Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
A crossing of Sangiovese and Merlot listed
at number 400 of the National Registry of
Grape Varieties as of 2011, Merlese has been
under copyright of the University of Bologna
since 1983. Medium vigorous, it ripens in Sep-
tember, before Sangiovese, one of the reasons
why the latter was crossed with Merlot. The
bunch is medium-sized, pyramidal, winged,
and sparse. The berry is medium-sized, blue-
black, and round. Microvinifications have
shown a deep ruby hue, and aromas and fl avors
of bell pepper, almond, and dark small berries.
One clone is available, CAB 1.
Also known as Incrocio Dalmasso 17/25,
Passau is another Chatus × Dolcetto crossing,
like San Martino and Valentino Nero. It also
grows in Piedmont but I have never tasted or
even heard of any varietal wines being for sale.
Rebo
where it's found: Trentino. national regis-
try code number: 301. color: red.
Originally named Incrocio 107-A, the vari-
ety's name was later changed to honor its cre-
ator, Rebo Rigotti. Rigotti, a graduate of San
Michele all'Adige who continued to work there
as a botanist and researcher, created many dif-
ferent crossings, though for now it appears his
greatest success has been this grape that took
his name. In 1948, he successfully crossed
what he believed at the time were Merlot and
Marzemino to create this variety, though recent
analysis has shown the latter not to have been
Marzemino but Teroldego. Rebo is actually an
abundant variety in northern Italy, grown
mostly in Trentino around Calavino, Pader-
gnone, San Michele all'Adige, and Volano. It
has conical, winged, medium-small bunches,
with medium-small, round (but not uniform),
thick-skinned, blue-black berries. It ripens in
mid- to late September. There are three clones
available: Ampelos VCP 3, ISMA-AVIT 583, and
ISMA-AVIT 590. The wine is very dark in hue
and fresh, brimming with aromas of small red
and black fruits, with a hint of fresh herbs. You
can fi nd Rebo used in DOC wines such as Tren-
tino and in over fi fteen different IGT wines,
such as Allerona, Alto Livenza, Benaco Bresci-
ano, Costa Toscana, Marca Trevigiana, Marche,
Narni, Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio, Umbria,
and Vallagarina. There are therefore scattered
plantings of Rebo outside Trentino (Umbria,
Tuscany, Veneto), where the crossing is easiest
to fi nd. It's not particularly tannic and comes
across as bright and refreshing. Though best
consumed young, when judiciously oak-aged it
can take a few years in the cellar. This is cer-
tainly one of Italy's most successful crossings
and I encourage you to give the wines a try.
Nebbiera
where it's found: Piedmont. national reg-
istry code number: 282. color: red.
Also known as Incrocio Dalmasso XV/29,
Nebbiera was obtained by Dalmasso in 1938 by
crossing what he thought was Nebbiolo (in real-
ity, Chatus) with Barbera. It has a medium-
large, pyramidal or cylindrical, compact bunch
with small, round, thin-skinned, purple-red
berries. It ripens in late September and has
medium vigor. Microvinifi cations show the
wine has a medium-red, almost amber-red hue,
with aromas and fl avors of red cherry and vio-
let. It is tannic and acidic (though less acidic
than wines made with Barbera) but lacks the
complexity of Nebbiolo wines. I know of no
commercially available bottles yet.
Nigra
where it's found: Veneto. national regis-
try code number: 283. color: red.
Nigra is a rarely planted Merlot × Barbera
crossing developed by Italo Cosmo that still
survives in scattered vineyards around Treviso,
but I don't believe anybody plans to make mon-
ovarietal wines with it any time soon.
Passau
where it's found: Piedmont. national reg-
istry code number: 284. color: red.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search