Loam Cabernet Merlot Riserva DOC - Cantina Tramin

In the glass, Loam Cabernet Merlot Riserva DOC – Kellerei Tramin presents a dense, luminous ruby red with a delicate garnet rim. The color appears clear and deep, like polished. Even with the first swirl, an intense aroma rises to the nose, immediately arousing great anticipation. The nose opens with dark blackberry and ripe blackcurrant, tightly interwoven with fine cedarwood. Delicate dark chocolate lies over it like a fine veil. Added to this are notes of black cherry, a hint of plum and a touch of mocha. Subtle hints of tobacco, roasted coffee and sweet vanilla are reminiscent of fine barriques and extended maturation. On the palate, Loam Cabernet Merlot Riserva DOC – Kellerei Tramin immediately reveals its Old World origins. The fruit appears clear, precise and elegant, never loud. Blackberry and cassis make a powerful entrance, yet the dense fruit always remains balanced by fine acidity and a striking structure. The wine glides silkily over the tongue, with ripe, polished tannins that provide volume without dominating. The texture is reminiscent of dark velvet fabrics. The body shows power, with pronounced pressure on the palate, yet its elegant lines remain intact. In the long finish, dark chocolate, espresso, cedarwood and a hint of graphite return. A fine, chalky minerality lends freshness and length. The result is a red wine with depth, structure and charming warmth. The cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot combines the best of both varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon contributes structure, dark berries, cassis and cedarwood. Merlot brings volume, velvety tannins and juicy plum fruit. Together they create a red wine that appears powerful and at the same time accessible. The calcareous and loamy soils in Alto Adige further shape the style. Limestone imparts tension, freshness and a fine, salty streak, while clay provides density and volume. The style remains clearly European, with a focus on balance rather than mere opulence. The Old World character is evident in the appealing acidity structure, the fine spiciness and the elegant oak note. In aroma and flavor, experienced connoisseurs discover new facets again and again. The aromatic diversity includes, for example:

• Dark berries such as blackberry, blackcurrant and black cherry
• Fine spice with cedarwood, tobacco leaf and black pepper
• Toasted notes of mocha, coffee and dark chocolate
• Subtle vanilla, sweet spices and a hint of licorice
• Mineral nuances of graphite and wet stone

The tannins appear ripe and finely grained, with a silkily gliding structure. This makes the wine an ideal match for intense dishes without overpowering them. The well-integrated acidity lends freshness and verve. The long finish remains present and invites the next sip. Those who want to grasp the character of this red wine in brief can refer to these key features:

1. Powerful, structured red wine with silky, ripe tannins
2. Intense dark fruit, interwoven with fine oak and spice
3. Elegant Old World style with a clear origin in Alto Adige
4. Long, multi-layered development in the glass with increasing depth
5. Excellent ageing potential with reserve character and harmonious maturity

Loam Cabernet Merlot Riserva DOC – Kellerei Tramin is aimed at connoisseurs seeking a red wine with class, depth and international stature. In the glass, it unfolds new layers with every minute and impressively demonstrates South Tyrol’s potential for high-quality Bordeaux-style blends.

Production of Loam Cabernet Merlot Riserva DOC from Kellerei Tramin

The grapes for this red wine come from selected single vineyards around Tramin in Alto Adige. Here, warm days with plenty of sunshine meet cool nights from the Alps. This tension gives rise to intense aromas, ripe tannins and precise acidity. The vines grow on calcareous loam soils that store water well and at the same time provide a distinctive minerality. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thrive particularly well here. Cabernet Sauvignon provides the backbone structure with dense berry fruit and spice. Merlot contributes volume, a soft texture and dark plum and cherry notes. For years, Kellerei Tramin has focused on meticulous work in the vineyard. Yield reduction, careful canopy management and targeted green harvesting ensure high ripeness and aromatic concentration. Harvest is usually done by hand in several passes. This way, only fully ripe grapes reach the cellar. The harvest date is rather late in order to achieve maximum aromatic ripeness and supple tannins. In the cellar, careful destemming is followed by fermentation of the berries on the skins. Controlled temperature management keeps the fermentation process in the optimal range. This preserves fruit, color and delicate aromas. During fermentation, regular pump-overs or gentle délestage are carried out to gently extract color, tannin and aroma. The goal is always a dense yet elegant red wine without hard edges. After fermentation, the young wine matures in barriques and partly in larger wooden casks. The time in oak adds additional complexity, cedarwood, smoke, vanilla and the typical chocolate note. Extended maturation on the fine lees rounds off the texture. The lees protect the wine and contribute additional volume and silkiness. Depending on the vintage, part of the maturation takes place in new barriques, the rest in used barrels, in order to preserve the fruit. The Riserva classification requires longer ageing before release. Thus, the wine reaches the bottle already well developed, yet with further potential. With this cuvée, Kellerei Tramin pursues the goal of combining terroir, varietal character and elegant power. Precise fruit, clear structure and fine, oak-driven spice are paramount. Every step, from vineyard to bottle, follows this commitment to quality.

Serving recommendations for Loam Cabernet Merlot Riserva DOC from Kellerei Tramin

This red wine pairs ideally with robust meat dishes and flavorful cuisine. A classic match is with beef fillet, entrecôte or braised beef cheeks. Rack of lamb with an herb crust or braised leg of lamb also goes perfectly with its dark fruit and fine cedar note. With game dishes such as saddle of venison, venison ragout or wild boar, the wine unfolds its full splendor. Accompaniments like celery purée, polenta, baked potatoes or sautéed mushrooms pick up on the spicy complexity. Aged hard cheeses made from cow’s or sheep’s milk, such as mountain cheese or Pecorino, also complement the wine very harmoniously. For Italian cuisine, it is recommended alongside beef tagliata, truffle risotto or pasta with slowly braised ragù alla Bolognese. The ripe, dark fruit balances the tomato richness, while the tannins meld with the fat of the sauce. Hearty antipasti with bacon, salami and aged cheese also provide a fitting setting. On its own, this red wine shines during a relaxed evening with friends, by the fireplace, or as the crowning finale to a menu. It also makes a stylish gift for lovers of characterful Old World red wines with international class. The ideal serving temperature is between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. A short time in a decanter, about one hour, opens up additional aromatic layers and further smooths the structure. In a large Bordeaux glass, the wine shows its full depth. Depending on storage conditions, it can be cellared for around seven years from the vintage. Over the course of ageing, tertiary notes such as leather, tobacco and dried fruits become more pronounced, while the fruit appears softer and more complex.

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