Fallwind Merlot / Cabernet Riserva DOC - Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan

Fallwind Merlot / Cabernet Riserva DOC - St. Michael-Eppan Winery fills the glass with bright ruby red, shot through with dark reflections and a delicate shimmer of purple at the rim. On the nose, a deep, seductive fruit immediately appears. Ripe blackberries, sour cherries and blackcurrants rise from the glass, along with notes of plum and cherry in cherry liqueur. Finely interwoven spice with hints of black pepper, cedarwood and a touch of tobacco leaf sets an elegant accent.

With a little air, notes of dark chocolate, mocha and a hint of vanilla emerge. Subtle roasted aromas recall toast and delicate smoky nuances. Fine herbal tones such as bay leaf, thyme and a hint of rosemary underline the character of its Alto Adige origin. The nose appears clear, deep and multi-layered, without any heaviness, very much in the style of a precise wine from the Old World.

On the palate, Fallwind Merlot / Cabernet Riserva DOC - St. Michael-Eppan Winery unfolds a velvety, dense texture. This cuvée of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon shows ripe, dark fruit with blackberry, sour cherry and cassis to the fore. Juicy black cherry joins in, plus a trace of blueberry and sloe. The fine-grained acidity creates tension and keeps the wine on the elegant side despite its powerful body.

The tannins present themselves ripe and silky, with good grip but without hardness. The structure appears powerful yet clear and precise. The alcohol integrates harmoniously, supports the warmth on the palate and intensifies the dark fruit. On the long finish, aromas of ripe blackberry, bitter chocolate, roasted coffee, tobacco and a hint of graphite remain. A fine mineral vein from the calcareous soils runs like a common thread through the entire tasting impression.

In this cuvée, Merlot contributes fullness, juiciness and velvety depth. Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure, spice and a distinctive yet ripe tannin base. The limestone and sand soils in the sites around Eppan provide freshness, tension and a cool, almost stony note. The alpine climate in Trentino-South Tyrol with warm days and cool nights ensures intense fruit and clear contours.

Typical impressions of this wine are revealed in a series of defining aromas:

• Dark fruits such as blackberry, sour cherry, cassis and plum
• Spicy notes of black pepper, cedarwood and tobacco
• Toasty tones of mocha, cocoa and roasted wood
• Fine herbal accents of thyme, bay leaf and Mediterranean herbs
• Mineral nuances from the limestone soil with a cool, stony impression

The stylistic profile clearly remains “Old World”: fruit-driven yet taut, with a focus on structure, elegance and expression of terroir. The Riserva character appears in its depth, length and fine woodwork. The wine feels present, powerful and at the same time polished. Every component interlocks perfectly with the others, from the fruit to the wood to the acidity.

For wine lovers, Fallwind Merlot / Cabernet Riserva DOC - St. Michael-Eppan Winery serves as an ideal introduction to the great art of South Tyrolean red wines. A few points help to classify this characterful wine:

1. Powerful, structured red wine with a velvety mouthfeel
2. Cuvée of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a clear Alto Adige signature
3. Ripe use of oak with notes of vanilla, cedarwood and mocha
4. Long finish with dark fruit and fine spice
5. High aging potential with scope for additional maturity and complexity

Production of Fallwind Merlot / Cabernet Riserva DOC from St. Michael-Eppan Winery

The grapes for this DOC Riserva come from selected sites around Eppan in Alto Adige. Here, limestone and sand soils define the terroir, interspersed with gravel and stony inclusions. During the day, the sun in the South Tyrolean valleys provides ripeness, while cool downslope winds from the mountains bring freshness in the evenings. It is precisely from this field of tension that the intense yet precise style of the wine emerges.

On these soils, Merlot shows particularly juicy, dark fruit and a soft, dense texture. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the cuvée. It contributes structure, tannin and spice, along with a distinctive cassis note and powerful length. Together, the two grape varieties create a harmonious balance of richness, elegance and tension.

The harvest is selective, parcel by parcel, depending on ripeness level. Harvest workers sort already in the vineyard, so that only berries with perfect ripeness reach the cellar in small containers. The harvest date is chosen so that the grapes reach intense aromatic maturity while the tannins remain polished. This results in a powerful red wine with a ripe yet clear structure.

In the cellar, St. Michael-Eppan Winery relies on gentle processing. After careful destemming, fermentation on the skins takes place in temperature-controlled tanks. The maceration time is sufficiently long for color, tannin and aroma to pass from the berry skins into the must. Repeated, gentle punching down of the cap intensifies extraction without releasing harsh bitter substances.

The fermentation temperature remains moderate and ensures slow, aroma-preserving fermentation. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are in part fermented separately so that the character of each variety can fully unfold. After fermentation is complete, the young wine matures in wooden casks. Some of the casks are smaller, some larger, in order to keep freshness and wood notes in balance.

During maturation on the fine lees, the wine gains fullness, creaminess and complexity. The Riserva remains significantly longer in cask than a classic Alto Adige red wine. During élevage, the winery places great value on elegant, finely integrated wood with notes of vanilla, cedarwood and mocha, without overshadowing the character of the fruit. After cask maturation, the wine undergoes a further resting phase in bottle before being released for sale.

The winery’s commitment to quality is evident in every detail. The goal remains a red wine with clear origin, modern precision and timeless elegance. Power, structure and depth combine with alpine freshness and a distinctive yet silky tannin structure.

Enjoyment recommendations for Fallwind Merlot / Cabernet Riserva DOC from St. Michael-Eppan Winery

This DOC Riserva pairs particularly well with robust dishes and foods rich in aroma. Juicy grilled beef steaks, braised beef cheeks or a slowly roasted beef pot roast accompany the wine excellently. Rack of lamb with herb crust or venison ragout with lingonberries are likewise an ideal match for the wine’s character.

With pasta and ragù made from beef or game, the wine unfolds its dark fruit and spice. Aged hard cheeses such as mature Pecorino, Parmesan or an old mountain cheese from the Alpine region provide a great finale. Porcini risotto, polenta with mushroom ragout or tagliatelle with truffle also harmonize very well with the velvety texture and roasted aromas.

As a companion to a fine dinner, the wine impresses right from the first course with robust starters. Beef carpaccio, smoked duck breast or a terrine of game and poultry pair very well. At a relaxed evening with friends, the wine serves as a stylish centerpiece that accompanies many courses with elegance.

The ideal serving temperature is between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. A medium to large red wine glass with a slightly narrowed rim creates space for the aromas while at the same time concentrating the bouquet in the glass. A decanter helps the dark fruit and fine spice to open up more quickly, especially in younger vintages.

A few years of bottle aging encourage additional notes of leather, tobacco, dried herbs and ripe plum. The stated aging potential of up to ten years from the vintage offers ample scope for enjoyment at various stages of maturity. In this way, the wine accompanies both festive occasions and intimate moments of pleasure with stylish presence and deep, lasting elegance.

• More products from Kellerei St. Michael-Eppan