Il Conte IGT 2023

Wine description for Il Conte IGT 2023 by Manincor

Colour & appearance

Deep garnet red with violet reflections and an almost black core – a wine that announces serious intent from the very first glance.

Nose

Rich, dark fruit leads the way: blackberry, mulberry, fully ripe plum and black cherry. Behind this lies a spicy second layer of sandalwood, undergrowth, light tobacco, black pepper and liquorice, accompanied by a subtle smoky note. Dark, shadowy, yet inviting all at once.

Palate

The attack is dominated by spice: dark chocolate, espresso crema and tobacco, enveloped in a fine-grained, velvety tannin with a texture reminiscent of panne velvet. The fruit is firmly contoured, almost black in its extract, while the ripe acidity makes a noble, understated appearance in the background. Power without heaviness – here, the estate’s gentle extraction truly pays off.

Finish

Long, fruity and savoury, with a pronounced aftertaste – a finale that is contemplative rather than loud.

Terroir & origin

The grapes come from the vineyard sites of Manincor and Panholzerhof, two southeast-facing vineyards situated at around 250 metres with open views over Lake Kaltern. Rich, sandy loam soils interspersed with calcareous gravel and glacial rock lend the cuvée structure and depth.

Grape varieties & vinification

A cuvée of Lagrein, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot – South Tyrolean origins meet Bordeaux-inspired philosophy, entirely in keeping with the estate’s tradition. The individual lots were vinified separately, partly spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, and fermented in wooden, concrete and stainless steel vats. Ten days of gentle maceration, with the cap submerged just once daily – the aim being filigree tannins. Twelve months’ ageing in wooden casks of various sizes.

Food recommendations

A wine for herb-braised leg of lamb, beef fillet in red wine jus or wild game ragout with mushrooms. Also a reliable choice to accompany mature hard cheese and an unhurried evening.

Special features

Manincor – true to its motto “Hand on heart” – has been farming biodynamically since 2005, and the entire range is Demeter-certified. Michael Graf Goëss-Enzenberg and estate director Helmuth Zozin combine Alpine freshness with Burgundian elegance. Il Conte demonstrates this impressively: the ripeness of the south tempered by Alpine coolness – and a tannin that invites caressing rather than conquering.