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CHF 35.33−17%(CHF 55.43/ℓ)
Price before extra discount: CHF 41.57
Recommended price: CHF 49.98
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Technical information
- Producer
- Dolfo
- Name
- Merlot Riserva
- Variety
- Merlot
- Vintage
- 2012
- Gradation
- 13.5%
- Format
- 75 cl
- Aromatic profile
- Red fruits, spices, vanilla notes
- Vinification method
- Steel fermentation, wood aging
- Aging
- Minimum 12 months
- Type of cask
- Oak barrels
- Color
- Intense ruby red
- Serving temperature
- 16-18°C
- Recommended consumption
- Within 5-7 years
- Pairing
- Red meats, roasts, aged cheeses
- Region
- Goriška Brda
- Country
- Slovenia
- Production area
- Ceglo
- Type
- Red wine
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Dolfo's Merlot Riserva is a rich and complex wine, encapsulating the essence of the winemaking tradition from the region it hails from. The selective harvest of Merlot grapes, followed by meticulous vinification and extended barrel aging, endows this wine with a distinctive character and impeccable structure.
Visually, the Merlot Riserva displays a deep ruby-red color, with shades that lean towards garnet as it ages. The bouquet is intensely aromatic on the nose, featuring notes of ripe red fruits such as plums and blackberries, enhanced by an elegant vein of sweet spices and a hint of vanilla, resulting from its time in wood.
On the palate, the richness of the fruit is expressed with notable smoothness, balanced by a lively freshness that leads to a long and persistently harmonious finish. The tannins are well-structured yet soft, highlighting careful and precise maturation.
Dolfo's Merlot Riserva pairs beautifully with hearty dishes such as red meat roasts, game, and aged cheeses. Also perfect as an after-dinner meditation wine, this selection is ideal for those seeking an intense and memorable sensory experience.
It is recommended to open the bottle a few hours before consumption to allow the wine to oxygenate and reveal its full aromatic complexity. With an aging potential that enables it to evolve elegantly over the years, Dolfo's Merlot Riserva promises to enrich the cellar of every enthusiast.
Visually, the Merlot Riserva displays a deep ruby-red color, with shades that lean towards garnet as it ages. The bouquet is intensely aromatic on the nose, featuring notes of ripe red fruits such as plums and blackberries, enhanced by an elegant vein of sweet spices and a hint of vanilla, resulting from its time in wood.
On the palate, the richness of the fruit is expressed with notable smoothness, balanced by a lively freshness that leads to a long and persistently harmonious finish. The tannins are well-structured yet soft, highlighting careful and precise maturation.
Dolfo's Merlot Riserva pairs beautifully with hearty dishes such as red meat roasts, game, and aged cheeses. Also perfect as an after-dinner meditation wine, this selection is ideal for those seeking an intense and memorable sensory experience.
It is recommended to open the bottle a few hours before consumption to allow the wine to oxygenate and reveal its full aromatic complexity. With an aging potential that enables it to evolve elegantly over the years, Dolfo's Merlot Riserva promises to enrich the cellar of every enthusiast.
The winery
Dolfo
Goriška Brda (Collio)Slovenia (vigneti anche in Italia)
Family-run winery based in Ceglo (Goriška Brda / Collio), known for a range of white and red wines and a traditional-method sparkling wine produced from grapes grown on both sides of the Italy–Slovenia border.
- Grape varieties
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), Pinot Grigio (Sivi Pinot), Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Rumena Rebula (Ribolla Gialla), Malvazija (Malvasia), Sauvignonasse (Friulano)
- Family-run winery operated by the Skočaj family under the DOLFO label.
- Vineyards with a reported total of 14 ha, spread across Slovenia and Italy.
- Estimated annual production: approximately 55,000 bottles.
- Production of white and red wines and a traditional-method sparkling wine.
- Characteristic "opoka" soil that influences the wines' sapidity.
The story
The winery bears the family nickname "Dolfo," and the estate's history is linked to the Skočaj family. The modern approach to production was established at the end of the 20th century, when wines labeled DOLFO first appeared on the market; the official page notes the appearance of DOLFO‑labelled bottles in 1989. Over the years the estate has expanded its vineyards and winemaking facilities in the Brda/Ceglo area.
Production philosophy
It favors manual vineyard care and cultivation practices that emphasize territorial quality; at the same time production is described as conventional, using natural organic fertilizers and paying careful attention to soil management and exposure.
Terroir and vineyards
It is located in Ceglo, in the Goriška Brda area, with vineyards that extend partly into Slovenia and partly into Italy. The local soils are characterized by the so-called "opoka", a calcareous/clayey sedimentary formation that contributes to the wines' sapidity; the vineyards are planted on terraces with sunny exposures and elevations in the area ranging from approximately 80 to 200 meters.
Awards and recognition
Positive evaluations in specialized publications: for example, scores of up to approximately 91–92 points for some vintages in trade magazines and industry portals.
