Chardonnay 'Saleit' Cantina di Caldaro Kaltern 2024
Callmewine's FavouritesThe Wadleith is a Chardonnay of medium intensity and structure with a harmonious bouquet where notes of exotic fruit alternate with typical buttery scents. On the palate, it is creamy and smooth, with a remarkable persistence on the finish
The Chardonnay "Saleit" from Cantina di Caldaro Kaltern is born in the beautiful Alto Adige landscape. We are in Caldaro near the homonymous lake, and the winery has centuries-old origins, having started its activity in the early 1900s. Important historical moments have provided the backdrop, such as the separation of Alto Adige from Austria, economic crises, and the recoveries that have also seen the wine landscape reassessed. Over the last century, various ownerships have succeeded one another, and often mergers have occurred that enriched production. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, this reality became a wine cooperative that currently counts 650 members and land holdings that reach 450 hectares.
The vineyards of Chardonnay "Saleit" from Cantina di Caldaro Kaltern have an average age between 10 and 20 years. The lands are predominantly hilly, and the altitude reaches 450 meters above sea level. The south exposure is optimal for the sun's rays to hit the vineyards for a good partof the year, ensuring perfect ripening at the time of harvest; the soil is predominantly calcareous, clayey, and sandy for a structured and characterful final product. The harvest takes place manually in the first ten days of September and usually ends in mid-October; in the winery, the grapes are destemmed; a cold maceration follows for 10-18 hours, soft pressing, and a slow alcoholic fermentation. It ages for 5 months on the fine lees in wooden barrels and is bottled in the following March.
The color of Chardonnay "Saleit" from Cantina di Caldaro Kaltern is an intense straw yellow with brilliant reflections; on the nose, it releases scents of exotic fruit like mango, ripe pineapple, and yellow peach, while spicy notes of vanilla dominate the finish. On the palate, it is creamy, enveloping, and full-bodied with a pleasant persistence on the finish that invites drinking. It pairs perfectly with dishes based on raw, smoked, and steamed fish and first courses dressed with light sauces. An excellent wine that delights summer romantic dinners by the sea, sipping all the authentic flavor of the Alto Adige landAlto Adige, among the best expressions.