Our wine recommendation in February: Cuvee Tres 2016

With the Cuvee TRES, the winery redefines the boundaries of what is possible and underlines its expertise in Bordeaux blends at the highest international level.

Grape varieties

77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon

Site

Kurtatsch Brenntal, 220-300 metres above sea level, south-east, steep slope

Soil

Sandy-loamy soils with clay minerals and oxides as well as gravelly dolomite-limestone soils

Yield

35 hl/ha

Vinification

Matured in French barrique barrels for 15 months, followed by a further 9 months in large oak barrels and 4.5 years in the bottle

Production

2,120 bottles

Since 2010, the Kurtatsch winery has been selecting special parcels in the Brenntal vineyards planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, which regularly deliver outstanding quality. The grapes from these small plots were vinified separately for the first time in 2015. The great potential of the Kurtatsch vineyards for Bordeaux varieties is fully realised in the blending of the individual grape varieties.

The 2016 vintage is the best red wine vintage in the last decade. Thanks to ideal climatic conditions, the grapes were able to ripen perfectly - in other words, ideal conditions for the cuvee Tres 2016.

The name TRES stands for the number "three" (from the Italian "tre"). It refers to the three grape varieties used in the cuvee as well as to the three founding values of the winery, which are represented by three cypress trees in the logo: the appreciation of the terroir, the dedication of the winery team and the down-to-earth attitude with which the winegrowers go about their work. At the same time, the name is inspired by the "Corno di Tres", the highest point of the mountain range above Kurtatsch.

Every single one of the 2,120 bottles was painted by hand. The colour was taken from the soil of the vineyard where the grapes were grown – another sign of the deep appreciation of the terroir.

The Kurtatsch Winery is located in the village of the same name in the south of South Tyrol. One of the winery's mottoes: "Excellent wines are made in the vineyard." For this reason, it is the winegrowers, who are the protagonists. The fact that only manual labour plays a role here is shown by the size of the structure. Only 190 members carefully cultivate around 190 hectares between 220 and 900 metres above sea level according to a strict quality programme.

In the cellar, the aim of the winery is to produce wines that reflect the different soils and locations of the vineyards. This requires careful and precise vinification of the individual vineyards. The knowledge and experience gained from centuries of viticulture in Kurtatsch paired with modern technology are just as important as the diligence and passion of the cellar master and his employees in the cellar.