Manincor, Mason Di Mason - Half-bottle 2016

Manincor’s Mason di Mason 2016 is serious Alto Adige Pinot Noir, made from the highest and oldest vines at the Mazon site, a south-facing, well-ventilated plateau at around 400–500 metres. Manincor describes it as its “grand cru from a grand cru” — only the best parcels and barrels make the cut. The 2016 has really hit its stride. Expect ripe cherry and plum, with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, alongside the savoury, slightly Mediterranean character that makes this part of Alto Adige so interesting. The palate is broad but silky, with fine-grained tannins, plenty of freshness and a long, savoury finish. It’s Pinot Noir with a little more muscle than Burgundy, but none of the heaviness. In the cellar, fermentation is spontaneous in open-top oak vats, with around three weeks on the skins, followed by 12 months in barriques, half of them new. Manincor farms biodynamically and selects only the finest barrels for Mason di Mason.