In the glass
Aroma: black currant, blackberry, tobacco leaf, graphite
Palate: dark fruit, firm tannin, fresh acidity, long elegant finish
Peter Dipoli's Bordeaux-style cuvee blending Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the cellar's vineyards across Egna, Magre and Cortaccia. One of just three wines Dipoli produces; structured for long cellaring.
What it pairs with
-
Slow-braised short ribs
Iugum's firm tannin and dark fruit suit slow-cooked beef; the wine's full body matches the dish's depth. -
Roast venison with juniper
Game finds a peer in the wine's structure; tobacco and graphite notes echo juniper. -
Aged hard alpine cheese
Mature cheese matches the wine's depth; high acidity keeps the pairing balanced.
History
Peter Dipoli developed Iugum in the mid-1990s as the cellar's red counterpart to Voglar. The wine has remained one of just three wines the estate produces (alongside Voglar Sauvignon Blanc and Fihl Merlot), all hand-crafted by Peter Dipoli on the 7-hectare estate.
- 1994 — First Iugum Merlot Cabernet vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Peter Dipoli
- Grapes
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
- Classification
- DOC Alto Adige
- Oak
- Approximately eighteen months in French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 50 to 75 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1994
Frequently asked about Iugum Merlot Cabernet
What does Iugum taste like?
Black currant, blackberry, tobacco leaf and graphite on the nose; dark fruit, firm tannin, fresh acidity and a long elegant finish on the palate. Full-bodied, dry, with firm tannins and high acidity.
When should I drink Iugum?
Drink between 8 and 25 years from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 60-90 minutes of decanting; cellared bottles develop tobacco, cedar and complex savoury depth.
What grapes are in Iugum?
A Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Peter Dipoli's 7 hectares across Egna, Magre, Termeno and Cortaccia.
How many wines does Peter Dipoli make?
Just three: Voglar (Sauvignon Blanc), Iugum (Merlot-Cabernet) and Fihl (Merlot). The estate has remained at 7 hectares since founding to allow the family-scale operation.