Bricco Mondalino Barbera Monferrato Superiore 2000

Bricco or bric, in the Piedmontese dialect, stands for the highest point of a hill: a fitting name for Mauro Gaudio's splendidly positioned winery and grounds, 300 meters above sea level and offering a glorious view of rolling, vine-veined Monferrato.

The Gaudios belong to Monferrato, as deeply rooted as the oldest rootstock on their estate. This was founded over three hundred years ago, and from the very beginning, wine was made and a tradition of quality passed on. It was not until Mauro's father Amilcare, however, that the wine of Bricco Mondalino was labelled as such rather than sold in bulk. It was then 1973, and Amilcare Gaudio built a brand new winery. The state-of-the-art facilities and increasingly specialized focus soon turned Bricco Mondalino's remarkable potential into reality.

Today, the Gaudios are true leaders in their appellation, and firm believers in the excellence and flexibility of the Barbera variety. This is one of the Piedmont's most interesting grapes: its deep color, round, full body, high acidity and low tannins, make it the ideal candidate for barrique aging. The oak-derived tannins exactly complement Barbera's natural characteristics, and a great wine-maker can achieve unbelievable balance, breed and longevity.