2011 Foradori, Morei, Teroldego Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Trentino, Italy.
Elisabetta Foradori’s wines are hand-crafted, biodynamic and natural with some of the cuvees raised and aged in amphora, like this magnificent Teroldego Morei that is aged on it’s skins for 8 months in the clay “Tinaja” from Spain. The Morei comes from stony alluvial soils high in the Dolomites, the Italian Alps, in the greater Alto Adige or Sudtirol close to Trentino, this terroir is transmitted in Elisabetta’s wines and the Teroldego grape, the only red varietal she uses. Teroledgeo is a direct relative of the French grape Dureza which is one of the parent grapes of Syrah, but Teroldego is unique and it’s soul belongs to it’s region in the Dolomites, it tastes and symbolizes the place. Foradori’s Teroldego wines are legendary and the 2011 versions are no exception, with this 2011 Morei showing deep fruit, mineral and a gorgeous purple/black hue. These Amphora wines always have a savory essence to them and that long skin contact gives them extraction and complexity, this vintage shows good intensity and ripeness with loads of blueberry, boysenberry and black cherry fruits with spiced damson plum, balsamic notes, sea salted lavender, crushed stones, black licorice and a hint of game along with a tangy core of black currant. There is refined fine tannin, good acidity and the Morei shows terrific poise, balance and flows gracefully on the palate, there is a seductive and alluring floral essence that starts on the nose and folds into the wine and lingers on the finish. This is a stunning wine, all of Elisabetta’s wines are remarkable, but this one really turned my head, I highly recommend finding Foradori’s offerings, her 2009, 2010 and this 2011 are all sublime, along with her whites as well. The 2011 Morei Teroldego should be a good long lived wine as well, enjoy over the coming decade, this is lovely and intriguing wine.
($48 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
