Istine ISTINE 550 Merlot 2020

Description

The 550 Merlot 2020 by Istine is a Tuscan red wine made from 100% Merlot grapes, cultivated in the Istine vineyard in Radda in Chianti. This vineyard, planted in 2002, covers an area of 0.5 hectares and sits at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest in the Chianti region. The north-facing vines thrive in soils rich in rocky elements, predominantly composed of Alberese and Galestro marl.

The vineyard is organically farmed, with a planting density of 5,000 vines per hectare and trained using the Guyot pruning method. Harvesting is done manually. While Merlot is typically picked earlier than Sangiovese, the unique altitude and exposure of this vineyard allow for a later harvest, bringing out the grape’s characteristic elegance when grown at high elevations.

Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled cement tanks for about 15 days, followed by a 30-day maceration on the skins and malolactic fermentation, also in cement. The wine then matures for 12 months in 500-liter tonneaux. The average production is 2,600 bottles of 750 ml each.

The 550 Merlot 2020 is a unique expression of Merlot cultivated at one of the highest altitudes in Chianti, offering a perfect balance of structure and finesse, with distinctive notes that reflect its high-altitude terroir.