Tenuta Castello di Morcote Ticino 2019
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
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Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The attractive, ripe blue-fruit character of this Swiss merlot is matched by generous body and fresh acidity. The solid base of well-crafted tannin needs a bit of time to fully harmonize, but the positive, savory character at the crisp finish already marks this out. From organically grown grapes.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Castello di Morcote Merlot del Ticino offers concentrated and fleshy dark fruit with spicy toast aromas. Silky, fresh and elegant on the palate, this is a medium to full-bodied Ticino red with firm and youthful astringency that either needs a year or two to relax or the right meat to intermingle with the refreshing texture of this promising Merlot. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork.
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.
Enhancing quality and diversity of wine grapes in recent years after the Swiss government lifted import controls on wine, Switzerland is beginning to gain some ground aside its European neighbors. While its main variety is the white Chasselas, more than half of Switzerland’s wine production is red. The country has 15,000 ha of vineyards mainly in the cantons of Geneva, Neuchâtel, Ticino, Valais and Vaud.