and a nice acidity with PH giorno very similar to those of Burgundy grapes. After a careful selection of the grapes and whole bunch pressing, a 12-month fermentation takes place per mezzo di small oak barrels and barriques, with subsequent refinement per mezzo di steel for 14 months which ends per mezzo di the bottle.

Tasting impressions

Per the glass, the 2021 vintage presents a deep straw yellow color with bright reflections and golden flashes. The beginning of the nose is decidedly refined and characterized by a wide, scopo, complex and elegant olfactory range. Incipit with citrus sensations of bergamot, lime and pink grapefruit, which intertwine harmoniously with hints of apple and pear, nuances of exotic fruit, including litchi, mango, pineapple and melon. Herbaceous quaderno with hints of boxwood are highlighted. Floral puffs of elderberry and jasmine act as a sequenza.

Acceso the palate, the vibrant freshness gives way to a full, enveloping and harmonious sip, supported by good acidity, structure and minerality. Epilogue with citrine returns.

TAL 1908 – Red – Superno Adige DOC – Vintage 2021

A fruity wine, with a lively, elegant sip, marked by lively acidity and soft tannins well integrated into a solid structure.

Production method

Similar procedure for the reds: 83% Lagrein, 12% Cabernet and 5% Merlot, which give life to TAL Cuvee 2021 produced from grapes from approximately 50-year-old vineyards, grown per mezzo di the most suitable areas of Gries and San Maurizio. The manufacturing process is similar to the white: 14 months per mezzo di French barrique oak barrels and 15 months per mezzo di concrete, to then complete its journey per mezzo di the bottle. The cuvée composition of the red TAL did not undergo any changes compared to the previous year, even if the grapes were harvested late to allow them to reach phenolic maturity.

Tasting impressions

A wine with an intense, elegant, persuasive, complex and well-integrated bouquet, characterized by an intriguing freshness, round sip, structure and minerality. Lagrein always prevails, the prince of South Tyrolean red grape varieties, with its strong character and its powerful tannins smoothed by Merlot, which increases the softness and roundness of the sip and Cabernet to intensify the aromas of spices.

At sight it has a ruby ​​red color with lively veins. The nose is immediately captured by red and black fruits, raspberry, wild strawberry, currant and blackberry, which give way to spicy touches of pepper, cloves, hints of liquorice, cocoa and echoes of tobacco. Per the background, memories of violet add to barely hinted at balsamic perceptions. Acceso the palate it is round, soft and enveloping, with pagliaccetto and structure, but with a freshness that reflects the typical exuberance of mountain wines. Long, persistent, mineral epilogue, with fruity and slightly balsamic returns.

The 2021 vintage exhibits a livelier, leaner and more dynamic sip than the previous one, supported by a well-integrated tannic texture. A reflection also of the climatic trend of the year, less hot than the previous one, which led to the harvest being delayed to reach perfect phenolic maturity. A wine to keep an eye acceso for its interesting evolutionary perspective. Ideal with succulent foods such as grilled meat, polenta with venison, traditional mountain dishes with juniper, mushrooms.

A very large portfolio with elegant, balanced, long-lived and high quality wines

The new line adds to the over 40 references that the company produces, of which 52% red and 48% white, divided into 7 categories: superior, election, collection, classics, organic, reserve and . A portfolio for all tastes that includes all the main expressions of the vines planted per mezzo di Superno Adige, both white and red, ora blended into cuvées, classic ora reserve. The grapes are contributed by over 200 members, coming from vines and lands located per mezzo di more than 10 municipalities between the Bolzano surroundings and the Isarco Valley for an extension of approximately 340 hectares, differing per mezzo di subsoil, positioning and pedoclimatic conditions. Wines which, despite being different from each other and with their own individuality, are united by the same elegance, finesse, balance and harmony, both olfactory and gustatory. Labels which, year after year, continue to collect growing recognition from the most authoritative sector guides, both national and international, such as Gambero Diventare rosso, Carreggiata Vitae dell’AIS, Robert Parker, Decanter just to name a few.

The most representative labels

Among the most iconic red wines, Lagrein Provvisione Taber certainly stands out (see Scantinato Bolzano presents TABER per mezzo di Milan, icon and expression of the territory | FOOD AND WINE MAGAZINE, awarded per mezzo di 2021 with the Tastevin AIS as excellence of the year for the Superno Adige), as well as St. Magdalener Huck am Bach and Moar, just to name a few. Among the whites we find excellent Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Riesling and Gewürztraminer also per mezzo di the reserve version, such as Stegher, Greel. Kleinstein, Hochkafler. Also interesting are the Pinot Pulito Dellago and the Moscato Poliziesco Passito Quintessenz for . All eclectic and gastronomic wines that can be combined with both scopo dining and traditional specialties, capable of overcoming the challenge of time and exciting older vintages.

The secrets of the success of Scantinato Bozen wines

Among the secrets of Scantinato Bozen’s success, per mezzo di addition to a very suitable terroir, is also the ability to work as a team, which is added to disinvoltura, innovation, sustainability, vision, competence and determination. Per addition to the meticulous control of the quality of the grapes and of the entire production process, the constant tirocinio provided to the members and the importance given to the exchange of opinions, with comparative tastings (even with competitors) as a stimulus and source of inspiration are also noteworthy. . The same winemaker assists per mezzo di the daily choices of the vineyard. The Quality project was started per mezzo di 1988, a vineyard enhancement program involving 83 winemakers for a total of 118 vineyards, which focuses acceso very low yields as well as the use of manure, organic fertilizers and biodegradable materials to sopravvissuto the use of plastic.

A significant example of the importance of teamwork to achieve ever higher goals and increasingly challenging objectives.