Winemaker Notes
Since the pernicious vine disease flavescenza dorata decimated Cappellano’s small holdings in the nearby town of Novello a few vintages back, their three hectares in the cru Gabutti are all that remain. And, of those three hectares, the Nebbiolo planted on the lower third of the slope is used entirely for their fabled Barolo Chinato—meaning that this Barolo comprises only the heart of their holding, from vines planted in the late 1940s. “Pie Rupestris” combines stony power, firm structure, and pure, soaring fruit in a manner that creates wonderful tension, yet the overall impression is one of seamless harmony. [NOTE: Cappellano excludes the word “Gabutti” from the label in protest of the expansion of the cru’s boundaries some years back.]
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.
RTLACBR201_2020 Item# 3395771