In the glass

Full-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: white peach, tropical fruit, vanilla, fresh herbs

Palate: stone fruit, creamy lees, saline minerality, long elegant finish

Elena Walch's single-vineyard Chardonnay Riserva from the Castel Ringberg estate above Lake Caldaro - the family's monopole. Full-bodied, creamy and saline, structured for long-haul cellaring on the porphyry-limestone soils of Caldaro's western shore.

What it pairs with

  • Roast capon with sage butter
    Full-bodied white with high acidity is the classical capon pairing; oak vanilla echoes the butter.
  • Lobster bisque
    Castel Ringberg's creamy lees and stone fruit match the bisque's richness while saline minerality cuts.
  • Truffle risotto
    Complex Chardonnay flatters white truffle without overwhelming; full body suits risotto.

History

The Castel Ringberg estate on the western shore of Lake Caldaro has been the Walch family monopole since the late 19th century. Elena Walch developed the Castel Ringberg Chardonnay Riserva as the cellar's lake-influenced parallel to Beyond the Clouds; the estate's vineyards now also produce single-vineyard Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio and Lagrein under the Castel Ringberg label.

  1. 1995 — First Castel Ringberg Chardonnay Riserva vintage from the lake-side monopole

Facts

Producer
Elena Walch
Grapes
Chardonnay (100%)
Classification
DOC Alto Adige Chardonnay Riserva
Oak
Approximately twelve months in French oak barriques with malolactic fermentation
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 40 to 60 at retail
Drinking window
5 to 20 from vintage
First vintage
1995

Frequently asked about Chardonnay Vigna Castel Ringberg Riserva

What does Castel Ringberg Chardonnay taste like?

White peach, tropical fruit, vanilla and fresh herbs on the nose; stone fruit, creamy lees, saline minerality and a long elegant finish on the palate. Full-bodied, dry, with high acidity.

When should I drink Castel Ringberg Chardonnay?

Drink between 5 and 20 years from vintage. Young vintages show fresh stone fruit and oak; cellared bottles develop honey and pronounced complexity.

Where is Castel Ringberg?

On the western shore of Lake Caldaro, the family monopole vineyard that the Walch family has owned since the late 19th century. The lake moderates temperatures and adds a saline mineral character to the wines.

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