Winemaker Notes
A kaleidoscope of aromas including rose petals, spicy blossoms of lilies, ylang-ylang, gardenia; ripe exotic yellow fruits such as cantaloupe, mango, passion fruit, lychee, citrus zest; spicy notes of dried herbs, ginger, saffron, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Deeply aromatic, rich in body and essences, but with fine juiciness and salty minerality increasing with age, a nearly endless finish.
Nussbaumer is a truly fascinating food companion. It pairs well with antipasti of fish or smoked foods, ripe soft cheese, white meat, swordfish or tuna; ideal with shellfish and seafood, spectacular accompaniment to spicy Asian cuisine and creative spicy/aromatic creations such as combinations with mushrooms, Swiss chard, fennel, avocado, savoy cabbage, galangal, ginger, oranges, apricots, jams and fresh herbs like tarragon, rosemary, dill, thyme, bay laurel, chervil, saffron, mint or lemongrass which offer a wild interplay of aromas.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Very ripe tropical-fruit nose with hints of turkish delight, smoked bacon and sandalwood. Powerful with a lot of textural complexity, but no hint of bombast. Indeed, the bitter side of this grape is very well integrated in the rich, mellow palate. Drink or hold.
Gewürztraminer, an expressive and aromatically distinctive white grape variety, is considered a noble variety in the Alsace region of France, and produces wonderful wines in the mountainous Alto Adige region of NE Italy. Generally this grape grows well in cooler regions and its natural intensity makes it a great ally for flavorful cuisine such as Indian, Middle Eastern or Moroccan. Somm Secret—Because of a charming perfume and tendency towards slight sweetness, Gewürztraminer makes for an excellent gateway wine for those who love sweet wines but want to venture into the realm of drier whites.
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.