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

The Estate produces just 900 cases of this succulent, dark cherry and anise-scented Barbaresco. Like all of the Rocca family's Barbaresco, this is a single cru wine. It hails from a south facing, single site in a cru called Montersino (in the Treiso commune). One day it may well be labelled according to its cru. The altitude here is 310 metres and the soil is a mixture of clay and limestone. It's 100 per cent Nebbiolo of course, from another super vintage, and matured exclusively in large, 20 hectolitre, Austrian coopered Botti for two years. Succulent, pure and meticulously crafted, there is a wonderful core of dark cherry, lavender and tobacco scented fruit and fine structure to balance the fleshy texture. Nebbiolo in all its atmospheric glory.

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.