Borgogno Era Ora Riesling 2024

Era Ora is born in the Madonna di Como vineyard, in the hills above Alba, at the heart of the Piedmontese Langhe. Riesling Renano is planted there at around 500 metres above sea level, on an east- and south-facing slope with clay-limestone marl soils. This altitude, unusual for a historic Barolo estate, offers cool nights that preserve lively acidity and give the wine a strong Piedmontese identity, made of tension and minerality.

After the harvest, the must is clarified by static settling in stainless-steel tanks, then ferments spontaneously for 15 to 20 days at 17-18 °C; around 20% of the cuvée ferments in 1,000-litre oak casks. This portion rests for six months on its fine lees, before six months of ageing in stainless-steel tanks and two months of bottle ageing. The estate has been certified organic since the 2019 harvest.

This wine reveals notes of yellow peach, apricot, lime, yellow plum, yellow flowers, hawthorn, fresh mint and gunflint. The straw-yellow colour with green glints introduces a semi-aromatic nose. On the palate, the attack is crisp and precise, carried by a vertical, harmonious structure. The whole is fresh and flavourful, with a tension that prolongs the tasting and underlines the purity of the grape variety.

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!