verified
Bernie Spedding
20th Apr 2022
Bought as a gift: recipient thought it was very special
Barolo is by far the most famous appellation in the Piedmont region of Italy, between Langhe and Monferrato. This example does not disappoint. Nebbiolo is the queen of black grapes and it is the protagonist of wines that express the tradition and history of the region.
This fine Barolo is hand-harvested and each individual bunch is meticulously sorted by hand upon reception at the winery. Following this expert care and attention, the grapes undergo fermentation for 3 weeks at 25-30c and are then matured for 38 months, with 18 months being in the traditional wood Botti barrel. All of this detail, love, and care shows itself in each nuance and complexity of the finished wine.
A rich and full Barolo with notes of plum, red fruits, fruit compote, cedar, eucalyptus, tobacco, and leather. All bolstered by firm but sweet tannins and silky texture, finishing with a toasted balsamic finish. Delicious with the local Piedmont white truffle and freshly made tagliarini.
Daniele Ress is the technical director of Schenk Italian wineries. Working as a "flying winemaker" he has collaborated with the 150 growers that make up the Cantina Vallebelbo Sca agricultural cooperative to create the Casali del Barone range.
Together they have about 500 hectares of vineyards in the heart of the Langhe, on the hills around Santo Stefano Belbo.
Piedmont is affected by a tug-of-war between two weather systems: the ice cold Alps and the warm Mediterranean temperature. This variation makes the whole area fill up with morning fog that slowly burns off during the day. This means the land higher up on the hills gets more sun. More sun = happy grapes = good wine. It's why Piedmont (or Piemonte) is considered to be Italy's best wine growing region.
Often referred to as the queen of black grapes, Nebbiolo is the grape of legendary wines such as Barolo and Barberesco. The name derives from nebia which translates as "fog", due to the morning fog which hangs around the vineyards.
The wines are high in tannins, repaying the patient with their ageworthyness. With time they will often develop flavours of violets, herbs, dark fruit and truffles.
verified
Bernie Spedding
20th Apr 2022
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