Dabatiè Langhe Nebbiolo 2022

The Gianni Gagliardo - Dabatiè Langhe Nebbiolo cuvée is born in the Roero, on the left bank of the Tanaro, facing the Langhe hills, in the heart of Piedmont. The Nebbiolo vines sink their roots into gypsum-rich sands, light, free-draining soils that give wines more airy and perfumed than those from the marls of Barolo. The continental climate, with hot summers and cool autumns, favours slow ripening that preserves the tension and finesse of the grape variety.

The Nebbiolo grapes are harvested in October, at full ripeness. Fermentation is accompanied by a maceration of around ten days, short enough to extract fruit and colour without hardening the tannic structure, then malolactic fermentation is completed. The wine is then aged for several months in stainless-steel tanks, without any oak, before bottling, in order to preserve all the aromatic purity of Nebbiolo.

This wine reveals notes of morello cherry, cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, faded rose, violet, liquorice and graphite. Tangy red fruit opens the bouquet, followed by flowers and a mineral touch. The palate, both ripe and sapid, combines warm substance with fine tannins and a fresh, saline finish.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful, hedonistic country, the land of la dolce vita, but how difficult it is to understand its wine industry! The key to understanding the appellation system in Italy is to think of it as several small countries rather than a single homogeneous nation, as each region has its own appellation system. Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavors and styles, bottles brimming with surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a large quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most commercially useful and prestigious name: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco, and many others... But let's talk a little history. Viticulture in Italy dates back to antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and modified the grape varieties, subsequently calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and certain regions already distinguished themselves by the excellence of their product. The Romans also established numerous vineyards in Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquest. Today, Italy is the world's largest wine producer, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The northern mountains have a rather harsh mountain climate. The plains of the "central boot" are characterized by a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. In the southern part of the Italian boot, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with very hot and dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces a wide variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of which originated in its own lands. It is a country as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!