Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC Ερυθρός Ξηρός 2018 750ml / Luciano Sandrone

Όµορφο βαθύ κόκκινο χρώµα που θυµίζει τις εξαιρετικές εσοδείες του 2006 και 2009. Στη µύτη και στο στόµα έχει ένα αρµονικό µίγµα κόκκινων φρούτων, κασσίς, ροδιού και ροδοπέταλων. Έχει καλή δοµή στο στόµα, σταδιακά ξεπηδά µία µίνεραλ αίσθηση, που ακολουθείται από µια µακριά, µαλακή και γλυκιά επίγευση. Αυτό το κρασί έχει διάρκεια και φινέτσα και απαιτεί λίγη υποµονή έτσι ώστε να φτάσει στο αποκορύφωµά του. Αυτή είναι µια φινε-τσάτη εκδοχή του Nebbiolo που απεικονίζει την τεράστια δυνατότητα των κρασιών της περιοχής Roero.

Παραγωγός : Luciano Sandrone

Ονομασία : Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC

Οίνος : Ερυθρός

Ποικιλίες : 100% Nebbiolo

Εσοδεία : 2018

Αλκοόλ : 13.5%

Tasting notes

The 2018 Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d’Alba is a wine of penetrating intensity and balanced, mid-weight structure. The cooler conditions of the vintage gave us a focused red fruit nose with notes of licorice, hibiscus and wet stones. On the palate, the wine evokes raspberry and cherry fruit, wisps of spice and rose petals, held together by a middle weight structure of sweet tannins and fresh acidity. The finish has mineral notes to go with the sweet fruit. 　

Evolution of the vintage 2018

After the sweltering 2017 season, 2018 began with good winter snow and spring rains that helped replenish the dry ground. The wet weather continued into April, complicating the final vineyard work somewhat and resulting in a slightly later bud break.

Flowering was under normal conditions. In our growing area, the beginning of the summer was characterized by occasional downpours that led to high humidity conditions. Much care had to be taken to achieve a healthy vineyard as Peronospora ran rampant when left unchecked by regular and judicious applications of the correct treatments.

Green harvesting became necessary for nearly all varietals in order to curb production to within the limits of the various DOC & DOCG production regulations. Development of the fruit was gradual during the summer, with temperatures rising considerably from mid-July on, and a long period of constant fine weather helped the grapes to ripen without an early harvest.

The harvest period was normal in relation to the previous, precocious vintage.

Dolcetto was the first red varietal to be picked, and it is showing an average sugar content. Barbera was marked by good health and ripeness. The Nebbiolo grapes were ready for harvesting in early October - the historically normal period - with picking operations taking around three weeks in all.

In conclusion, we can say that it was a vintage in the traditional mold, which demanded the utmost attention of growers in their vineyard management. In the end, the results were better than had been expected at the beginning of the campaign.

Harvest took place from October 3rd until 10th.

An Heroic Interpretation of Nebbiolo

The amphitheater. In the Roero zone, in the town of Vezza d’Alba, on the left bank of the river Tanaro, the concave Valmaggiore hill is one of the best historic examples of origin nd quality. Already in the nineteenth century, the Nebbiolo grapes grown in this vineyard were so highly regarded that they dictated the price for the entire territory. In the 1990s, the first sight of Valmaggiore was like a bolt of lightning for Luciano and Luca: they fell in love at first sight. This was not only for the history and the long viticultural tradition, but also for the particular uniqueness of those sandy soils combined with the microclimate.

All “hand-made”. Our Valmaggiore is an amphitheater facing the south, with full exposure to the sun. Here, nature is rich and vigorous. The ground is soft and sandy, the slopes extremely steep. Already in the planting of the vineyard, the respect for nature and traditions were strategic. This respect is present every day: we cultivate by hand, row by row, from bud break to when we harvest the ripest grapes; we make our vineyard a laboratory for healthy and well-cultivated fruit.

The Nebbiolo in Roero. In Roero, a significant historic agricultural richness has been preserved, and not only in viticulture. Here, Nebbiolo is distinguished for its finesse and elegance and we, like those in the past who were also proud and certain, wish that our Valmaggiore wine expresses all the grace and refinement of Nebbiolo.

In any case, this wine evolves beautifully with time. We know that only with years of slow and silent evolution does Nebbiolo reveal its best character. Thus, our Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d’Alba is part of the „sibi et paucis“ project.

• Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC

• Nebbiolo 100%

• Spontaneous fermentation from indigenous yeasts

• Maceration and fermentation in open steel tanks

• Malolactic fermentation and ageing

in French Oak tonneaux of 500 liters

• Aged in bottle for 9 months before release

• First vintage: 1994

• Vineyard in the village of Vezza d’Alba: Valmaggiore

• Alcohol: 13,5%

• Recommended drinking time: 2020 – 2032