Monte Bernardi, Sa'etta Vintage:2016 despite a year in which

despite a year in which what von Schubert described as nature’s eventual “turbo-autumn” was preceded by severe hail and an unprecedented tornado that felled 200-year-old trees and a portion of the vineyard walls – to say nothing of the toll it took on vines

finally culminating in an intense pure and detailed finish that is strikingly long and deep

there is impressive delineation in situ

the wine is elegantly powerful

Flavours here major on cocoa

Monte Bernardi, Sa'etta Vintage:2016 despite a year in whichSa'etta comes from a single vineyard planted in the 60s on compact sandstone rich in quartz, known locally as pietraforte. Michael Schmelzer calls 2016 a classic and fresh year which yielded particularly small concentrated bunches. It is discreet on the nose opening slowing to offer precise aromas of clove, flint, winter mint and moist earth. Savoury rather than fruity, the palate is equally tight with a firm backbone of chiselled tannins and