Nals Margreid Stein Sauvignon 2021
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Enthusiast
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Some real sophistication here! All the colors of the currant pour from the glass of this ripe, generous and juicy sauvignon blanc. With aeration, notes of yellow grapefruit, red gooseberry and fresh sage emerge. Very good balance at the long, polished finish. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This is the estate's entry-level Sauvignon Blanc that boasts a fresh and snappy style. This is my first time tasing this wine. The Nals Margreid 2021 Alto Adige Sauvignon Stein only sees stainless steel, and the fruit is harvested from young vines, aged five to 10 years old. The vineyards are in the village of Nalles at 330 to 400 meters above sea level, and if you look beyond the church steeple, virtually the whole face of the mountain is planted to Sauvignon Blanc. This expression is not too nervous or wound up. It delivers an informal drinking style with good freshness and a salty mineral close. Best After 2022.
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Wine Enthusiast
This expressive white has classic varietal aromas of elderflower, tropical fruit and crushed tomato vine. The full-bodied, generous palate doles out ripe cantaloup, juicy grapefruit and tangy gooseberry accompanied by racy acidity. A flinty mineral note on the finish lends interest.
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling
The new cellar under construction seems to have not distracted the very young kellermeister Harald Schraffl. The Cantina Nals Margreid has by now established itself among the Olympus of Alto Adige winemaking. Wines, above all whites, ever more representative of the territory, ever more stylistically defined and technically impeccable, are the result of severe selection in the vineyards. The Pinot Bianco Sirmian, the Sauvignon Mantele and the Pinot Grigio Punggl are the pearls of the whites, which are flanked by the reds of the Baron Salvadori line and the Schiava Galea, must-haves for the appellation.” Gambero Rosso Guida Vini d’Italia 2011.
Nals Margreid is a cooperative of about 100 small growers located in the Alto Adige region of Northern Italy. The cooperative was formed in 1985 by the merging of The Cellars Nalles (established in 1932) and Magre-Niclara (established in 1954) – two well-respected entities, both steeped in tradition. While cooperatives are typical in the Alto Adige (where parcels are often small and at high altitudes in mountainous terrain) their goal in joining forces was to unite some of the best wine growers from the Strada del Vino (wine road) of Alto Adige into something of a “dream team”. Today, 140 growers cultivate a wide range of local varieties in over150 hectares of vineyards for the Nals Margreid Cellar.
The vineyards of Nals Margreid are positioned between 200 and 900 meters above sea level, stretching from Nalles in the north to Magrè in the south. These locations benefit from both the climactic-barrier protection of the Alps to the North, and the warmth of the Mediterranean influences from the South. Soils are made up of gravel subsoil on the slopes of the mountains, and alluvial soil on the valley floor. Fold in primitive rock such as granite, slate, limestone, gneiss and porphyry and you’ve got ideal conditions for the growing of premium grapes, and ultimately the production of world-class wines.
The growers of Nals Margreid use natural methods wherever possible. Parasites and diseases are avoided through ecological means. Vines are trained using the classic pergola trellis, or by using the more modern, lower-yielding Guyot method.
Winemaker Harald Schraffl oversees the seamless blending of the fruits of a wide variety of vineyards, soils, vines and microclimates in their small winery. Schraffl’s vinification philosophy is dominated by the importance of preserving the characteristics that the soils and grape varieties impart to the wines. In addition to the blends, Nals Margreid bottles a handful of vineyard-designate wines from tiny, yet exceptional parcels. Earnest and genuine, these wines reflect the character and attributes of the various Alto Adige sub-zones. This is the first time Nals Margreid wines have been imported into the US.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
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.