Gavarini Vigna Chiniera is a contemporary expression of traditional Barolo. Of Grassos two regular Barolos, Chiniera is the more feminine in style, showing a more floral personality in a finer, more elegant style. The fruit comes from a south-facing 3 ha plot within the Gavarini vineyard, 320-360 meters above sea level, on relatively loose-packed, slightly sandy, calcareous soil. Driven by rigorous attention to detail in the vineyard and picking at optimum phenolic maturity, the Grasso style is underscored by immaculate winemaking. Vigna Chiniera is fermented in stainless steel and typically spends 30 days on skins followed by 30 months maturation in 2500L Slavonian oak casks.

ELIO ALTARE, Barolo DOCG The Elio Altare Barolo is a blend of Nebbiolo grapes from the La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga dAlba and Barolo sub-regions. Only 800-850 dozen bottles are produced each year from vineyards planted on south and south-east facing slopes in the late 1900s. The vineyards, on various soil types, are farmed organically, but along traditional lines. The grapes are crushed and then macerated on skins for 4-5 days in temperature-controlled rotary fermenters before fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The wine is matured for 24 months in French oak barriques before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The Elio Altare Barolo shows an intense ruby-red colour with hints of garnet. On the nose fresh scents of small red fruits, raspberry, redcurrant and wild roses evolve into licorice and spice notes. The palate is typically warm, elegant and persistent, with soft tannins and a long finish.

Boroli Brunella Barolo DOCG comes from one of Castiglione Falletto’s great monopole crus, a single hill completely encircling the Boroli winery at Cascina Brunella in the western sector of Villero. Planted to Nebbiolo on south and south-west facing clay-limestone soils with sandy streaks, this historic site has been recognised by name since the 1600s and is now the estate’s flagship expression. Hand-harvested fruit is vinified and aged in a mix of barrels and larger casks before further time in bottle, yielding Barolo with both drive and finesse and a track record for complexity and longevity. In bottle, Brunella typically shows vivid ruby colour with red cherry and wild berry, liquorice, spice, undergrowth and tobacco notes, fine but assertive tannins and a long, poised finish – a focused, savoury style that speaks clearly of site and will reward extended cellaring.