Kaltern

Lagrein Classico 2021

89

Showing dark concentration and velvety richness, the Cantina Kaltern 2021 Alto Adige Lagrein offers a slightly more accessible interpretation of this much-beloved native grape. This wine is void of the bitterness and rawness that can sometimes characterize this grape. Instead, it offers smoothness and soft tannins with blackberry, cherry and dark plum. Aging is mostly in stainless steel with a little botte grand and barrique. It's poised for immediate drinking. This is an ample 110,000-bottle production.

Kaltern

Lagrein Classico 2019

89

The 2019 Kellerei Kaltern Lagrein coats the glass with an inky purple color. An alluring bouquet of wild berries, crushed violets, peppery herbs and black olive lifts from within. Silky textures are offset by juicy acids with saturating red and black berries infused by salty minerals and spice, leaving grippy tannins in their wake. There’s also an undeniable elegance here to match its noble structure. While the 2019 is already enjoyable today, I’m curious to see what a few years of cellaring might accomplish

Kaltern

Lagrein Classico 2019

88

The Cantina Kaltern 2019 Alto Adige Lagrein is rich and dark in appearance, with black fruit aromas of blackberry, dried blueberry, plum and Morello cherry. The wine shows good primary intensity, with more of those raw and tangy black fruit aromas. It offers dimension and concentration, followed by mild tannins and moderate length. In conclusion, you get a lot of fruit bang over a raw, approach and accessible style in the 250,000-bottle release. Lagrein sees five months of aging in concrete vats, with just a small 15% that ages in oak. This accounts for the wine's informal style and its pretty texture