Ca' del Baio Barbaresco Autinbej 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. The Piedmontese winery Ca del Baio is located in Treiso, in the heart of the Langhe, and has been producing excellent wines from local and international grape varieties for over a century. Founded in 1921 by Luigi Grasso, it is now managed by his grandson Giulio, his wife, and their three daughters. The estate boasts over 30 hectares of vineyards. Barbaresco Autinbej is a blend of Nebbiolo grapes selected from the finest plots in the estate's crus, what Ernesto Grasso called the 'autin bej' (the most beautiful in the local dialect). The calcareous-sandy gray marl soils, excellent exposure, and high altitude guarantee the production of an elegant, and harmonious red. After harvesting and fermenting in stainless steel, the finished wine ages in barrels for approximately two years and another four months in bottle. The result is a complex wine with a broad and intense aromatic profile that opens with notes of raspberry and cherry jam, followed by hints of violet, touches of cocoa, and spices. On the palate, it is concentrated, soft, and warm. It has firm yet well-integrated tannins and a long, persistent finish that recalls hints of cocoa and ripe dark fruit. It pairs perfectly with duck with red-fruit sauce, venison stew, or beef in sweet-and-sour sauce.