Salton Winery Intenso Merlot 2023

Located in the Serra Gaúcha mountains, in the heart of Rio Grande do Sul state, the Vinícola Salton vineyard benefits from a humid subtropical climate, with moderately warm summers and cooler nights that promote the gradual ripening of the grapes. The plots dedicated to the Intenso Merlot cuvée are situated on rolling hillsides with predominantly clay-loam soils that are well-drained, allowing for deep root development. This historic region of Brazilian viticulture is marked by a strong Italian influence and a long tradition of red wines.

The Merlot grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness, then destemmed and crushed before a skin maceration designed to extract color and aromas. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit and freshness. Regular pump-overs promote gentle tannin extraction. After racking and pressing, the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks and partially in oak barrels to soften the structure and impart subtle oak notes before bottling.

This wine reveals notes of ripe red fruit , plum , and black cherry , complemented by delicate floral touches and spicy nuances reminiscent of vanilla and sweet pepper , as well as a light oak character from partial barrel aging. On the palate, the wine is supple, with a velvety texture, moderate acidity that provides freshness, well-integrated, rounded tannins, and a medium finish of ripe fruit and sweet spices .

Brazil's vineyards were born in the south of the country with the arrival of the first settlers fleeing Madeira and the Azores in 1532. It was in 1825, after the country's independence, that the Brazilian wine trade developed. German immigrants were the first to plant vines, followed by the Portuguese, then the French and Italians. Devastated in the 19th century by diseases thriving in the humid Atlantic climate, the European grape varieties were replaced by resistant North American varieties. These still cover 80% of the vineyard area but are falling out of favour. Over the past ten years or so, a new generation of winegrowers making terroir-driven wines has been bringing a breath of creativity. The country has a less formal approach to wine, less strict regulations and a vast territory to explore, all of which fire the imagination of its winemakers. It is hard to define the style of Brazilian wines because they mirror the country: multicultural. The sheer size of the territory means a great variety of soils and microclimates, which give the wines their diversity and point to huge potential in terms of quality.