Nebbiolo

Made for us by Davide Rosso, our Barolo is a traditional blend of vineyards from different villages. The 2015 displays all the hallmarks of the sunny, charming vintage. Aromas of black cherry, violet and dried herbs lead to a seductive palate, layered with rich cassis, cherry and savoury spice. The opulent texture and fine tannins are balanced beautifully by refreshing acidity. Drink now to 2034.
Matt Smith, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

A new addition to the Vallana range, this rosé is rooted in Francis and Marina’s childhood, when they used to steal Nebbiolo grapes from the tanks just after harvest. During these very first hours of fermentation, Nebbiolo expresses the most incredible floral and sweet-fruit characters – as captured by this wine. Aromas of wild strawberry and white flowers lead to a palate laden with forest fruit, with a hint of tangerine and a beautifully fresh, dry finish. Try with cold charcuterie or seared tuna. Drink now to 2020.
Matt Smith, Buyer (spring 2019)

This is a new wine for Marcarini, using selections from the crus La Serra and Brunate. The effect is to intensify the two senior wines, of which the production is now smaller. Think of this a little like a “second wine”. It sees a lighter maceration, but is aged exactly like the crus, with 24 months in large old botte. The 2015 has a fine, creamy texture and a deep, satisfying finish. Drink 2022-2035.

Gattinara is the king of the Alto Piemonte region. It is always 100% Nebbiolo, produced only in the town of Gattinara, on the western side of the River Sesia. The grapes are hand-picked in the first half of October and then vinified in large cement tanks, before spending at least two years in large oak barrels. It takes a few years in bottle to fully develop its potential. Dark cherry fruits mingle with balsamic notes and hints of earth and game. This is a brooding wine of fantastic intensity, which also maintains excellent composure through its refreshing acidity and finely honed tannins. A treat with roast game or wild mushroom dishes. Drink now to 2035.
Matt Smith, Buyer (autumn 2019)

This was bottled last July, like the commune wine above. The stricter fruit selection has reduced volumes from around 20,000 bottles to 8,000 this year, but the sensory uplift is palpable. It offers floral notes and an interesting balsam aroma, with a very good grip on the palate. It’s unsurprisingly tight on the palate now, but the finish is sweetly poised. Drink 2024-2040.

This is a triumphant blend of six crus, beautifully capturing the essence of Serralunga. Like all Davide’s Baroli, this is fermented in concrete before being matured in custom-made French oak botti grandi. Typically firm in structure, it has a dark core of fruit and dried herbs. Being Serralunga, its ability to age is never in question, but the 2015 is perhaps fleshier than other recent vintages, allowing slightly earlier enjoyment. Drink 2022-2035.

A masterful assembly from across Alessandria’s different vineyards, 85% of the fruit comes from its five Verduno sites, showing all their red fruit, floral notes and finesse. The remaining 15% comes from younger vines in their Monforte cru of Gramolere, providing the savoury notes, spine and structure. This wine is considerably more than the sum of its parts. Drink 2022-2035.

Arborina is a small vineyard at 250 metres’ altitude, encircled by the cru Annunziata. Alessandro’s modernist roots can be seen in this wine. A roto-fermenter was used for just over a week to create a more juicy and flexible character, and the wine then aged for two years in 30% new oak barriques. The wine is very lifted and aromatic, with plenty of perfume. On the palate, it is positively succulent, with fine notes of violet, wild herb and fennel. Very appealing. Drink 2023-2038.

Gattera is the warmest of Veglio’s vineyards, with aspects facing southeast and southwest. It also has the estate’s oldest vines, dating from 1950. The soil is closer in structure to Castiglione Falletto, with more clay over limestone. This is the first vineyard in the range to be harvested. The resulting wine has a beautiful, heady bouquet, with a gamey, savoury, quite fleshy and generous palate, but it is not without rigour. Drink 2024-2040.

The vineyard comes from Daniela’s – Alessandro’s aunt’s – side, and although in Montforte, the Castelletto vineyard is on the extreme east of the commune, on the slopes facing Serralunga, and boasts the highest chalk content of any vineyard in Barolo. As a result, Alessandro finds it has Montforte strength with Serralunga freshness. This is strong, tight and sinewy, with classic notes of balsam. This is a serious wine, with minerality (from the chalk) and tension. Drink 2024-2040.

This was also bottled last July but won’t be shipped until September 2019. Volumes are also much reduced with stricter fruit selection, cutting production from around 24,000 bottles to 9,000. Manuel compares the 2015 to ’10, ’06 and ’04, describing it as a vintage of elegance, being neither too hot nor cold, and effortless ripening. With a fabulous attack and intensity, this is rounder and more voluminous than La Serra. The tannins are enticing; fine, ripe and sensual. Drink 2025-2045.

More concentrated, brooding and tightly-bound. Though hinting at complexity, with taut phenolics and denser, dark fruit, it is distinctly less come hither than the straight Barolo and will reward those that give it time to unfurl. Drink from 2023+.
Katherine Dart MW, Wine Buyer 

Named after Davide’s mother, this is no ordinary Langhe Nebbiolo. Giovanni Rosso owns just over a hectare in the legendary Vigna Rionda cru. In 2011 Davide replanted two thirds of this vineyard which had become exhausted, preserving the remaining healthy 70-year-old vines for his iconic Barolo Vigna Rionda. The fruit for this wine comes from those replanted, young vines. The result is a serious wine befitting its vineyard heritage, with a dark core of blueberries, dark cherries and spice, and grippy tannins. Drink 2020-2035.
Matt Smith, Buyer (March 2019)

Davide Rosso makes this Langhe Nebbiolo from the younger vines in Vigna Rionda – one of Barolo, and indeed Piedmont’s, very best vineyards. Vigna Rionda is to Serralunga d’Alba what La Romanée-Conti is to Vosne-Romanée.
This “entry-level” expression offers a “mini” Vigna Rionda Barolo – with pretty aromas of strawberry, cassis and raspberry. Cool and crunchy fruit fills the palate, which is focused and energetic, with lively acidity, silky tannins and a captivating nervosity. Poised, with a saline finish – this is a remarkable expression of a truly special vineyard. Drink now to 2025.