Italiano
PuntoZero and the area of Colli Berici
A farm estate perfectly integrated into the surrounding countryside, cultivating mostly international varietals with surprising results.
PuntoZero was founded in 1994 by the de’ Besi family in Lonigo, in the province of Vicenza and on the Colli Berici hills. It is a fascinating and complex farm estate that is perfectly integrated into the surrounding countryside. Arriving there you are met by grazing horses and ponies, sheep and goats as well as geese, ducks and chickens. The family also has six dogs, faithful companions who accompany Marcella.
The almost 14 hectares of vineyards are almost entirely planted with international or French red wine grapes but there is also a small, isolated vineyard of Pinot Bianco. The vineyards are conventionally cultivated with an eye on maintaining a low environmental impact and the biodiversity surrounding them, beginning with the bees.
Colli Berici is best-known for the villas of Andrea Palladio with their unmistakable architectural style. However, it is also an area rich in resources for winemaking. The composition of the soil varies and this due to the 60-million-year-old corrugated and tectonic ridges. There is also a significant presence of marine fossils and natural clay as well as volcanic veins. The altitudes of the hills are also varied but not high and allow the vineyards to have excellent exposures.
In regard to winegrowing, the area was historically known more for quantity than quality but, from the start, PuntoZero set off in a different direction. Its first years were focused on experimentation under the guidance of enologist Celestino Gasperi, who needs no introduction, and today at the helm is another Verona enologist, Marco Stevanini, who is in his early 30s but with his good nature and skill heads the project, allowing it to acquire form and identity.
All the wines are made in stainless steel and the varietals are fermented separately. They then mature in small oak, medium-toasted barrels before a fundamental period of aging in the bottle in the cellar. The winery is new and has been operational since the 2018 harvest and includes a tasting room. It is a comfortable setting with a wonderful view that can host up to 30 visitors at a time. The wines include the white Trasparenza, a Pinot Bianco from 60-year-old vines and Punto (Period) and Virgola (Comma), respectively single-grape Merlot and Syrah wines.
The estate is well-worth a visit and aside from tasting the wines you can also buy them on-site.
Carmenere 2016
89/100 - € 20
Made in stainless steel from Carmenere grapes. The wine has a limpid and bright color and an aroma of ripe, red fruit that alternates with an interesting vegetal note that can even seem spicy. The flavor is also fruity and enhanced by a note of dried mint, somewhat balsamic, while the mouthfeel is linear, clean and medium dry.
Dimezzo 2015
93/100 - € 20
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and late-harvest Merlot made in stainless steel and matured in barriques. The intriguing bouquet has scents of wild berries as well as more evolved and balsamic notes while the complex mouthfeel is fruity, saline and juicy with an unmistakable flavor of licorice root that unites the other sensations and contributes rigor and cleanliness. The aftertaste of bitter orange is a perfect finish to this pleasing and unless drop.
Punto 2013
90/100 - € 40
Made from late-harvest, slightly raisinated Merlot grapes, fermented in stainless steel and matured in small, new-wood barrels for 36 months. The bouquet has notes of cola, tamarind and hints of cinchona and with breathing emerge scents of ripe, dark fruit. The mouthfeel is surprisingly taut and linear with the salinity and citrus hints making the wine pleasing and perfect to pair with meat dishes and flavorful cheeses.
Virgola 2013
91/100 - € 40
A Syrah fermented in stainless steel and matured in new barriques. This wine needs and takes its time to express itself. The aroma is earthy with notes of flint followed by sensations of berries and hibiscus tea, black pepper. The clean mouthfeel a flavor of acidic, powdery dark chocolate and intermittent spicy notes.
