2022 BAROLO 'ALBE'

TRY ME IF YOU LOVE: Barolo

ABV: 15.0%

GRAPES: 100% Nebbiolo

TASTING NOTES: Garnet in colour, with crushed floral notes on the nose. The palate is vibrant, displaying notes of rose petals, fresh strawberries and raspberry, tobacco, and orange peel. The long finish is complemented by smooth, velvet tannins.

PAIRS WITH: Slow-cooked beef, game birds, roasted lamb, grilled steak, Porcini mushroom risotto, or truffle-based dishes. Also great with vegetable lasagna, or lentils.

SERVE ME: Just below room temperature, decant if you can.

The grapes for the Barolo ‘Albe’ hail from three single-vineyards: ‘Fossati’, ‘Coste di Vergne’ and ‘La Volta’. ‘Fossati’ was planted between 1969 and 2004 on soils of Sant'Agata fossil marls and faces south-east, while ‘Coste di Vergne’, which was planted in 1995 on limestone marl, faces south-west. The vineyard of ‘La Volta’, planted between 1998 and 2000, shares the same soils as ‘Fossati’ but with an 180º east-west exposure. All three vineyards are guyot-trained and planted between 380 and 480 metres above sea level.

It is meant to be an entry-level offering, but I think it will really blossom with a year or two in bottle.