Alessandro Rivetto Barbaresco 2011
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The passion for wine and the deep experience of the sector, gained in the field over long years of learning and observation, are an integral part of his personal history and are the essential features of the Alessandro Rivetto farm. It was Alessandro’s grandfather Ercole who taught him to know the vineyard and the cellar and, before him, his great-grandfather Giovanni; thus, began his love and life story for wine.
Hercules, starting from a deep bond with his territory of origin, knew how to transform his father's intuitions into a drive to explore new production possibilities. But more than anything else, it gave him the pleasure of smiling while working. From him, Alessandro, also learned this: love what you do and do what you love, bringing a smile to those he meets and those who taste his wine.
That same spirit, stubborn yet light, aware but not serious, is the same that he found in 2012 thanks to his partner Alessandro Bonelli, oenologist, who today takes care of all the technical aspects of corporate production. The same that he rediscovered in Mauro Adriano, who joined bringing his deep knowledge of international markets to the company.
They produce wines capable of exciting, telling their origin of effort and pleasure, of hard work but of propensity to share. For them, that dream is today an exciting exploration of what their vineyards can offer year after year. But it is also the challenge they face towards new interlocutors who appreciate their wines in every corner of the world.
Because, they are sure, in addition to the vines they like to cultivate the wonder, the true and pure smile that the beauty of their work can give.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
A wine that most perfectly conveys the spirit and essence of its place, Barbaresco is true reflection of terroir. Its star grape, like that in the neighboring Barolo region, is Nebbiolo. Four townships within the Barbaresco zone can produce Barbaresco: the actual village of Barbaresco, as well as Neive, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio.
Broadly speaking there are more similarities in the soils of Barbaresco and Barolo than there are differences. Barbaresco’s soils are approximately of the same two major soil types as Barolo: blue-grey marl of the Tortonion epoch, producing more fragile and aromatic characteristics, and Helvetian white yellow marl, which produces wines with more structure and tannins.
Nebbiolo ripens earlier in Barbaresco than in Barolo, primarily due to the vineyards’ proximity to the Tanaro River and lower elevations. While the wines here are still powerful, Barbaresco expresses a more feminine side of Nebbiolo, often with softer tannins, delicate fruit and an elegant perfume. Typical in a well-made Barbaresco are expressions of rose petal, cherry, strawberry, violets, smoke and spice. These wines need a few years before they reach their peak, the best of which need over a decade or longer. Bottle aging adds more savory characteristics, such as earth, iron and dried fruit.