Elena Walch : Grande Cuvée "Kermesse" 2016

The power and elegance of an exceptional red wine from Trentino Alto Adige

The estate

A multi-award winner by Wine Spectator and El Gambero Rosso, Elena Walch is at the helm of one of the most beautiful properties in Italy's Alto Adige region. Elena Walch is a leading figure in the Trentino Alto Adige region, a very old and steep wine-growing area in the north-east of Italy. Following her marriage to Werner Walch, the fourth generation of one of the region's largest winegrowing families, this qualified architect embarked on a winegrowing adventure, bringing her freshness, dynamism and modernity to the traditional establishment. Today, Elena Walch is one of Italy's leading winemakers. Driven by the passion passed on from their mother, Karolina and Julia Walch have joined the family estate.

The wine

Elena Walch's Grande Cuvée "Kermesse" is made from a selection of the best grapes produced each year on the estate. This wine is renowned for its finesse, complexity and great ageing potential. The residual sugar content of this wine is 4.5 g/litre.

The vintage

A variable spring caused a certain delay in the development of the vineyard. The milder conditions of August and September, marked by alternating sunny and warm days with cool nights, favoured the slow ripening of the grapes, developing a beautiful aromatic richness while preserving their acidity. The harvest started around two weeks later than in other vintages, but the conditions were very good. The grapes harvested at full maturity boast a rare minerality and aromatic palette.

Vinification and ageing

The hand-picked grapes are handled with the utmost care in a state-of-the-art facility, inaugurated in 2015, destined to produce very fine Alto Adige wines. The grapes are destemmed and then vatted by gravity. An alcoholic fermentation of around 10 days precedes malolactic fermentation, also in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, and then aged in bottles for several months before being sold.

The blend

Produced as a Vino Rosso d'Italia, this Elena Walch Grande Cuvée "Kermesse" 2016 is made from a blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot, Lagrein, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Grande Cuvée "Kermesse" 2016 by Elena Walch: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

This wine showcases an intense purple red colour.

Nose

The expressive nose combines spicy (subtle notes of smoked tobacco, pepper), fruity (red berries, wild berries, dried figs) and chocolate fragrances.

Palate

Harmoniously blending power and elegance, the palate reveals perfectly integrated tannins, delicious aromas of toast and spices. Persistent and complex, the finish of this ageworthy wine offers a seductive finesse and character.

Cellaring

Elena Walch's Grande Cuvée "Kermesse" 2016 can be cellared until 2031-2036 to develop its full range of aromas.