Visit to Kloster Neustift - Abbazia di Novacella

These notes were made during a visit to Kloster Neustift with my university. We had the opportunity to visit the Abbey cellars and hear how their wines are made and then to taste some wines. Afterwards, we got to look around the historic abbey (including the church, museum, and library.)

This is a beautiful abbey that is still a religious community and that produces some excellent wines. If you're in the region, it's worth visiting!

• NV Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Sylvaner Perlaetus

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Medium(+) gold. Fine short, lively bubbles. Citrus / lemon, wet stone. Saline, brioche. Fine mousse. Medium(+) acidity. Fresh, Medium bodied.
  3 g RS, extra brut. Classified as NV but 2001, not DOC. Classic method.
  100% Stainless steel, No MLF.
  €28 – v. good value.

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• 2023 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Sylvaner Praepositus

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Medium gold. Lemon, lime - fleshy / rich, maybe underripe peach. Wet stone, saline. High acid, Medium bodied. Citrus, very fresh.
  10 months ageing, 60% stainless steel, 30% big acacia barrels, 10% barrique with MLF.

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• 2016 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Sylvaner Praepositus

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Medium gold – similar to 2023. Aged in bottle. Lemon, lime, lemon. Marmalade, mushroom / earth? Wet stone. Medium(+) acid. Smooth, rounded, but stoney finish. Ageing beautifully!

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• 2024 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Kerner Praepositus

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Medium(+) gold. Nose: Lemon, white peach, floral. Wet stone. Some mango, at first. Palate: High acidity, lithe. Fresh, medium bodied. Lemon, kiwifruit, saline, wet stone. White peach. Elegant, Fresh.
  100% stainless steel, 10 months on lees, 2 months in bottle.

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• 2023 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Riesling Praepositus

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Medium(+) to light gold. Lemon, lime. White pepper? Floral? Green apple. Saline, wet stone. White peach / nectarine. Fresh, linear, medium(+) to high acidity, very linear + pure.
  €29. Stainless steel, 1 year on fine lees

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• 2021 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Sylvaner Stiftsgarten

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Single vineyard
  Medium gold. Honey on nose. Lemon, stone fruit. Nectarine, peach. Medium(+) acidity but very smooth & integrated. Some oak, cream -- French-inspired. Medium bodied, rich.
  €70
  100% oak
  - MLF

  - 1 year barrique
  
- 1 year big oak

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• 2019 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Pinot Nero Riserva Vigna Oberhof

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Medium ruby. Red plum, red currant. Plum jam, cassis. Forest floor / tobacco. Cedar, sweet spice. Warm, earthy, savoury. Medium(+) acid, Medium(+) tannin. Savoury, balanced. Approachable. Outstanding Pinot noir!
  €80
  Ageing: 2 yrs barrique (1/3 new), then 2 yrs in bottle

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• 2022 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Kerner Passito Praepositus

  Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

  Late harvest
  Medium(+) to intense gold. Lemon, lemon marmalade. Candied pineapple, candied papaya. Tropical, sweet. 160–170 g/L RS. Unctuous. Medium(+) acid.
  €35 / 375 ml
  Pressed in January.
  
Fermentation 6 months.

  Aged in stainless steel for 1 year.

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This visit turned out to be very enjoyable and very worthwhile. I will definitely plan on revisiting in summer to see their ornamental gardens, which are meant to be very beautiful.

The “Alte Reben” Oberhof Riserva Pinot Noir in particular stood out as very good -- perhaps one of the best South Tyrol Pinot Noirs I've tasted. Expensive, but worth it.