# Freienfeld Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva (2020)

- **Producer:** Cantina Kurtatsch
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon
- **Region:** Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €55
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, black pepper, eucalyptus, mint, violet, vanilla, cedar, cloves, toast, chocolate, smoke, tobacco, leather, forest floor, dried fig

## About this wine

Freienfeld is the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva from Cantina Kurtatsch, a pioneering cooperative winery in Alto Adige, Italy. Established in 1900, Cantina Kurtatsch is renowned for its zone-by-zone mountain viticulture. The grapes for Freienfeld are sourced from selected, sun-drenched, steep gravelly slopes in Kurtatsch, situated between 220 and 350 meters above sea level. This unique terroir, characterized by warm daytime temperatures and cool alpine night breezes, allows Cabernet Sauvignon to reach optimal phenolic ripeness while retaining vibrant alpine freshness. Named after the historic Freienfeld estate, this wine represents the pinnacle of the estate's red winemaking, showcasing the potential of Bordeaux varieties in the alpine terroir of South Tyrol.

## Interesting facts

- The grapes are grown on some of the warmest, steepest gravelly slopes in Alto Adige, reaching up to a 50% incline.
- Freienfeld is only produced in exceptional vintages, ensuring only the highest quality grapes make the cut.
- Cantina Kurtatsch is one of the oldest and most respected cooperative wineries in South Tyrol, founded in 1900.

## Food pairing

The robust structure, high tannins, and vibrant acidity of this Cabernet Sauvignon Riserva require rich, protein-heavy dishes to soften the tannic grip. Grilled and roasted red meats, game, and rich reductions complement the wine's intensity, while the alpine acidity cuts through the fat beautifully.

## Wine making process

The grapes are hand-harvested at peak maturity. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled open-top oak vats with gentle cap management to extract fine tannins and deep color. Following fermentation, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for 18 to 22 months in French oak barriques (primarily new and second-use). After blending, the wine is bottled and undergoes further refinement in the bottle for at least one year before release, ensuring a harmonious integration of oak, fruit, and structural elements.