Mille1 Garda Rosso 2017
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Suckling
James
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Rebo is a cross between Teroldogo and Merlot that was developed in Northern Italy in the 1920's. The varietal is now grown outside the Trentino region. The Pratello winery farms its estate vineyards for the Mille1 wine across three communes in the hills on the Southwestern shores of Lake Garda. The wine is a unique blend of Rebo, Corvina and Merlot, with the Merlot undergoing the appassimento process for 25-30 days.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Reductive at first but opens up into fresh fruit territory with citrus and raspberries. Light to medium body, bright acidity and a fine finish.
Mille1 means 1,001 – the length in miles from one end of Italy to the other. Since ancient Rome, this unique country has been at the center of the world for many things, but especially for its culture, of which wine is an integral part. Italy is 1,001 miles of wine terroirs, microclimates, and traditions, all of which have helped to shape and solidify the country’s fame throughout the centuries.
Mille1 is a project of the Pratello winery, which is located on the Morainic hills on the Southwestern slopes of Lake Garda in the province of Lombardy. Located within the heart of a medieval village of the same name, Pratello has been in the Bertola family for centuries. Today the winery has evolved into a fully functioning farm and resort. Focused mainly on indigenous varietals from the region, Pratello farms vineyards across 160 acres according the "Pratello Method." After years of being organic certified, Vicenzo Bertola sought to do more to recognize and protect the biodiversity within the vineyards and ecosystems, as well as focus on environmental compensation for the resources utilized by the winery. As an agricultural and winemaking philosophy, the Pratello Method takes its cues from organics but uses far less than the minimal amounts of copper and sulphites allowed during the farming and winemaking processes and promotes more focus on biodiversity and renewable resources.
The grapes for Mille1 come from the hills around Garda Lake, an amphitheater of vineyards on morainic soil that were formed by the expansion and retraction of glaciers thousands of years ago during the last Ice Age. This is a very sunny and constantly breezy area, which guarantees healthy vines and optimal ripening without mildew or disease, even after harvest when a portion of the grapes are left to dry in boxes for the “appassimento” process, a winemaking technique that is traditional to this region.
Italian Red Wine
While picturesque hillsides, endless coastlines and a favorable climate serve to unify the grape-growing culture of this country. The apparent never-ending world of indigenous grape varieties gives Italy an unexampled charm and allure for its red wines. From the steep inclines of the Alps to the sprawling, warm, coastal plains of the south, red grape varieties thrive throughout.
The kings of Italy, wines like Barolo and Barbaresco (made of Nebbiolo), and Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino (made of Sangiovese), as well as Amarone (mostly Corvina), play center stage for the most lauded, collected and cellar-worthy reds. Less popular but entirely deserving of as much praise are the wines made from Aglianico, Sagrantino and Nerello Mascalese.
For those accustomed to drinking New World reds, the south is the place to start. Grapes like Negroamaro or Primitvo from Puglia and Nero d’Avola from Sicily make soft, ammicable, full-bodied, fruit-dominant wines. Curious palates should be on the lookout for Cannonau (Grenache), Lagrein, Teroldego, Ruché, Freisa, Cesanese, Schiopettino, Rossese and Gaglioppo to name a few.