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    The history of the Porro family is closely related to Langhe and Doljani. In Monforte d'alba lies the Ribote farm, where the best dolcetto wines are born, structured, complex and long-lasting. In this land there is a monastery where you guessed it monks lived for hundred of years. This monastery is divided in two parts, one is where the father of Fabrizio Porro (Bruno Porro) lives and the other is where the famous artist Gianni Gallo used to live. Monks knew where to find the best lands, hidden from prying eyes and rich in water resources. The Ribote farm has a natural amphitheater that is protected from all directions from the wind and creates a special micro climate and has spring frost that is super important for the vines. Ribote vineyards cover 25 hectares, a single ownership of such a large area is not often found in the Langhe. This moment, as well as the absence of neighbors, simplifies the issue of biological viticulture. As Fabrizio explains ''“I would like to get a bio certificate, but my father adheres to a different philosophy, he always says that we are the first to suffer from chemical fertilizers in the vineyards, so they should be eliminated. In addition, we want to leave the land healthy for future generations, not to engage in marketing gimmicks.'' The Nebbiolo grape does not travel well and is high maintenance, which is why it has never thrived quite as well elsewhere as on the Piemontese slopes. Like its top contender, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo takes kindly to its terroir, thus displaying the subtleties of its environment. The white soils that host the Ribote vineyards are a mixture of limestone, clay and sand. Dolcetto, barbera, nebbiolo, arneis and viognier are cultivated. The area next to the winery is characterized by red soils, which are considered more suitable for barbera. The main variety of Doljani is the Dolcetto, which shows excellent results here. Different clones are planted, but a preference is given to the red-footed dolcetto, which has small berries and a long bunch with one shoulder. In August, the end of the bunch and the shoulder are cut off and discarded, because these berries have a very high acidity, which is considered excessive.  2016 was a rainy and difficult year, which has the advantage of being ready to drink earlier.  Pair it with meats, game and cheeses.      
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    Since 1864, five generations of the Fenocchio family have been producing wine in the heart of Barolo - most of them born in the same yellow house in Monforte d’Alba, at the top of a hillside covered in Nebbiolo grapes. Claudio Fenocchio took upon his father teachings and instead of modernazing the Barolo winemaking techniques, he and with the support of his brothers decided to keep the tradition and build on it. Fenocchio has not taken up organic or biodynamic farming methods but, on the other hand, the estate never took to chemical fertilisers or herbicides, so diverse ground cover and natural predators protect the vines, which grow at their own pace. And in the winery, fermentation is similarly driven by nature and the local microflora. Technically, Claudio has found a way of producing wines which have approachable fruit when young, yet built around a strong tannic structure which does not overwhelm early on, but encourages the development of the wine over years. It is partly due to some green harvesting and careful selection, partly due to enzymatic reaction (ironically) during the long fermentation, which melds the fruit and tannin seamlessly. Barolos are aged for five months in stainless Slovenian oak and a further year in the bottle before release. steel, two years in Slovenian oak and a further year in the bottle before release. More than defining itself as traditional or modern Barolo, Giacomo Fenocchio wine is an expression of terroir.  
  • Giulia Negri is a young talent that goes by the nickname "Barolo girl" in the wine world. The grapes for this archetype of a modern-traditional Barolo come from the top vineyards Brunate and Serradenari, the latter is located at an altitude of up to 520 m, and the soils are clayey-sandy. It is an area with a particularly cool and breezy microclimate, which is reflected in the elegant profile of the wines. Climbing towards the top of the hill, the soils become increasingly rich in sandy veins and limestone marl, which contribute to giving Barolo an extreme expressive refinement. The high quality grapes, a work in the cellar that is very respectful of the raw material and aimed at enhancing the typical characteristics of the terroir, allow the creation of a Barolo faithful to the land of origin. Dressed to impress, savory red with a fine fragrance on the palate that doesn't deny its origin and the grape variety, it is of an almost unique elegance and freshness that allows it to be identified as a lively and completely complete top wine even when young. Further years of maturity are certainly not a mistake, because one feels impressively how the complexity increasing with the age joins the finesse and elegance already unmistakable today. One bottle for now and don't put the rest too far away in the cellar, please!
  • This is a fantastic blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo sourced from younger vineyards within the area of production of the villages of Barbaresco and Barolo given the Langhe Appellation. Fragrant, lifted fruits of the forest overlaid by notes of dried herbs, some leather and aniseed. This is a medium bodied wine, very well balanced with plush fruit character, sandy tannins and a lovely fresh clip of acidity delivering excellent Italian drinkability. Very approachable wine that will match brilliantly with food as well being great on its own. I can only think of Pasta, pasta and Pasta. Pizza would work perfectly too! .
  • Produttori del Barbaresco traces its history all the way back to 1894, when Domizio Cavazza, headmaster of the Royal Enological School of Alba and a Barbaresco resident, gathered together nine local vineyard owners to create the first cooperative in the area, the Cantine Sociali. The cooperative was forced to close in the 1930’s because of fascist economic rules and revived in 1958 by the priest of the village of Barbaresco who realised that the only way the small properties could survive was by joining their efforts. The new union was named Produttori del Barbaresco and produced its first vintages in the church basement until the winery across the square was built where the Produttori are still located. Today Produttori del Barbaresco is considered one of the greatest red wine Co-operatives in the world, as well as one of the most highly praised producers throughout all of Piedmont. Led by the talented Aldo Vacca, the cooperative is made up of 51 vignerons and covers more than 100 hectares of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation. Each family is in full control of its land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with centuries old skill and dedication. The Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco is primarily sourced from five of the Cru vineyards, Pora, Ovello, Montestefano, Muncagota and Rio Sordo. The grapes are macerated for an extended period of around 24 days while being fermented in steel tanks, followed by 24 months of ageing in large oak casks. While their Riservas and their single-vineyard wines remain some of the most sought-after Piedmont reds, their Barbaresco, as well Langhe Nebbiolo, are wonderful expressions offering grace and complexity at an astonishing price. Pair it with: egg pasta, meat dishes and medium-aged cheeses.
  • The Tibaldi family have been grape growers for several generations in the Pocapaglia area of Piemonte. In fact Nonno Tibaldi at 86 still works in the vineyard (starting with a glass from the barrel at 6am) with his son, Stefano. The Tibaldi’s have not traditionally made wine preferring to sell their crops to local producers. Stefano had 2 daughters, Monica and Daniela, and had no expectations that they would devote their lives to wine. But eldest daughter Monica studied Oenology and decided that she was going to start to make wine from the family’s wonderful fruit. Sister Daniela soon followed. And so Cantina Tibaldi was established. I simply know them as the Tibaldi Sisters. It is not unusual to see female winemakers in charge of important vineyards. Some of Australia’s finest wines are made by women and they will tell you that they are much better suited to the role as the olfactory senses are far more developed in females. What is unusual is to see the entire wine making process managed from start to finish by two women, both in their mid twenties. It can accompany any meat. Gives its best with important cheese, savory pasta and meat dishes.

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