Pinot Nero sounds like it might be a unique wine variety that you’ve never tried, but it’s actually just the Italian name for pinot noir. The Peter Zemmer winery is located in the northernmost part of Italy, Alto Adige, just south of the Austrian border. More specifically, it’s just southwest of the city of Bolzano. This is a region with both Italian and German influences, as many of the area’s inhabitants speak German as their primary language.
This is a mountainous region with valleys created by the Adige and Isarco rivers, which merge at Bolzano forming excellent conditions for vineyards. The most prominent red wine variety produced in this region is a light-bodied wine from the schiava grape. Lagrein is the second most planted red variety, putting pinot nero in third. There is also a good quantity of white wine produced in this region, with pinot grigio, chardonnay and pinot bianco being the most prominent.
The suggested retail price of this wine is slightly over our typical $20 limit, but I’m sure it is sold in places for under 20 bucks.
This wine is absolutely beautiful on the nose, with with soft cherry, plum, and rose petal aromas. There’s a touch of earthy tree bark underneath the floral and fruit aromas. In the mouth it has the perfect amount of fruit with soft tannins and slightly crisp acidity. The flavors are cranberry, cherry and plum. There’s a bit of spice to it also. The finish is long with cranberry, spice and mineral. It’s a lovely pinot nero, and one that I would highly recommend.
Wine: Peter Zemmer
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 90
Price: $20.99
Find Peter Zemmer Pinot Nero with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.