Mulinero, Petit Verdot grows on Lake Garda

Claudio Andrizzi
Written by Claudio Andrizzi

Pozzolengo is undoubtedly one of the main production centers of the Lugana area. But in this country rich in vineyards it can happen to come across varieties which are decidedly not common for Lake Garda as Petit Verdot, a vine of French origin. A kind of grape on which Malavasi winery dediced to bet, agreeing to take care of a one hectare vineyard owned by Moscatello agriturismo and the related restaurant Muliner. And a very special vineyard it is indeed, with 8,000 vines planted at a distance of only 120 cm and very low plants, which Daniele Malavasi and his staff have harvested for the first time in 2013 with a picturesque harvest carried out in the back of a group of donkeys. Three years later, the result of that vintage has finally seen the light: the wine is called Mulinero and was officially presented at the Moscatello in recent days by the same Malavasi with winemakers Franco and Marco Bernabei from Greve in Chianti who followed its production. It is undoubtedly a rariry, available in just 1090 numbered bottles: the blend sees Petit Verdot prvail with a share of 80%, and with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with percentages of 10% each. The grapes were subjected to a late harvest after drying on the vine, a functional choice for the creation of a particularly structured red, at the same time quite soft and “silky”, which could acquire further depth resting still some time in the bottle. It is to try primarily with preparations of meat, maybe with some typical dishes of Mantuan cuisine recounted into the book with which Daniele Malavasi has collected the recipes of his mother, combining it in the wooden box packaging of the Mulinero.

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