Tappero Merlo
Tappero Merlo KIN Erbaluce di Caluso
Tappero Merlo KIN exhibits an intense straw-yellow color with vibrant liveliness and consistency. An elegant sage note blends with balsamic and spicy aromas in this dry white wine. Its olfactory profile, marked by a distinct mineral quality, is enriched with citrus, floral, and herbal elements. The wine showcases long persistence and excellent balance. Its alpine character will enhance with age if stored in a cool cellar.
VINEYARD
Designation
Grape Varieties
Type
Soil
Vineyard Care
WINERY
Fermentation
Aging
Alcohol
Certifications
Serving Temperature
AT HOME
Cellaring
100% Erbaluce
Dry, still white wine
The soils are morainic; mostly sand, with some silt and clay
No chemicals, herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers used. Very low use of copper substituted largely by cerevisiae yeast and herbal teas. Harvest is at the end of September.
Indigenous yeasts start the fermentation which takes place in steel at a controlled temperature and ends in the 20 hectolitre oak barrels.
18-20 months with weekly bâttonage, then a few months in concrete tanks to settle. Aged a further two years in bottle. Minimal sulfur added only at bottling.
13%
Certified organic vineyard with some biodynamic practices.
55°F (16°C)
Up to 10 years
Appearance:
Pale gold
Taste:
Medium intensity wine with flavors of lime juice, chalk, wet sand, and grapefruit. The finish is interesting because it is saline, with brioche and fennel fronds. Some oak presence on the palate.
Nose:
Pineapple, Golden Delicious apple, jasmine, lime, fennel frond, celery salt, concrete, oyster shell, gravel, and kiwi.
Pairing:
Pasta carbonara, halibut with almond crust, lobster, chicken, pork, and polenta.
Why We Love This Wine
Tappero Merlo KIN redefines Italian white wine. Previously, we viewed these wines as refreshing yet simple, but KIN proved so complex and lively. Its intriguing nose features an equal mix of fruit, floral, herbal, and mineral notes. While it possesses some weight and oak, it finishes refreshingly with lime and salt. It bears comparison to a Chardonnay from the Maconnaise or Côte Chalonnaise, though it is more intriguing.
Erbaluce may be the best grape you have never heard of, being one of the few DOCGs for Italian white wines. Its name, meaning "dawn light," derives from its thick amber-skinned grapes. If not grown in the sunniest sites, its wines can be quite acidic. This vineyard has historical significance; it was previously owned by Giuseppe Giacosa, who wrote lyrics for many of Puccini's operas. Today, Domenico Tappero Merlo owns it, and his dedication to land stewardship and meticulous attention to detail yield remarkable, age-worthy wines.
$45 / Bottle
KIN
2018
About the Winery
Being loyal and respectful to your "terroir" is fundamental to reach original and authentic results. Protecting and saving what was donated to us by past generations is the strongest and most revolutionary act we could do today. These are the philosophies of Domenico Tappero Merlo. He wants to narrate the story of his land through Erbaluce. KIN was his grandfather, a simple man with big values. His life followed the rhythm of nature and the vineyard because nothing was more important than his wine - his Erbaluce. KIN is a tribute from his grandson.
Images Courtesy of Tappero Merlo