Need Help Finding the right wine?
Your personal wine consultant will assist you with buying, managing your collection, investing in wine, entertaining and more.
2016 Nals-Margreid Pinot Bianco Sirmian
95 DEC
As low as:
$0.00
As low as:
Critic Reviews
Stony, salty nose, notes of lime and quince jelly; juicy and ginger pears on the palate. Lively acidity with flowers all over the finish. Delicious, will keep.
Decanter | 95 DEC
This has fabulous focus and finesse with mineral, salt and slate character. Medium body, linear and bright. Plenty of energy and focus. Very persistent. Drink now.
James Suckling | 95 JS
Bright pale golden-tinged straw. Very intense aromas of botanical herbs, honey and ripe white and yellow fruit. Then multilayered and dense, with juicy flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes creamy and very long. A knockout wine of impeccable balance and noteworthy salinity. There’s a hint of aromatic nuance on the back end which offers a ton of flavor and only 13.5% alcohol. This vintage of Sirmian offers above average complexity, possibly the result of the grape’s very long hang time, as the harvest was one of the latest in memory (they finished picking the Sirmian on October 26; it had never been so late before).
Vinous Media | 94 VM
Savory and elegantly structured, this is a great expression of Alto Adige Pinot Bianco. It opens with aromas of apple, crushed rock and a whiff of toast that follow through to the refined medium-bodied palate along with citrus and pineapple. A salty mineral note energizes the succulent finish.
Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE
This is a steady and refreshing white wine that delivers a classic interpretation of the variety. The 2016 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco Sirmian shows a mild bouquet with stone fruit and honeydew melon. The wine plays a more important role in terms of mouthfeel, with medium texture and subtle creaminess that wraps smoothly over the palate. Drying mineral notes give the wine sharp definition and linearity. This white wine ages in large oak casks for eight months. Some 45,000 bottles were produced.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP
A lively Pinot Bianco, with ground pink peppercorn and grated ginger accents to the flavors of Honeycrisp apple, stony mineral and lightly salted almond. Long and creamy on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 4,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator | 90 WS
Decanter | 95 DEC
This has fabulous focus and finesse with mineral, salt and slate character. Medium body, linear and bright. Plenty of energy and focus. Very persistent. Drink now.
James Suckling | 95 JS
Bright pale golden-tinged straw. Very intense aromas of botanical herbs, honey and ripe white and yellow fruit. Then multilayered and dense, with juicy flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes creamy and very long. A knockout wine of impeccable balance and noteworthy salinity. There’s a hint of aromatic nuance on the back end which offers a ton of flavor and only 13.5% alcohol. This vintage of Sirmian offers above average complexity, possibly the result of the grape’s very long hang time, as the harvest was one of the latest in memory (they finished picking the Sirmian on October 26; it had never been so late before).
Vinous Media | 94 VM
Savory and elegantly structured, this is a great expression of Alto Adige Pinot Bianco. It opens with aromas of apple, crushed rock and a whiff of toast that follow through to the refined medium-bodied palate along with citrus and pineapple. A salty mineral note energizes the succulent finish.
Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE
This is a steady and refreshing white wine that delivers a classic interpretation of the variety. The 2016 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco Sirmian shows a mild bouquet with stone fruit and honeydew melon. The wine plays a more important role in terms of mouthfeel, with medium texture and subtle creaminess that wraps smoothly over the palate. Drying mineral notes give the wine sharp definition and linearity. This white wine ages in large oak casks for eight months. Some 45,000 bottles were produced.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP
A lively Pinot Bianco, with ground pink peppercorn and grated ginger accents to the flavors of Honeycrisp apple, stony mineral and lightly salted almond. Long and creamy on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 4,500 cases made.
Wine Spectator | 90 WS
Wine Details for 2016 Nals-Margreid Pinot Bianco Sirmian
| Type of Wine |
Italy (Other)
: There are dozens of grape varietals grown in Italy so no wonder they produce such a broad range of most exquisite wines. Some of the most cultivated red varieties are Nebbiolo, Aglianico, Sangiovese, and Barbera, while Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also popular. Among whites, you're likely to find Pinot Grigio, Trebbiano, or Vernaccia varietals. |
|---|---|
| Varietal |
Pinot Bianco
: Hailing from a prominent wine region, possessing the flexibility to be fashioned in many different styles and being related to the noble Pinot Noir grape: Pinot Blanc. This incredibly diverse grape with good pedigree is capable of producing delicate, delicious, mouthwatering white wines. Despite its capable nature and its production of charming dry, sweet and sparkling renditions, the world is mostly ignorant of its high class talents. Pinot Blanc may be overshadowed by other varieties, but it should not be overlooked. Pinot Blanc shares the same DNA as Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, being a white color mutation of the former. The grape possesses a smaller concentration of anthocyanin (pigmentation of red/purple grapes). Unlike the fussy Pinot Noir grape, Pinot Blanc is much easier to grow and can withstand colder temperatures (though it prefers warmth). It buds earlier and ripens early to mid-harvest. In the vineyard, Pinot Blanc is relatively fruitful giving reliable yields, though they must be kept in check to ensure flavor retention. The grapes form in tight clusters which can become vulnerable to fungal diseases, such as bunch rot and powdering mildew. However, in a few areas where the conditions are amenable, Botrytis Cinerea or noble rot can occur, in which the beneficial fungus dehydrates the grape, concentrating sugars and flavors. Much like Pinot Gris (a close relative), Pinot Blanc has been nearly ostracized from Burgundy, where it likely to have originated. As luck would have it, Pinot Blanc has found a “warm” welcoming in many prosperous winegrowing locations outside of Burgundy. Its versatility allows the grape variety to be used in the production of still, sparkling and sweet dessert wines. It may not be the most glamorous member of the Pinot family but has proven its worth in various winegrowing regions, most notably Alsace in northeast France, the Alto Adige region of Italy, and in nearly all of Germany. Alsace is considered Pinot Blanc’s spiritual home and where it is somewhat overshadowed by the region’s undoubted stars, Riesling and Gewurztraminer. The winegrowing areas rest at the foothills of the Vosges Mountain range which shelters the vineyards from oceanic influences, with one of the lowest rainfalls in France. It enjoys a semi-continental climate which is sunny, warm and dry. The terroir is quite hospitable to the variety and comprised of limestone, sandstone, granite, schist and clay. Many fine dry examples hail from Alsace and are typified by almond aromas with a hint of spice. On the palate they show a range of apple flavors, citrus and sometimes buttery and usually at the floury and creamy end of the spectrum. They also display light mineral characteristics but these are generally muted by the oak treatment favored in the region. It often draws comparison to its cousin, Chardonnay, both oaked and unoaked versions, but usually not as complex. In the AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) of Cremant d’Alsace, Pinot Blanc takes center stage and its attributes are displayed in the making of sparkling wines made in the traditional-method (sparkling wines made outside of Champagne). This is another example of its utilitarian nature. Alto Adige, Italy has become a popular cultivation site for the well-traveled Pinot Blanc grape. Here the climate consists of mild sunny days, cool nights and strong winds that dry the soil. The Alps shape the landscape in such a varied way that the microclimate changes within just a few kilometers. There is an abundance of sunny slopes where the vines flourish and granted excellent water drainage. There is a mix of glacial remnants, ancient sea beds, clay soils bordering chalk deposits with well over 150 different rock deposits that help shape the soil composition. Primitive terroir composed of rock soils with quartz, slate and mica, calcareous and dolomite rock give the resulting wines a glacial and alluvial polish. The wines are characterized as having a fruity freshness with elegant scents of apples, pears, lemons and tones of hay flowers and hazelnut. It has a lively acidity and a fruity finesse which makes it a food-friendly companion. It is truly among the white wine stars of the Alto Adige. In Germany, Pinot Blanc is grown and vinified with great affection and celebrated by German winemakers. It is fashioned in light or full-bodied, still or sparkling, easy-drinking or complex styles, as well as the luxurious Trockenbeerenauslese (select dry berry harvest). These wines are made from selected overripe shriveled grapes often affected by noble rot making them extremely rich sweet wines with extraordinary, textured mouthfeel. Pinot Blanc is grown in almost all 13 wine regions of Germany but most commonly found in Baden, Rheinhessen and Pfalz, reflecting the grape’s preference for warm and dry climates. It thrives in deep soil in sites with good sun exposure. German stylings generally have aromas and flavors of citrus fruit, pears, melons and green nuts. The variety can be found in the United States, Canada, Argentina and Uruguay, where it is commercially produced. Alcohol levels in these wines tend to be medium to high with good acidity giving the wine a slightly sour, tart edge. Its high natural acidity makes it a popular choice in the production of sparkling wine in California. Although Pinot Blanc is widely grown around the world, it never gets sufficient attention or focus to complete with the major stars of the white wine world. Time, is perhaps, the only thing holding the Pinot Blanc grape from breaking the boundaries of fame, but for now, consumers can enjoy a luxury wine at a value price tag. |
| Country |
Italy
: Italy is renowned as one of the world’s greatest gastronomic havens; from certified Prosciutto di Parma to the sea-side seafood eateries on the island of Sicily. However, this epicurean experience could not possibly be as hedonistic without the ethereal combination of the country’s plethora of fine wines. It seems unfair that a nation should be able to boast, both, some of the world’s greatest cuisine as well as its greatest wines. Italian wine is one of the most sought after in the world, and has become the second most produced in the world, behind only France. Stretching an impressive 736 miles from northern Italy to the peninsula’s southern tip, the country’s geography generates an enormous array of topography, climate and soil structure. This is an extremely important quality of its winegrowing and making industry which lays claim to nearly 550 different grape varietals, which all desire their own necessities, in terms of terroir and climate. The still red wines of Italy truly characterize the nation’s vast and expansive terroir; Nebbiolo dominates Piedmont, where Barolo and Barbaresco reign king and queen of the region’s production. Hailing from Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany, the rockstar Sangiovese grape has become synonymous with greatness. Vin Santo sweet wines have taken on a mighty feat of competing with the glorious wines of Sauternes, and of course, Prosecco. Prosecco, located in Trieste (northeast Italy) and its creation of luxuriously effervescent styles of wine has become Italy’s answer to Champagne. The Glera grape variety, which has become synonymous with the name Prosecco, is the main ingredient and is beloved in the appellation where the village of Prosecco’s name has become world renowned. The blurred boundary between Italy and the countries of Slovenia and Austria, where German influence still resonates through Friuli wines. The prevalence of Riesling and other such grape varietals is high in this region and have become extremely popular on today’s market. With nearly 702,000 hectares of grapevines covering the massive and diverse landscape, Italy’s annual average of 48.3 million hectoliters of wine production is second only to France in terms of volume and Spain in terms of hectares of vines. The country is vast and overwhelming when it comes to the culinary arts, but perhaps even this is overshadowed by its production of some of the world’s most sought after wines, whether the omnipresent Chianti to the highly collectible and sought after Amarone della Valpolicalla. |
Overview
| Producer | Nals-Margr |
|---|