Motfrei Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo 2020

The Motfrei cuvée comes from vineyards in Alto Piemonte, in the Colline Novaresi, at the foot of Monte Rosa. "Mötfrei" is the dialectal name of the hill on the slopes of which Nebbiolo is grown. The vines are planted on ferrous sand soils, which give Nebbiolo great finesse and remarkable freshness. The continental climate, tempered by alpine influence, promotes slow ripening of the grapes and a high thermal amplitude, preserving the natural acidity and aromatic complexity characteristic of this historic terroir.

The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand, then carefully sorted before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with a maceration of about 15 days, accompanied by gentle pump-overs and punch-downs to gradually extract aromatic compounds and tannins. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for approximately 18 months in large oak casks, then refined for another 6 months in bottle. This extended aging softens the structure while preserving the mineral expression and identity of the Nebbiolo.

This wine reveals notes of Morello cherry, red plum, pomegranate, accompanied by nuances of withered rose, violet, licorice, black pepper, black tea and a delicate hint of flint. On the palate, the texture is ample and precise, driven by a lively acidity that brings energy and balance. The tannins are firm, elegant and perfectly ripe, offering a distinguished structure. The finish is long, fresh and spicy, revealing all the depth and aging potential of this cuvée.

Ah Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, people of the Dolce Vita, but what difficulty in understanding its wine organization! The key to understanding the naming system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous country because each region has its own naming system. Italy can, however, give wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, as well as bottles filled with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless and characterless wines which are sold under their most useful and commercially reputable name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history, viticulture in Italy dates back to ancient times and it originated in Greece. The Etruscans would have planted vines and Greek immigrants would have improved and modified the grape varieties who subsequently called this country "Oenotria": the country of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life and certain regions already stood out for the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible testimony to their invasion. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic areas. The northern mountains experience a fairly harsh mountain climate. The “middle of the boot” plain is the domain of the continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the "southern part of the Italian boot" the Mediterranean climate reigns with very hot and very dry summers without forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In summary, Italy produces wines of great variety thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originate from their lands. It is a country just as complex as its wines which deserve to be explored!