WINERY Elena Walch is a 5-generation family-run estate in Alto Adige, a region in the North-East part of Italy that led the wine quality revolution in the area and has gained a prominent international reputation. The philosophy of the estate is dedicated to its terroir – the idea that wines must be the individual expression of their soil, climate and cultivation in the vineyard – and that this must be maintained according to principles of sustainability and passed on to the next generation. The firm belief that the quality of wine is created in the vineyard requires uncompromising work, taking into account the individuality of each vineyard. With 90 hectares in cultivation, including the two top vineyards VIGNA Castel Ringberg in Caldaro und VIGNA Kastelaz in Tramin, Elena Walch belongs to the most important protagonists of Alto Adige winemaking.

WINE Produced in limited quantities, only 3,395 bottles of Elena Walch’s highest expression of Pinot Noir, “Aton,” are available. Named after the ancient Egyptian sun god who was symbolized by a sun disk, Aton represents the source of light and life.

“Aton” Pinot Noir Riserva Alto Adige DOC comes from top grapes grown at 1,250-2,000ft a.s.l. The 61-year-old vines with low yields are in Glen and Barleith, benefiting from clay and limestone soils with marl. Higher altitudes provide more light, sunshine, and freshness. The result is an elegant Pinot Noir with a fresh, expressive presence, thanks to long sunshine hours and large temperature differences.

The harvest occurred on September 20th and 24th, 2019, to allow grape lots to reach optimal maturity. 2019 was a cool vintage, resulting in high-quality Pinot Noir with great complexity and balance. After a warm early spring, April and May were cooler with late flowering. June was very warm, followed by a cooler July and August. The later harvest allowed grapes to benefit from a beautiful autumn with high-temperature variations.

The hand-harvested grapes underwent gentle, gravity-fed processing in a state-of-the-art fermentation cellar. They were transferred in whole berry form to small fermentation tanks, preserving their delicate structure. This was followed by a 5-day cold maceration and 15 days of controlled fermentation at 23°C in small steel tanks. The wine was then aged for 12 months in medium-toast French oak barriques and 12 additional months in steel. The wine was bottled without filtration on November 4th, 2021, to preserve its structure and composition. During 15 months of bottle aging, the “Aton” Pinot Noir Riserva 2019 developed its potential until its release on April 1st, 2024.

The Pinot Noir “Aton” exudes timeless finesse and elegance. It appears strong ruby red in the glass with subtle notes of blackberries, licorice, and fine smoke. The palate offers density, blackberries, minerality, fresh tannins, and a spicy, long finish. The 2019 vintage stands out for its complexity, structure, and excellent balance.