Roberto Sarotto Langhe Runchneuv Arneis 2014
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Robero Sarotto estates is a family run company and has always been part of the wine world, with a strong belief in traditional values, but at the same time not afraid to take new approaches to wine.
The Sarotto family settled in Neviglie with the arrival of Giuseppe, who was born in the nearby village of Barbaresco at the end of 1700's.Giuseppe was a farmer, and when he died, he left his vineyards to his three sons: Giulio, Giovanni and Giacomo, and the property was divided into three. Giacomo Sarotto, began making his own wine and, with the help of his son Giovanni and later his grandson Luigi Giovanni, the business underwent expansion from 1870 to 1930-40. From 1950 Luigi Giovanni's son Angelo continued working the vineyards with new varieties of grapes. Today, Angelo's son Roberto over-looks all of the estate and the wine production, from the wine making to the jobs in the field. Roberto's Wife Aurora takes care of much of the office work.
Yielding a dry and subtly scented wine, Arneis is the star white grape of Piedmont. Though the grape has been local to Roero since the 1400s, it didn’t experience real popularity until the 1980s when local demand for white wine exploded. Somm Secret—A few key Roero producers are also focusing on exploring the ageability of high quality Arneis. It is only grown outside of Piedmont to a very limited extent.
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.