CastelGiocondo 2018<br />Brunello di Montalcino DOCG<br />'CastelGiocondo is a unique place in Montalcino, where the great variety of exposures and soils - marl, clays and Pliocene sands - give this Brunello infinite nuances. A<br />multifacetedness of notes that evolve over time and make one continually want to discover, savour and remember.'<br /><br />Climatic trend<br />The 2018 season was characterised by a cool and rainy winter, with budding within the norm. The spring, which was rainy during the flowering period, slowed down fruit set,<br />naturally lowering the plants' production load. The summer was dry, with little rain, but thanks to the water reserve created in the spring, there were no problems. This<br />situation allowed the grapes to ripen regularly and ripen well, with cool nights ideal for the development of aromas and colour. The tramontana wind in mid-September led to<br />a drop in temperatures. The cool, breezy but sunny season was particularly favourable for Sangiovese, which was able to complete its ripening, accumulating great aromatic<br />and polyphenolic potential. The grapes arrived at harvest time healthy, intact and with the right concentration.<br /><br />Vinification and ripening<br />Such regular weather conditions made it possible to harvest the grapes by hand without any particular difficulty, and once they arrived at the winery, they were subjected to<br />scrupulous selection on sorting benches. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature, with frequent pumping over especially during the early<br />stages. The wine then underwent maturation in wood in large casks, where it was allowed to mature and 'elevate' until it reached its defining balance and harmony.<br />CastelGiocondo Brunello is ready for release 5 years after the harvest and only after further bottle ageing.<br /><br />Tasting notes<br />CastelGiocondo 2018 has an intense and brilliant ruby red colour. Castelgiocondo always stands out for its elegance, a characteristic that is, if possible, even more marked<br />in this vintage. The fruity notes, the first to strike our olfactory receptors, are dominated by blueberry and blackberry, flanked by blackcurrant and other berries. This is<br />followed by floral memories of violets and dog roses, always present in the bouquet of the best Brunellos of Montalcino. Clear spicy hints of black pepper and cardamom<br />make their way into the olfactory sequence, followed by a pleasant liquorice aroma. On the palate, the tannic texture is dense, but without any particular roughness, finely<br />flanked by mineral notes. The taste-olfactory coherence and the long, persistent finish make it particularly well-balanced.<br />

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ORNELLAIA 2020 'LA P ROPORZIONE'<br />- BOLGHERI DOC SUPERIORE RED<br />Ornellaia was born from the encounter between nature and thought. Ancient and complex soils dialogue through the wisdom of man with a delicate microclimate that finds<br />its echo and mirror in the Mediterranean Sea. Long ageing accompanies the estate's great wine to its fullest expression, revealing over time its finesse, breadth and<br />generosity.<br /><br />E NOLOGIST'S TASTING NOTES<br />50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot Alc. 14.5% vol. 'With its usual intense ruby red colour, Ornellaia 2020 is characterised on the<br />nose by aromas of ripe red fruit and delicate notes of vanilla and sweet tobacco. On the palate the wine is soft and velvety, with a pleasant, enveloping mouthfeel that invites<br />a second sip. The tannic texture is dense and at the same time elegant and the finish is savoury and beautifully persistent.' - Olga Fusari - Winemaker - July 2022<br /><br />THE CLIMATE OF 2020<br />After a mild and rainy winter, March saw a temporary drop in temperatures with a few nights below 0°C right at the start of budding in the last week of the month. The newly<br />budded shoots were, however, still protected by the cotton bud tissue, which prevented frost damage. The rest of spring saw generally warm weather with normal rainfall,<br />ensuring regular vegetative development until flowering, which took place between 20 and 25 May. In June, a passage of heavy rainfall towards the middle of the month was<br />followed by a very long dry period with a substantial absence of rain and torrid temperatures until the end of August. The veraison took place evenly and quickly between 20<br />and 25 July, starting the ripening of the grapes under a blazing sun. Rains arrived at the end of August, which led to a considerable drop in temperatures, with night-time<br />lows as low as 13°C, ideal conditions for completing the ripening of the Merlots. They were harvested early and quickly, in just two weeks, in order to preserve as much<br />freshness and fruitiness as possible, just in time to avoid a sudden week-long heat wave where the thermometer marked up to 37°C, causing sugar levels to soar for all the<br />varieties still to be harvested, leading us to begin harvesting Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from the young vineyards as early as 17 September. Towards the end<br />of September, a passage of rain finally brought the weather conditions back to normal, the water absorbed by the grapes lowered the alcohol levels back to normal values,<br />allowing us to conclude the harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot on 3 October.<br /><br />VINIFICATION AND FINING<br />Harvesting was carried out by hand in 15 kg crates and the grapes were sorted on a double sorting table before and after destemming and then subjected to a soft crushing.<br />In 2016, optical sorting was introduced in addition to manual selection to further increase the quality of the selection. Each variety and each plot was vinified separately.<br />Alcoholic fermentation took place partly in stainless steel vats and partly in concrete vats at temperatures between 26 and 30°C for a week, followed by a maceration period<br />of around 15 days, with a total stay in the vats of around three weeks. Malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barrels (70% new and 30% second passage). The<br />wine remained in barriques in the<br />Ornellaia cellar at a controlled temperature for a period of about 18 months. After the first 12 months, it was blended, then reintroduced into the barriques, where it spent a<br />further 6 months. The wine remained in the bottle for 12 months before release. - Axel Heinz - Estate Manager<br />

<br />Capisme-e<br />LANGHE NEBBIOLO<br />D.O.C.<br /><br />Capisme-e is a philosophy, an introductory key to the world of Nebbiolo.<br />Piedmontese dialect: 'Capisme-e, understand me', enter my world!<br />Nebbiolo laid bare, in all its purity, a version with a distinct personality typical of<br />Monforte d'Alba.<br /><br />First vintage produced: 2009<br />Grape varieties: Nebbiolo<br />Vinification: Maceration on the skins with delicate extraction and maximum attention to preserving the fruity aromas.<br /><br />Aging in steel and amphora.<br />

Barolo<br />BAROLO<br />D.O.C.G.<br /><br />Our best vineyards in Monforte d'Alba blended into a great Barolo.<br />Year after year the expression of our joys and labours.<br /><br />Vineyard: Blend of our best vineyards in the commune of Monforte d'Alba.<br />Municipality: Monforte d'Alba<br />First vintage produced: 2011<br /><br />It is the essence of Monforte d'Alba, of our territory, to which we owe so much. Barolo Classico di Monforte is the fruit of our daily work, of our efforts and commitment, of<br />continuous research.<br /><br />The identity card of our winery: a wine born from the earth, in constant evolution, with the ambition to be the purest representation of the character of Monforte d'Alba.<br />

Ciabot Mentin<br />BAROLO<br />D.O.C.G.<br /><br />The first flag placed by Domenico in Ginestra and the first wine with which he made himself known in the world. One of the wines that have made the history of the Barolo<br />appellation in its entirety over the last 30 years.<br /><br />Vineyard: Ciabot Mentin<br />Municipality: Monforte d'Alba<br />MGA: Ginestra<br />First vintage produced: 1982<br /><br />The name of this wine reveals the importance of the vineyard: 'Ciabot' is a house in the vineyards, almost a tool shed; while 'Mentin' is the owner from whom Domenico<br />bought this plot.<br /><br />The name of the vineyard after the change of ownership has remained the same, as tradition dictates: the owners pass on, but the land remains.<br />The vineyard carries its name and makes great those who are lucky enough to work with it.<br />

Arte<br />LANGHE ROSSO<br />D.O.C.<br /><br />Since 1981 Arte has symbolised our desire to experiment; the curiosity to seek out new and unexplored paths, without ever forgetting where we come from.<br />This is how Arte was born, from the balance between two such different but complementary varieties. Structure and character from Nebbiolo, softness and<br />and elegance from Barbera.<br /><br />First vintage produced: 1981<br />Grape varieties: Nebbiolo 90% + Barbera 10%.<br /><br />Vinification: Nebbiolo and Barbera are vinified separately to obtain the maximum expression of both varieties. Aged in French barriques for 12 months, then blended before<br />bottling.<br />

It took 35 notarial acts and 7 years to bring together the many plots of land in Montebruna, a property of great oenological value. When we succeeded, for joy we gave it<br />voices and verses, involving artists, poets and musicians who sang about this Barbera and its land, 'a land that speaks'.<br /><br />Denomination: Barbera d'Asti DOCG.<br />Grape and Vineyard: Montebruna is a Barbera d'Asti DOCG made from 100% Barbera grapes grown in our own vineyard in Rocchetta Tanaro.<br />Winery: The fermentation takes place for a fortnight in steel tanks at controlled temperature; then for one year the wine matures in large oak barrels.<br />Tasting: Ruby red violet colour. It impresses with very clear scents of ripe cherries and small red fruits. The taste in the mouth is deep, full, harmonious, with a long finish<br />that maintains the persistence of the flavour and finishes with almonds. Excellent, well-balanced, fragrant and very drinkable. It accompanies pasta-based first courses, main<br />courses of white or red meat, cheeses and sausages.<br />Serving temperature: Serve at 15-17°.<br />

L'Uccellone was the nickname of a woman who lived on the vineyard hill. Her nose was reminiscent of a bird's beak, and she always wore black: this earned her a nickname<br />in the village. Hence the name Bricco dell'Uccellone.<br /><br />Appellation: Barbera d'Asti DOCG.<br />Grapes and Vineyard: Produced with 100% Barbera grapes from our own vineyards in Rocchetta Tanaro.<br />Winery: Maceration on the skins takes place at controlled temperature and lasts 20 days. The wine then goes into oak barrels where it refines for 12 months, then one more<br />year in bottle.<br />Tasting: Very intense ruby red colour with garnet reflections. Rich, complex bouquet, with considerable concentration and depth; hints of red fruit and small fruits are<br />particularly evident, with some minty spices, vanilla and liquorice in the background. Generous flavour, full-bodied and well-structured, a perfect blend of the characteristics of<br />the vine and the contribution of the wood, in a combination of great softness and class, with a very long aromatic persistence. Accompanies large meat dishes, roasts, also<br />with sauces, mature cheeses.<br />Serving temperature: Serve at 17-18°C.<br />

'The Bacialè, in Piedmontese dialect, is the spouse, the one who arranges marriages. In fact, this wine is the result of a perfect marriage between Barbera and other grapes.<br /><br />Denomination Monferrato Rosso D.O.C.<br />Grapes and Vineyard: Barbera from the vineyards of Castelnuovo Calcea; Merlot from the vineyards of Rocchetta Tanaro and San Marzano Oliveto; Cabernet Sauvignon from<br />the vineyards of Rocchetta Tanaro and San Marzano Oliveto; Cabernet Franc from the vineyards of Rocchetta Tanaro; Pinot Noir from the vineyard of San Marzano Oliveto.<br />Each variety is harvested and vinified separately, starting with Pinot Noir by degree of ripeness, then Merlot, Barbera, Cabernet Franc and finally Cabernet Sauvignon.<br />Vinification: The hand-picked grapes are further selected by experienced personnel before soft destemming-crushing, which ensures greater integrity of the grapes and<br />avoids undesirable herbaceous notes. Fermentation takes place in steel vats, which guarantee better than other materials that the fermentation takes place in a<br />contamination-free environment and that the temperature can be kept under control. During fermentation, the must is pumped over (every 6 hours or so) and délestage (a<br />couple of times in the first 15 days) for a total period of about 3 weeks. At the end, the wines are racked into barriques to optimise colour stabilisation and malolactic<br />fermentation. The wines are then matured in barriques selected according to the different types of wine for 12 months and finally blended. Blending is preceded by a careful<br />tasting to decide the composition, which may vary in percentage terms each year.<br />Serve at: 16-18°<br />