One vineyard, two souls: the signature of Merlot
The Merlot grape
Merlot is an incredibly interesting grape variety, capable of offering countless nuances in the glass. Agile and fruity or intense and bold, it transforms into a true reflection of the land when guided by the producer.
For us today, Merlot is one of the most challenging grape varieties, often requiring control. Moving from Faedo to Arquà Petrarca, each vineyard reveals a different soul, with its own characteristics and needs.
Merlot in the Euganean Hills: Podere Aganoor in Arquà Petrarca
At the Aganoor estate in Arquà Petrarca, in the Sassonegro area, we have been growing Merlot for Sassonero, one of our most well-known wines, since the 1990s. Here, we have calcareous, sunny, well-draining and shallow soil. This results in a concentrated wine that requires a long maturation time.
In 2020 we were fortunate to have a very balanced year, with good grape maturation, which gave the wines both concentration and fruitness. It was during the grapes tasting of the oldest Merlot vineyard that we had an inspiration: to reduce skin contact and the time spent in barrel. Let's see the result.
Merlot Sassonero and MT0420
While Podere Aganoor has always been synonymous with structured and long-lived wines, in recent years one of the challenges has been achieving proper grape maturation without overdoing the alcohol content. Hot and dry vintages make this goal even harder, especially with Merlot, which tends to be exuberant and concentrates sugars by nature. 2020 allowed us to experiment with two different interpretations of the same grape in the same location, with truly interesting results.
Merlot Sassonero Colli Euganei DOC stands out for its robust body, deep character and well-defined tannins. The bouquet combines fruity notes with floral and spicy accents, gaining more elegance and complexity through oak barrel aging. An ideal experience for those who enjoy discovering a wine sip by sip. You can find out more about Sassonero in the technical sheet.
The Red Wine MT0420, on the other hand, belongs to our "Author's Proofs" line and represents agility and freshness, without compromising on structure. Born in 2020 from inspiration (or better said, from sensitivity and experience), this wine stands out for its less extractive approach. A one-week maceration instead of ten days and a year and a half in oak barrels instead of three have given this Merlot greater elegance and delicacy. Its structure and complexity are accompanied by juicy fruit, minerality and excellent freshness.
Two wines, two characters, one invitation
Merlot Sassonero 2020 and MT0420: same year, two different interpretations of the same grape variety grown in the same production area. A comparison between the two glasses reveals the great strength of Merlot, a variety sometimes underestimated but capable of offering rich, dense, harmonious and sometimes unusual expressions. It is an opportunity to explore the extraordinary potential of a unique terroir like the Euganean Hills.
We look forward to welcoming you to our winery to discover all the nuances of these two wines! And if you are even more curious, explore the interactive map of our vineyards.
MT0420 is a rarity: just one barrel for a limited production. You can taste it by booking our Author's Proofs Tasting experience or choose to take both bottles home and compare them at your leisure, letting yourself be captivated by their differences.