Winemaker Notes
Spontaneous fermentation carried out by indigenous yeasts for about 12 days in concrete tanks, controlled temperature (22 – 25 C initially, 29-30 at the end ), followed by submerged cup maceration for 30 days, stable temperature 29 C. After the racking off, the malolactic fermentation starts, and it lasts about 15 days at 22 C. Ageing: 4 years in Slavonian oak casks (4500L) with a further refining in bottle for 6 months. This is the classic, traditional “Formula” used by the ancient Barolo Families to produce a Barolo which embraces and melts each of the peculiar characters of the different vineyards and terroirs of the Barolo area. The Barolo Classic Borgogno is made by the combination of the grapes coming from five of the most prestigious vineyards of the Barolo area: Cannubi, Cannubi San Lorenzo, Fossati, Liste, San Pietro delle Viole. This is not just a Barolo, it is much more. It fully reflects the elegance and the power of a real Barolo from the Village of Barolo. We don’t want to recommend a “perfect” food – wine pairing, because everyone has personal ideas and tastes. We know better who you should have this wine with, anyone!
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is an impressive blend that shows complexity and depth. Wonderfully harmonious ripe fruit and polished tannins, which give character of smoke, cedar, walnuts, hazelnuts and plums. Medium to full body and a flavorful finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This boasts tantalizing aromas of violet, iris, perfumed berry and aromatic herb. On the radiant, elegantly structured palate, tight refined tannins support juicy red cherry, cranberry, white pepper and star anise. It's balanced, with vibrant acidity. Drink 2023–2033.
Cellar Selection -
Decanter
Bright red fruit nose. The palate is medium-bodied, sleek and elegant with poise and subtlety. Bracing acidity will keep it lively throughout a meal. Very long and stylish.
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.
The center of the production of the world’s most exclusive and age-worthy red wines made from Nebbiolo, the Barolo wine region includes five core townships: La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto and the Barolo village itself, as well as a few outlying villages. The landscape of Barolo, characterized by prominent and castle-topped hills, is full of history and romance centered on the Nebbiolo grape. Its wines, with the signature “tar and roses” aromas, have a deceptively light garnet color but full presence on the palate and plenty of tannins and acidity. In a well-made Barolo wine, one can expect to find complexity and good evolution with notes of, for example, strawberry, cherry, plum, leather, truffle, anise, fresh and dried herbs, tobacco and violets.
There are two predominant soil types here, which distinguish Barolo from the lesser surrounding areas. Compact and fertile Tortonian sandy marls define the vineyards farthest west and at higher elevations. Typically the Barolo wines coming from this side, from La Morra and Barolo, can be approachable relatively early on in their evolution and represent the “feminine” side of Barolo, often closer in style to Barbaresco with elegant perfume and fresh fruit.
On the eastern side of the Barolo wine region, Helvetian soils of compressed sandstone and chalks are less fertile, producing wines with intense body, power and structured tannins. This more “masculine” style comes from Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba. The township of Castiglione Falletto covers a spine with both soil types.
The best Barolo wines need 10-15 years before they are ready to drink, and can further age for several decades.