Barolo Nebbiolo 2021

This Barolo DOCG is a blend of plots in the Langhe, in the heart of Piedmont. The estate brings together grapes from Monforte d’Alba, notably the Ginestra sector, from the Vignane and Coste di Rose MGAs in the commune of Barolo, and from around Vignarionda in Serralunga d’Alba. This mosaic of hillsides creates a nuanced, classic expression of the appellation.

The grapes are harvested separately according to the ripeness of each plot, then vinified in concrete tanks. Fermentation is followed by a long skin maceration of around 40 to 45 days, including submerged-cap work. The wine is then aged for 30 months in large botti, in a traditional spirit that aims to preserve the precision of Nebbiolo and the identity of the terroirs.

This wine reveals notes of ripe cherry, morello cherry, raspberry, orange peel, dried rose, wild rosemary, cinnamon, liquorice, new leather, dark stone and iron. The palate combines a silky, sleek texture with fresh, energetic acidity. The ripe yet firm tannins bring a noble, chalky grip, while the long, mineral and lightly spicy finish precisely extends its Barolo character.

Ah, Italy, what a beautiful hedonistic country, home of the Dolce Vita, but how difficult it is to understand how its wine world is organised! The key to understanding the Italian appellation system is to see it as several small countries rather than one homogeneous country, because each region has its own appellation system. Yet Italy can offer wine lovers a multitude of wines with varied and unique flavours and styles, as well as bottles full of surprise and creativity. Unfortunately, it also produces a great quantity of soulless, characterless wines sold under their most useful and commercially best-known names: Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella, Lambrusco, Prosecco and many others... But let's talk a little history: winegrowing in Italy dates back to the earliest antiquity and originated in Greece. The Etruscans are said to have introduced the vine, and Greek immigrants improved and changed the grape varieties planted, later calling the country "Oenotria": the land of wine. At the height of the Roman Empire, wine held an important place in daily life, and some regions were already standing out for the excellence of their produce. The Romans also planted many vineyards across Europe, leaving an indelible mark of their conquests. Today Italy is the largest wine producer in the world, ahead of France. Italy is divided into three climatic zones. The mountains of the north have a fairly harsh mountain climate. The plain in the "middle of the boot" has a continental climate with cold winters and hot, stormy summers. The "southern part of the boot" has a Mediterranean climate with very hot, very dry summers, not forgetting the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. In short, Italy produces an enormous variety of wines thanks to its 200 different grape varieties, many of them native to its soil. It is a country just as complex as its wines, which deserve to be explored!