Pinot Noir Riserva ATON 2018 Elena Walch Winery

Description: 
The Pinot Noir "Aton" expresses timeless finesse and elegance. The wine presents itself a strong ruby red in the glass. Subtle notes of black berries, a hint of licorice and finely smoked notes define the bouquet, combining power and supreme elegance in this exceptional wine. With density, black berries, and minerality, combined with fine and fresh tannins, the “Aton” convinces on the palate with a spicy, long finish. An elegant Pinot Noir full of character, produced with the utmost dedication and detailed effort to do justice to this noblest of varieties with uncompromising quality. 

With a limited number of only 2,700 bottles produced, Elena Walch's highest expression of Pinot Noir appears: 
"Aton", after the ancient Egyptian sun god who rose above all other divine beings in the representation of a solar disc. 
As an abstract idea and spiritualised concept, Aton is the source of light and life. 

Grape variety: 
Pinot Noir - South Tyrol Alto Adige DOC Riserva 

Production area: 
The grapes of the Pinot Noir Riserva Alto Adige DOC "Aton" come from the selection of the best grapes in middle and higher altitudes between 400 and 600 m above sea level. The vines, which are up to 61 years old with greatly reduced yields, are located on both sides of the valley in Glen and Barleith and benefit from the complex, predominantly clay and limestone soils with traces of marl. The higher the mountain profile, the more light, sunshine hours and freshness reach the vineyards. Long hours of sunshine in a fresh climate and large temperature differences between day and night result in a Pinot Noir of great elegance with a fresh and expressive presence. The selection of the two highest quality plots in an ideal combination of orientation and altitude allows for higher phenolic grape ripeness without excessive sugar content and a natural medium to high acidity that distinguishes the "Aton" Pinot Noir Riserva with structure, elegance and finesse. "Aton" sends you on a unique sensory journey that invites the senses to discover its personality. A journey that tells the story of South Tyrol and delights lovers of Pinot Noir. 

Vinification: 
Hand harvesting takes place at the beginning of September, followed by gravity-fed and extremely gentle grape processing in a new, state-of-the-art fermentation cellar. The grapes were gently transferred to the small fermentation tanks as whole berries in a small "cuvon" to preserve the fine structure and quality of the harvest in its natural form. This was followed by a 5-day cold maceration and fermentation at a controlled temperature of 23°C for a further 15 days in small steel tanks. After 12 months of ageing in French oak barriques with medium toasting, the wine rested and matured in steel tanks for a further 11 months. This slow and gentle processing respected the original quality of the grapes and, following the same principle, the wine was finally bottled in August, 2 years after, without filtration to preserve its exceptional structure and maintain its natural colloidal composition. During the subsequent 15 months of bottle ageing, the "Aton" Pinot Noir Riserva will quietly reveal its wide range of potential until it is released in October (after 4 years of ageing). This Grande Cuvée can achieve a considerable lifespan, during which the wine matures and develops. 

Food pairing: 
A meditation wine. Also pairs well with braised beef, game and wild fowl or aged cheeses. 

Serving temperature: 
16 - 18°C. 

Ageing potential: 
more than 10 years. 

Bottle to: 
750 ml - 75 cl - 0,75 lt. 

Allergens: 
Wine can contain sulphites. 

Producer: 
Elena Walch Estate 
Elena Walch is a leading Alto Adige wine estate, in family hands, and belongs to the elite in Italian wine production, with international success. Encouraging quality and innovation, Elena Walch stood at the head of the Alto Adige quality revolution and has gained local and international esteem for her efforts. The philosophy of the estate is dedicated to its terroir – the idea that wines must be the individual expression of their soil, climate and cultivation in the vineyard – and that this must be maintained according to principles of sustainability and passed on to the next generation. The picturesque single estates of Castel Ringberg and Kastelaz are the heart of Elena Walch's vineyards, now working on a vineyard surface of 55ha. With sustainability being one of the core values at Elena Walch, the wines reflect the various terroirs they originate from. Finally, with the aim of making only the highest quality wines, Elena Walch has been honored with several national as well as international awards. 

Elena Walch 
Via Andreas Hofer 1 
IT - 39040 Termeno (BZ) 
info@elenawalch.it 
www.elenawalch.com