Chardonnay 'Sanct Valentin' San Michele Appiano 2023

The 'Sanct Valentin' Chardonnay is a fresh and creamy interpretation of the world's most famous white grape variety, produced by the renowned San Michele Appiano winery in Alto Adige. The 'Sanct Valentin' line encompasses the estate's flagship labels, through which the historic winemaker Hans Terzer expresses all his skill and experience by working with the best grapes grown by contributing members within the 385 hectares of vineyards. The Chardonnay of this selection made its debut with the 1986 vintage and has since become a cornerstone of the winery.

San Michele Appiano 'Sanct Valentin' Chardonnay is made with only grapes of the eponymous variety of Burgundian origin, grown in selected microzones in the municipality of Appiano. The rows are planted on calcareous-gravelly soils of morainic origin, between 450 and 550 meters above sea level. The grapes, harvested and selected entirely by hand, undergo soft pressing followed by alcoholic fermentation between barrique and tonneau barrels, where malolactic fermentation and subsequent maturation of about one year on fine lees also take place. Subsequently, the masses are blended and after a further 8 months of aging in cement tanks, bottling takes place.

The 'Sanct Valentin' Chardonnay of San Michele Appiano has a straw-yellow color with bright golden hues. On the nose, it evokes warm and enveloping aromas of tropical fruit and ripe peach that blend with complex scents of white flowers, citrus, butter, and almost smoky mineral notes. The full body and smoothness of the sip are well supported by the excellent fresh-savory thrust, in a long and tasty epilogue consistent with the sense of smell. Although delicious even in youth, this Chardonnay shows excellent aging potential.