Elio Ottin Pinot Noir L'EMERICO 2016

Elio Ottin Pinot Noir L'EMERICO 2016 is a finely etched mountain Pinot Noir from the dramatic slopes of Italy’s Valle d’Aosta. Crafted in tiny quantities, this cuvée showcases the grape’s elegance through the lens of high-altitude terroir, where cool nights and long, sunny days bring out purity and finesse. L’EMERICO stands apart for its combination of alpine freshness, depth of flavor and an unmistakably Italian sensibility, echoing the region’s long but little-known tradition with Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 L'EMERICO shows a vibrant, translucent ruby color with garnet reflections at the rim, hinting at its gentle evolution. The nose is lifted and precise, offering aromas of wild strawberries, red cherries and pomegranate interwoven with rose petals, dried violets, alpine herbs, and a subtle touch of sweet spice and underbrush. On the palate, this Pinot Noir is medium-bodied, silky and finely structured, with a core of vivid red fruit—cranberry, cherry and raspberry—balanced by lively, mouthwatering acidity. Notes of tea leaf, forest floor, white pepper and a delicate mineral edge contribute complexity and length. The tannins are ultra-fine and chalky, giving a graceful framework rather than weight. 2016 is a classic, balanced vintage, and this wine is drinking beautifully now but still has the structure to evolve harmoniously for another 5–8 years, gaining further savory and truffley nuances with time in bottle.

Production
The grapes for L'EMERICO are sourced from steep, terraced vineyards in the Aosta Valley, one of Italy’s highest and coolest wine regions, framed by the Alps and characterized by poor, rocky, glacially derived soils. These conditions naturally limit yields and intensify flavor while preserving acidity. Ottin works with meticulous, largely manual vineyard practices, including hand-harvesting to ensure only perfectly ripe, healthy clusters are selected. In the cellar, the Pinot Noir is gently destemmed and fermented with careful temperature control to protect its delicate aromatics, followed by aging in a combination of oak (often used barriques or larger barrels) and tank to add texture and subtle spice without overpowering the purity of the fruit. The result is a terroir-driven wine that speaks clearly of its high-altitude origin.

Food & Serving
L'EMERICO 2016 is a versatile food wine, pairing beautifully with dishes that mirror its elegance and aromatic detail. Try it with roast chicken, duck breast, veal scaloppine, mushroom risotto, game birds, charcuterie, or alpine cheeses such as Fontina and Tomme. It also complements lighter lamb preparations and earthy vegetable dishes featuring mushrooms, beets or root vegetables. Serve at 14–16°C (57–61°F) to highlight its freshness and perfume. A short decant of 30–45 minutes can help the wine open up, particularly if enjoyed on the younger side of its drinking window.

Producer
Ottin Vini is a small, quality-focused estate founded by Elio Ottin in the Valle d’Aosta, Italy’s smallest and one of its most distinctive wine regions. Working on dramatic, high-altitude slopes along the Dora Baltea river, the winery has become one of the leading names in the area, known for precise, characterful wines that transmit the purity of their alpine terroir. Elio Ottin has been instrumental in raising the profile of Aosta wines, championing both local and international varieties adapted to mountain viticulture. The estate’s bottlings, including its acclaimed Pinot Noirs, regularly receive critical praise and are sought after by enthusiasts looking for elegant, mountain-driven expressions of classic grape varieties.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.