Stella Merlot (1.5 L) 2002
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Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure. Inspired by an adventurous, confident and vivacious soul, Stella Wines will take you through Italy unlocking its tastes, sights and sounds. Through years of experience and close relationships, Winebow has partnered with some of the best vineyards and winemakers in Italy to develop this exceptional collection, adhering to strict production processes and utilizing modern cellar equipment. Stella wines exhibit true varietal character, with a delicious flavor profile, medium body and balanced acidity. Whether dining at home or in a restaurant, Stella wines are a premiere choice when it comes to solid-value Italian wines. Enjoy this wine as you embark on your own new experiences, adventures and discoveries. Salute!
When asked to name common Italian red grapes, most wine drinkers would probably begin with Sangiovese and continue with various other indigenous varieties. But Merlot (along with several other international varieties) has a significant presence in Italy, with over 60,000 acres planted. Granted, much of this is everyday quaffing wine grown in the northeast by producers taking advantage of the vine’s prolific nature, especially in the Veneto and Friuli.
But through much of the country the wine is grown with more care and used predominantly as a blending agent, thereby adding a certain soft, fleshy appeal to a great many reds. Of course, this practice is often not mentioned on labels. In Tuscany, Merlot appears in a wide variety of blends, as well as sometimes in Chianti Classico. In fact, Italian Merlot reaches its greatest heights in the coastal Tuscan region of Maremma. Here it appears in blends and – spectacularly – in 100% varietal expressions like Masseto, L’Apparita and Messorio. Italian Merlots such as these boast the power, concentration and complexity seen in the finest examples from Bordeaux’s Right Bank.