Meczan Pinot Nero, Tenuta J Hofstatter

Producer

With fifty hectares of vineyards, Tenuta J. Hofstätter is one of the largest private wine estates in Alto Adige, and yet manages to live up to its reputation for absolutely pristine quality. It is meticulously run by fourth generation Martin Foradori Hofstätter, whose ancestor Joseph founded the estate in 1907. The pinnacle of the range is the single-vineyard Vigna S. Urbano Pinot Nero, planted in the 1950s by Martin’s father. His neighbours thought he was mad at the time; this is now one of the finest expressions of Pinot Noir not just in Alto Adige, but in the whole of Europe.

Vineyard

Hofstätter’s vineyards are situated on both sides of the Adige river, at between 250 and 800 metres altitude. The Pinot Nero is grown on gravelly clay-limestone soil. The grapes were harvested by hand.

Winery

The bunches were seventy-five percent destemmed and lightly crushed, and fermented over twelve days at 28ºC. The wine was bottled without fining.