The colour is pale straw. On the nose pears, white peaches, orange peels and white flowers. In the mouth grapey and refreshing. The aftertaste is medium long.
This wine is made with 100% Merlot grapes vinified off the skins.
White Merlot del Ticino was born in 1986, when a local Cooperative, faced with chronic grapes’ oversupply, decided to produce a white wine. Other producers followed suit. Nowadays the share of Merlot grapes vinified in white in Ticino is more than 30% of the total production.
Merlot is the main grape of Canton Ticino, where it has been imported from France for experimental purposes at the beginning of the 20th century, during the post-phylloxera period.
Currently Merlot covers about 80% of the planted area in a Canton with some 3’600 grape growers and 200 or so winemakers. Approximately 1’000 hectares are devoted to viticulture.
White Merlot is not my kind of wine. Nevertheless, I find this exemplar made by Gialdi a pleasant Apero wine.
I bought this bottle at the winery for 16 CHF.
Country: Switzerland
Region: Ticino
Grapes: Merlot
Type: White
Vintage: 2020
Producer: Gialdi
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5
The colour is pale gold, with medium fine, short-lasting bubbles. On the nose cream, melon honeydew and pears. All very subtle. In the mouth not very tasty. A bit flat. The aftertaste is fresh, but short.
The colour is medium gold, with very fine, short-lasting bubbles. On the nose cream, apricot, lime and almonds. In the mouth tasty and filling, with sensations consistent with the nose. The aftertaste is fresh and medium long.
The colour is pale gold, with fine, medium-lasting bubbles. On the nose citrusy and floral, with notes of bread. In the mouth similar citrusy and bakery aromas, with a medium long, fragrant finish.
The colour is medium garnet. On the nose prune, cherries under spirit, orange marmalade and tobacco. Although still enjoyable, in the mouth this wine has passed its best. The sensations are subtle, the flavours are fading and the aftertaste rather short.
The colour is medium ruby. On the nose cherries, blackberries and some toasted notes. In the mouth rather light and thin, but refreshing. The alcohol is a bit too high. The aftertaste is pleasantly fruity, but fades away quickly.
The colour is pale yellow. On the nose tangerine, ananas, banana, jasmine. In the mouth fresh, but without much flavour. The aftertaste is watery and short.
The colour is medium gold. On the nose aromas of apricot, peach, citrus, peanuts, chamomile and minerals. On the mouth fresh and elegant, with a lemon-flavoured aftertaste that last for quite some time.
The colour is medium garnet. On the nose mushrooms, cherries and stewed plums. In the mouth good acidity, but not much else. The aftertaste is rather short.
The colour is deep ruby. On the nose cherries soaked in alcohol, with the addition of nutmeg, cinnamon, tobacco and cacao. In the mouth dense, rich and fruity. The aftertaste lasts for a while.