Belasy Chardonnay Riserva Alto Adige DOC 2022 - Schloss Englar x 6

Schloss Englar Chardonnay Belasy Riserva Alto Adige DOC 2022

The excellence of great aging white wines finds an essential benchmark in the Chardonnay Belasy Riserva by Schloss Englar. Sourced from high-altitude vineyards rooted in the Appiano municipality, this wine reinterprets a noble international grape variety, infusing it with the proud temperament and mineral verticality typical of Alpine terroirs. The winery has perfectly calibrated the use of wood to create a deep, sumptuous, and structured premium white wine, moving away from simple, standardized softness to embrace absolute stylistic precision. It is the ideal bottle for collectors and connoisseurs seeking complexity and longevity in mountain white wines.

Why the Winemaker Recommends Chardonnay Belasy Riserva

The winery suggests this prestigious Riserva because it embodies a perfect mastery of spontaneous fermentation and barrel aging. The grapes, manually harvested in pristine conditions, benefit from a short cold maceration that extracts the noblest aromatic precursors from the skins. The subsequent controlled malolactic fermentation in wood grants the wine superb aromatic stability and a unique buttery complexity, balanced by a natural acidic backbone. According to the winemaker, Belasy demonstrates how high-altitude Chardonnay can reach a sumptuous structural maturity while maintaining a clear, straight sip free from alcoholic heat.

Characteristics of the High-Altitude White Wine

This refined monovarietal expresses the very quintessence of mountain viticulture in the glass, elevating varietal traits to a superior level of definition. The wine's architecture is built upon vines ranging from 15 to 35 years old trained in the Guyot system, located at an ideal altitude between 500 and 550 meters above sea level. In this exceptional terroir, the plants sink their roots into a porphyritic morainic terrain mixed with calcareous components. Every element works in harmony to define a clear sensory profile of unquestionable quality consistency, perfect for exploring through tasting notes analysis.

Organoleptic Profile

• Alcohol and Structure: 14.00% Vol.
• Appearance: Rich, intense, and luminous straw yellow color in the glass, characterized by a beautiful brilliance.
• Aroma: A complex and layered bouquet. The nose opens with fresh notes of ripe exotic fruit, apple, and pear, beautifully enriched by delicate toasted, buttery, and vanilla notes integrated from the wood.
• Palate: Full, enveloping, and sumptuous structure, offering an entry into the mouth of total freshness and volume. The progression on the palate reveals an important body masterfully balanced by a crisp acidity and subtle, elegant echoes of vanilla, unfolding without any youthful harshness. The sip develops in an austere yet seductive manner, guiding the tasting toward a very long, deep, and coherent finish.

Food Pairings and Service for the Alto Adige Wine

The aromatic nature of this selection requires accurate culinary pairings capable of conversing with the finesse of its sensory profile.

• Land and Sea Cuisine: Pairs beautifully with baked fish, crustaceans, seafood, roasted white meats, creamy risottos, first courses enhanced by truffles, and refined carpaccios.
• Signature Pairings: For an original and fascinating contrast, try it paired with intense blue cheeses. If you wish to explore the winemaking excellence of this mountainous macro-region, we also suggest discovering our selection of Trentino white wine to find the ideal alternative for your table.
• Service Conditions: The wine expresses its maximum potential at an optimal serving temperature of 12 - 14°C (54 - 57°F) to avoid alcoholic sharpness and highlight the Alpine freshness, taking care to serve it in wide glasses to favor oxygenation. To complete your selection, you can explore the entire range of white wine from our collection.

The Terroir and the Warm 2022 Vintage of Schloss Englar

Managing a thermally intense season like 2022 required all the experience and technical precision that bind the history of great Italian wines to the passion of local families. To preserve the freshness of Chardonnay in a warm vintage, production came to life from a manual harvest and a meticulous selection of grapes in multiple passes between late September and early October. This was followed by a 12-hour maceration in the press, partly with whole clusters, a spontaneous fermentation activated exclusively by natural yeasts, and 12 months of aging in oak barrels with malolactic fermentation. Every single bottle reflects the dedication of the winemakers who manage the estate with energy and foresight, offering consumers an authentic and memorable experience with every taste.