Rosso Riserva 'Bifolco' Saottini 2018

The Lombard estate Saottini presents the Red Reserve 'Bifolco', a blend of red grapes that impresses with its full-bodied and velvety structure. The origins of the Saottini winery date back over a century ago, precisely to 1917, when Cesare Saottini's wife, Maria, leased a farm to allow her husband to obtain leave from the war. Cesare, who was a farmer born into a family of farmers, dedicated himself in the following years to the estate by planting the first vineyards and passing on the craft to his children. The baton was passed down through the generations to the current owners Silvano and Cesare Saottini, who are assisted by Cesare's son, Daniele.

The 'Bifolco' Saottini Red Reserve is derived from a blend of Rebo (85%), Merlot (10%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) grapes cultivated in the Valtenesi territory. The clusters are left to slightly wither on the vine before manual harvesting in crates and subsequent destemming of the grapes with minimal crushing of the berries. This is followed by alcoholic fermentation carried out by selected yeasts at controlled temperature, combined with a very prolonged maceration on the skins, after which the wine is aged for 18 long months in cement tanks before final bottling. Finally, after further bottle aging, the wine is ready for release on the market.

In the glass, the Red 'Bifolco' Reserve from the Saottini winery has an intense ruby red color. The olfactory profile brings sensations of ripe red and black fruits accompanied by more complex notes of coffee, chocolate, and tobacco. The palate is round and full-bodied, rather flavorful and structured, with a velvety tannic texture that anticipates the persistent fruity and spicy finish.