Ecco Domani Merlot 2003
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This wine clearly attests to the rising notoriety of the Merlot in general, and Italian Merlot in particular, by offering a complex, full-flavored style but without the more astringent tannins characteristic of Cabernet Sauvignon. Ruby red in color, with aromas of currants and cherries, Ecco Domani Merlot offers supple plum and black cherry flavors on the palate, and a ripe, rich finish.
The vibrant flavors and good acidity of this Merlot make it an excellent match with a wide range of foods, including tomato-based pasta dishes, grilled meats, poultry, and marinated grilled vegetables.
Young Italian winemaker Fabrizio Gatto and his colleagues scour Italy's premier growing regions for wines that express the best characteristics of their areas. Those wines are then fashioned into final blends and sent to Trento, Italy, where they are bottled in a state-of-the-art facility. The Ecco Domani wines that ultimately arrive in the U.S. exhibit the best of what Italy has to offer.
"By choosing the very best grapes from the finest regions of Italy, it is possible for us to craft exquisite wines with marvelous complexity. The intricate fruit flavors which result in the finished wines are unsurpassed, and marry well with a variety of superb cuisines," says Fabrizio Gatto.
Since the debut of Ecco Domani wines in 1996, it has become the leading premium Italian brand in the United States.
With generous fruit and supple tannins, Merlot is made in a range of styles from everyday-drinking to world-renowned and age-worthy. Merlot is the dominant variety in the wines from Bordeaux’s Right Bank regions of St. Emilion and Pomerol, where it is often blended with Cabernet Franc to spectacular result. Merlot also frequently shines on its own, particularly in California’s Napa Valley. Somm Secret—As much as Miles derided the variety in the 2004 film, Sideways, his prized 1961 Château Cheval Blanc is actually a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
A mountainous northern Italian region heavily influenced by German culture, Trentino-Alto Adige is actually made up of two separate but similar regions: Alto Adige and Trentino.
Trentino, the southern half, is primarily Italian-speaking and largely responsible for the production of non-native, international grapes. There is a significant quantity of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Merlot produced. But Trentino's native and most unique red variety, Teroldego, while still rare, is gaining popularity. It produces a deeply colored red wine rich in wild blackberry, herb, coffee and cocoa.
The rugged terrain of German-speaking Alto Adige (also referred to as Südtirol) focuses on small-scale viticulture, with great value placed on local varieties—though international varieties have been widely planted since the 1800s. Sheltered by the Alps from harsh northerly winds, many of the best vineyards are at extreme altitude but on steep slopes to increase sunlight exposure.
Dominant red varieties include the bold, herbaceous Lagrein and delicate, strawberry-kissed, Schiava, in addition to some Pinot Nero.
The primary white grapes are Pinot grigio, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot blanc, as well as smaller plantings of Sauvignon blanc, Müller Thurgau. These tend to be bright and refreshing with crisp acidity and just the right amount of texture. Some of the highest quality Pinot grigio in Italy is made here.