Croatina 'La Coccinea' Tenuta Belvedere 2018

Croatina "La Coccinea", produced by Tenuta Belvedere, is the most characteristic and typical red wine of the lands of Oltrepò Pavese. It is the label that best tells the identity of the territory through the vinification of the grapes of the native vine historically present among these hills. It is a rather rustic variety, with rich, fruity aromas and quite rough tannins, which has always been used to produce the everyday wine of the Oltrepò, the one to be brought to the table daily to accompany the dishes of typical Po Valley cuisine. The long ageing in cement helps to smooth the youthful edges of the vine without changing its characteristic and distinct varietal profile.

Tenuta Belvedere's red Croatina "La Coccinea" is a wine with a strong personality, the offspring of a grape variety with a decidedly territorial face and a character that expresses itself in a direct and forthright way. The estate's vineyards are located in the Moncalvo countryside, in a magnificent hilly area characterized by soils composed of fine limestone-clay marls of ancient marine origin. The climate, cool and always ventilated, is perfect for quality viticulture. The vineyards are managed under organic farming, with treatments limited to the use of copper and sulfur and organic fertilizers only when necessary. The Tenuta Belvedere winery pays special attention to the quality and health of the grapes to try to keep sulfur dioxide levels very low, aiming to produce healthy and genuine wines.

Tenuta Belvedere's Croatina wine "La Coccinea" is the product of careful manual harvesting of the grapes and fermentation using only indigenous yeasts in cement tanks. The wine also matures in cement tanks for 30 months before being bottled. In the glass, Croatina has a very intense, almost impenetrable ruby red colour. On the nose, it releases intense aromas of ripe cherries, dark berry fruits, hints of violets, hints of underbrush, humus and a slight spiciness. The palate has a good structure, with rich fruit aromas and a dense tannic texture, still in fine evidence. The finish is balanced and very persistent.