PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO Riserva Rio Sordo, Barbaresco

Nervi is a historic, benchmark Gattinara producer with 28.5ha of highly-prized Nebbiolo vineyards across the appellation, in the northern part of Piedmont. The modern Nervi was founded in 1906 by Luigi Nervi. The Gattinara wine is drawn from across the estate, including declassified material from both Molsino and Valferana. The Nervi family ran the estate until the 1990s, and in 2011 it was purchased by investors who brought in the leading Barolo figure Roberto Conterno as a consultant. "Gattinara represents the purest expression of the northern [Piedmont] zones." Vino Italiano -- David Lynch and Joe Bastianich In May 2018 Conterno purchased the estate. Gattinara was awarded DOC status in 1967, and upgraded to DOCG in 1990. Gravelly clay soils remnants of an ancient collapsed volcano -- are rich in granite and other minerals including iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese. The terroir gives the wines a distinct minerality which sets them apart from the neighbouring appellations. Molsino matures for at least four years in large oak vats.

The scent of red fruits such as raspberry and pomegranate very ripes are well blended with spicy and balsamic notes. The particular mineral component of the Bussias terroir gives the wine a great structure, an intense color, clear and enveloping tannins. There is a long and consistent aftertaste. Intense garnet red. Nebbiolo Founded by Luigi Einaudi, during his time as Governor of Banca dItalia and President of Italy after the second world war, it is said he never missed a harvest! His son Roberto succeeded him, but it was Robertos daughter Paola, on her return from Milano to Dogliani at the end of the 1980s, who with tenacity, enthusiasm and significant investment, re-launched this historic brand and went about improving wine quality. Today it is her son, fourth generation Matteo Sardagna, who is at the helm. Long sojourns in the Langhe as a child with his grandfather and mother left Matteo with a deeply-rooted passion for the familys values and customs. Today the winery is equipped with unique cement egg-like fermenting tanks, and botti of varying sizes and age so that Matteo and his team can produce wines which reflect their terroir, and the traditional style of the region and the estate.

Casa Maté is the more masculine of Grassos two regular Barolos, showing darker fruit, more tar and a more robust tannin profile. The fruit comes from a south-facing 3 ha plot within the Ginestra vineyard, 300-350 meters above sea level, on relatively loose-packed, slightly clayey, calcareous soil. Driven by rigorous attention to detail in the vineyard and picking at optimum phenolic maturity, Grassos Vigna Casa Maté is a contemporary expression of traditional Barolo underscored by immaculate winemaking. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and typically spends 30 days on skins followed by 30 months maturation in 2500L Slavonian oak casks.