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.

ARPEPE Sassella Nuova Regina Riserva, Valtellina Superiore

AZIENDA AGRICOLA SORDO GIOVANNI Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG

The 2015 Parussi is bursting with lovely juicy, wild forest fruit and grenadine notes underpinned by an intense, mineral freshness and fresh walnut-like tannins. A beautiful Barolo that closes with a super long, mint-and-lavender-and-cherry-scented finish. The iron-rich, 'blue clay' soils here are a little lighter, more oxygenated, with more silt and less clay than Serralunga. This makes for more vigour in the vines and a completely different style of wine. The Massolino family were attracted by the excellent south-easterly and south-westerly exposure of the vines, the vineyard's situation at 300 metres above sea level on the crest of the hill, and the 45-year-old vines. Today, they are the only Barolo producer to bottle a single vineyard wine from this cru. A traditional Barolo, 15-20 days of fermentation and maceration at 31-33°C; aged in oak barrels for about 30 months and left to mature in bottles placed in special dark, cool cellars for about a year. Founded in 1896, Massolino Winery, is based in and around the town of Serralunga, one of the prime sub-zones of the Barolo DOC. The Massolino familys greatest asset is of course their 23 hectares of (mostly) Serralunga vineyards, including choice parcels of such famous sites as; Margheria, Parafada and the legendary Vigna Rionda. We say mostly as the Massolino clan recently purchased a slice of the Parussi cru in Castiglione Falletto. Serrralunga, on the eastern edge of the Barolo DOCG, produces some of most profound and long lived Barolo. It is the home of great names such as Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosas Falletto vineyard. The wines often have an extra stuffing of intense Nebbiolo fruit as well as a remarkable minerality that plays on both the freshness of the tannins and gives the wines a certain ferrous edge when young. It is fair to say that Massolino holds the most remarkable collection of vineyards in Serralunga, amongst the smaller, quality focused producers anyway. The quality strides at this estate over the last 10-15 years have been remarkable with significant advances made, particularly in the vineyards. Certainly there has also been refinements in the cellars, firstly by Franco Massolino and then by current winemaker Giovanni Angeli (ex Vajra) who has been working with Franco since the 2005 harvest. As always however, it has been the work in the vineyards and the search for expressive and perfectly ripe fruit that has driven the rise in quality at this estate. The resultant improvement here has been very good news for both the commune and Barolo in general. Today the wines of Massolino sit comfortably among the finest of the region they are wines of wonderful purity and elegance. They are exclusively aged in large casks, so they are traditional and yet they offer the best of the old and new worlds: pure, aromatic, textural, deeply flavoured wines that are at the same time precise, vibrant and distinctly regional. These are wines that score extremely highly on our deliciousness scale. Equally important, these wines are remarkably well priced when compared to the other top producers of the area.

An intense and embracing fragrance. Full-bodied but smooth tannic taste, with a long, spice-driven finish. Garnet red with a slight shade of amber. 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.

Exuberant fragrances of fruit and spices. Great body, full and velvety with a long final taste of goudron and spices. The tannic characteristics guarantee a very long life in bottle. Brilliant garnet red turning slightly amber with time. 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.

David's journey into winemaking began with a deep addiction to Nebbiolo, the noble grape of the region. Originally from Australia, he found himself drawn to the hills of Barbaresco, where he now resides. With an uncontrollable passion for winemaking, David started his journey in 2006, and it has taken him on an extraordinary path of discovery and growth. From the humble beginnings of producing Barolo and Barbaresco, David's portfolio has expanded to include seven wines crafted from twelve different vineyard sites. Even an expression of Australian Nebbiolo finds its place among his creations. The production remains small, limited to approximately 12,000 bottles, mostly allocated to those fortunate enough to experience the wines. What sets Fletcher Wines apart is the freedom to play and deconstruct tradition. David's lack of legacy allows him to push boundaries and explore new possibilities. Constantly on the search for great vineyards, he combines learned techniques from his global experiences in winemaking, injecting his own unique twists and turns into the process. In the vineyards, David prioritizes sustainability and biodiversity, with 50% of the vineyards certified organic and the other half under conversion. As a believer in biodynamic practices, he works for one of the biggest biodynamic producers in Barolo and Barbaresco. David strives for better vineyard health, lower environmental impact, and aims to counterbalance the monoculture prevalent in the Langhe region. To offset the land used for grape production, he takes ownership of equivalent areas in forests, swamps and grasslands rich in biodiversity. The winemaking process at Fletcher Wines is a delicate dance of tradition and innovation. The grapes are 100% destemmed and undergo an open fermentation, without any post-ferment soak. To add complexity and depth, the wine is aged in old oak barrels, over 10 years old, with a capacity of 300 litters. This aging process takes place for 24 months, far exceeding the legal minimum of 12 months, ensuring that the wine reaches its full potential. After this barrel aging, the wine spends an additional 3 months in the bottle before being released. In 2019, Fletcher Wines sourced their grapes from three distinct Cru vineyards, each contributing its own character to the final blend. The wine is composed of 50% grapes from the Roncaglie Cru, 30% from Starderi and 20% from Ronchi. The three Cru vineyards contribute distinctive characteristics to the final wine. Roncaglie, picked significantly later than Starderi, offers dark fruits and a more masculine tannin structure. Its south-west facing position and ferrous soils create a longer hang time for the grapes. Starderi, with its south-facing orientation and calcareous soils, adds elegance, spice, and a red berry profile to the blend. Ronchi, a new addition in 2019, brings a touch of freshness to the wine with its cooler east-facing vineyard location. Roncaglie is a well-known vineyard situated in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. It is situated in the Barbaresco region and is recognized for producing high-quality Nebbiolo wines. The grapes grown in Roncaglie have a rich flavor profile that includes aromas of roses, violets, and red fruits. Several wineries, such as Fletcher Wines source their grapes from Roncaglie. The wines produced from Roncaglie grapes are full-bodied with high tannins and acidity, which make them perfect for aging. Apart from producing high-quality wine, Roncaglie has a mesmerizing landscape. Barbaresco from Roncaglie is a highly sought-after wine produced in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. The Roncaglie vineyard, located in the Barbaresco region, is well-known for producing some of the best Nebbiolo grapes in the world. The Barbaresco wine from Roncaglie is made using these premium grapes, which have a complex flavour profile and aromas of roses, violets and red fruits. The Roncaglie vineyard is located on a hillside and the unique soil and microclimate of the area contribute to the distinct character of the Barbaresco wine. The wine produced from Roncaglie grapes is full-bodied with high tannins and acidity, allowing it to age gracefully over many years. It is often compared to other high-quality wines produced in the Piedmont region, such as Barolo. The wine is typically aged for several years in oak barrels, which helps to enhance its flavour profile and complexity. Barbaresco from Roncaglie is a wine that showcases the unique terroir of the Piedmont region. It is a wine that is rich in flavor and history. Fletcher Barbaresco Roncaglie 2020 is a wine made from Nebbiolo grapes sourced from the Roncaglie vineyard, located in the Barbaresco region of Piedmont, Italy. The wine is produced by Fletcher Wines, a well-known winery that sources its grapes from the Roncaglie vineyard. Fletcher Barbaresco Roncaglie 2020 is a full-bodied wine with high tannins and acidity. The wine has a complex flavour profile, with aromas of roses, violets and red fruits, which are characteristic of the Roncaglie vineyard. Barbaresco Roncaglie 2020 can age gracefully over many years.

The nose is vivid, powerful and neat; austere at the beginning. Wild berries, coffee, licorice, violet and mint. Good balsamic tones. Powerful and structured. Savoury with clear tannins very long finish. Slow-cooked red meats, perfect with deer roast. 100% Nebbiolo Az Agr Giovanni Rosso is a family-owned estate who have been growing grapes in the Comune of Serralunga d'Alba since the 1890's, including the Crus of Cerretta and Serra. During the 1980's, Giovanni Rosso restructured the vineyards with the aim of producing the best possible wines, and in 2001, Giovanni's son Davide took charge of winemaking, following his own mantra "wine should be a perfect copy of its terroir". In 2010 the prized Serralunga d'Alba Cru vineyard, Vigna Rionda, was inherited from Davide's cousin, Tommaso Canale. Davide replanted three-quarters to nebbiolo, the remaining quarter being magnificent old vine nebbiolo, planted in 1946. Davide makes two wines, both named in honour of his mother, Ester Canale: the Nebbiolo Langhe Rosso (young vine) and the Barolo Vigna Rionda Rosso (old vine). In 2016 Davide purchased a small plot at 750 m.a.s.l on Mt Etna, close to the village of Solicchiata, in Passopisciaro with 4.5 Ha planted to nerello mascalese and 1.5 Ha of carricente, farmed organically.