Merlot Rodaro 2020

This wine is the valued result of the careful and exclusive selection of grapes of the Merlot variety, grown on hillsides owned by a small family company for over 25 years. The wine is refioned in slavic oak casks for over ten months. It is a ruby red colour and has an aroma with a hint of morello cherries and Merlot berries. It tastes dry and well-structured with delicate tannins. Contains sulphites. Produced by RODARO PAOLO - Via Cormòns 60, Località Spessa - 33043, Cividale del Friuli (UD) - Friuli Venezia Giulia - Italy.

The producer

Rodaro is a small rural company in the heart of Colli Orientali del Friuli, north-east of Italy. The Rodaro family devoted themselves to grapevines cultivation since 1846. For almost a century the wine produced was sold by the family, which at that time ran a small rural osteria. They had to wait until the introduction of a tractor and several pieces of machinery in the 1960s before they could fully exploit the potential of their vineyard. In fact, up until this period all work in the vineyard was carried out by hand. The family's love of the land and their desire to do better has seen an increase not only in the amount of wine produced, but also in its quality. Their working techniques take into consideration two important factors for the production of quality wines: modern equipment and ancient wine-making traditions, with the result of a typically varied collection of wines that are highly individual for the area they come from and can often be aged for a long time. The company has a vine-growing area of about 60 hectares and all the grapevines are situated in best position, with a planting density of 4,000 - 5,000 vines per hectare. They are cultivated according to the traditional "cappuccina" system with 8 - 10 fruit-bearing buds per vine. The company also runs a small nursery where several varieties of vine in danger of extinction are raised. Buds are collected for breeding purposes from some of the oldest vineyards in the area. This practice means that species of vine which would otherwise no longer exist can be studied and cultivated.

Best with

This wine is particularly suitable for red meat and game.

How to serve it

The wine should be served at 18 degrees centigrade in clear, transparent crystal goblets.

How to keep

If kept well, this wine has an average conservation period of eight to ten years. The bottles should be laid horizontally in a cool, dark, humid wine-cellar.