Borgo Maragliano Loazzolo Vendemmia Tardiva 2010
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Borgo Maragliano sits 450 metres above sea level, in the heart of Loazzolo on a natural terrace in the Langhe hills. In Spring, a gentle wind called the Marin blows in from the sea and crosses Loazzolo. This ‘magical’ breeze, known as the Marin, is most welcome as it favors the maturation and the perfume of the grapes.
Borgo Maragliano covers an area of 25 hectares of vineyards and the wine is vinified, bottled and packed by members of the Galliano family who preserve a great respect for tradition but at the same time employ the most modern vinification techniques, methods and equipment.
Their wines are the result of careful and meticulous labor from vines of Moscato, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. They represent the highest expression of this distinctive territory and of its soil.
The unchallenged hallmark and pride of the Borgo Maragliano estate is the Loazzolo Vendemmia Tardiva, obtained from a selected vineyard with a southern exposure and an average yield of 21 hectoliters (hl) per hectare. After continuous work in the vineyards and years of maturation and refinement in the cellar, it reaches a peak with a fragrance and aroma that reveals its sincere personality in keeping with its origins: the land of Loazzolo.
While Muscat comes in a wide range of styles from dry to sweet, still to sparkling and even fortified, it's safe to say it is always alluringly aromatic and delightful. The two most important versions are the noble, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, making wines of considerable quality and Muscat of Alexandria, thought to be a progeny of the former. Somm Secret—Pliny the Elder wrote in the 13th century of a sweet, perfumed grape variety so attractive to bees that he referred to it as uva apiana, or “grape of the bees.” Most likely, he was describing Muscat.
Set upon a backdrop of the visually stunning Alps, the enchanting and rolling hills of Piedmont are the source of some of the country’s longest-lived and most sought-after red wines. Vineyards cover a great majority of the land area—especially in Barolo—with the most prized sites at the top hilltops or on south-facing slopes where sunlight exposure is maximized. Piedmont has a continental climate with hot, humid summers leading to cold winters and precipitation year-round. The reliable autumnal fog provides a cooling effect, especially beneficial for Nebbiolo, Piedmont’s most prestigious variety.
In fact, Nebbiolo is named exactly for the arrival of this pre-harvest fog (called “nebbia” in Italian), which prolongs cluster hang time and allows full phenolic balance and ripeness. Harvest of Nebbiolo is last among Piedmont's wine varieties, occurring sometime in October. This grape is responsible for the exalted Piedmont wines of Barbaresco and Barolo, known for their ageability, firm tannins and hallmark aromas of tar and roses. Nebbiolo wines, despite their pale hue, pack a pleasing punch of flavor and structure; the best examples can require about a decade’s wait before they become approachable. Barbaresco tends to be more elegant in style while Barolo is more powerful. Across the Tanaro River, the Roero region, and farther north, the regions of Gattinara and Ghemme, also produce excellent quality Nebbiolo.
Easy-going Barbera is the most planted grape in Piedmont, beloved for its trademark high acidity, low tannin and juicy red fruit. Dolcetto, Piedmont’s other important red grape, is usually ready within a couple of years of release.
White wines, while less ubiquitous here, should not be missed. Key Piedmont wine varieties include Arneis, Cortese, Timorasso, Erbaluce and the sweet, charming Muscat, responsible for the brilliantly recognizable, Moscato d'Asti.