An extremely pleasing and drinkable wine, and although it has a high alcohol grade this never overpowers its fruity character. Its red colour has Bordeaux reflections and the slow trickle from the edge of the glass confirms its optimal concentration and good body. The palate is caressed by a smooth tannin content typical of the Nebbiolo grape and by a warm and enveloping flavour.

Grown in the vineyards of Cascina Valmenera, the heart of our estate. We call them “our stairway to heaven”, to quote Led Zeppelin, because the rows are laid out in an amphitheatre that seems to climb up into the sky. They were planted at the end of the Nineties and enjoy south-westerly exposure. Here, in the sandy marl of what was once a seabed, Nebbiolo is able to fully express elegance and vigour. Ruby red: fine and delicate bouquet with scents of rose and violet, wild strawberry and raspberry; dry, harmonious and nicely persistent

Boroli Barolo Classico is the estate’s benchmark Barolo, a traditional blend of their best Nebbiolo vineyards in Castiglione Falletto, capturing the commune’s mix of structure and fragrance in one bottle. East-, west- and south-west-facing clay-limestone parcels with touches of sand are harvested by hand in mid-October, then divided into micro-parcels so each plot is fermented and aged separately before blending. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel with 10–12 days on skins and a further 20–25 days of submerged-cap maceration, followed by at least 18 months in large Slavonian oak and a year in bottle before release, giving a supple but ageworthy frame. In the glass, recent vintages show bright red colour, scents of fresh wild berries, rose, sweet liquorice and gentle spice, with velvety tannins, good line and a harmonious, savoury finish – a classic, “all-round” Barolo that drinks well in its first decade yet has the stuffing to go further in a good cellar.

ANTONIOTTI ODILIO, Bramaterra, Piemonte, Italy Today Odilio and his son Mattia work the vines, yet the Antoniotti family have been making wine in Casa del Bosco (west of Milan) in northern Piemonte for generations. The Antoniotti Bramaterra Nebbiolo blend is a fresh and attractive Piemonte red. With aromas of predominantly red fruits, herbs and spicy notes on the nose, this wine has a moreish mouth-coating quality with delicate tannins and a lengthy finish. An elegant and juicy wine of immense quality, especially at such a great price.

Orlando Abrigo Montersino Barbaresco DOCG Ruby red in colour with a rich, complex bouquet of vanilla and red fruit. At first, this wine is smooth on the palate; then robust tannins take over revealing excellent ageing potential. A true food wine, it will pair wonderfully with beef or hearty pasta dishes. The fruit for this Barbaresco (100% Nebbiolo) is sourced from the Montersino Me. GA (Italian equivalent of a French Cru) lies in the village of Treiso, where the elevations are the highest in the area. This plot of land produces exuberant, easy-drinking Barbarescos which are full-bodied and consistently show fine, silky tannins.

Luciano Sandrone crafts wines of profound integrity, purity and deep expression. The Valmaggiore vineyard in the Roero hills, on the left bank of the Tanaro river, is one of the best historic sources of origin and 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.