2015 Barolo, Cerretta, Luigi Baudana, Piedmont, Italy

Luigi Baudana

With only 2.6 hectares of vineyards, Luigi Baudana is one of the smallest cantinas in Serralunga d’Alba, and has been managed by GD Vajra since 2009. Production is still in the tiny Baudana winery – quite literally in the family garage. The wines carry Luigi Baudana’s fierce Serralunga character, but have benefited from Vajra’s influence, which emphasises classical structures, vivid fruity purity, passion and authenticity. While easy to miss, the quality of these ensures they are the stars of the future. Quantities are tiny, so please contact your account manager to register interest.

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is the grape behind the Barolo and Barbaresco wines and is hardly ever seen outside the confines of Piedmont. It takes its name from "nebbia" which is Italian for fog, a frequent phenomenon in the region.

A notoriously pernickety grape, it requires sheltered south-facing sites and performs best on the well-drained calcareous marls to the north and south of Alba in the DOCG zones of Barbaresco and Barolo.

Langhe Nebbiolo is effectively the ‘second wine’ of Piedmont’s great Barolo & Barbarescos. This DOC is the only way Langhe producers can declassify their Barolo or Barbaresco fruit or wines to make an early-drinking style. Unlike Nebbiolo d’Alba, Langhe Nebbiolo can be cut with 15% other red indigenous varieties, such as Barbera or Dolcetto.

Nebbiolo flowers early and ripens late, so a long hang time, producing high levels of sugar, acidity and tannins; the challenge being to harvest the fruit with these three elements ripe and in balance. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are perfumed with aromas of tar, rose, mint, chocolate, liquorice and truffles. They age brilliantly and the very best need ten years to show at their best.