Ca' del Baio Barbaresco Vallegrande 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Founded in the 1920s, the Piedmontese winery Ca' del Baio boasts a long family tradition spanning four generations. Today, the company, located in Treiso, in the province of Cuneo, is managed by Giulio and Luciana Grasso, along with their three daughters. The estate extends across approximately 31 hectares of vineyards, where the area's flagship grape, Nebbiolo, coexists with other local varieties such as Dolcetto and Moscato, and international varieties such as Chardonnay and Riesling. The Nebbiolo grapes come from the vineyards surrounding the winery, in the Vallegrande cru. Here, the vines, planted between 1963 and 2000, enjoy a west-facing exposure and are rooted in gray, calcareous, sandy marl. After harvesting and vinification at a controlled temperature in stainless steel, the finished wine rests, as per tradition, in large Slavonian barrels for two years, before undergoing a further six-month aging period in bottle. In the glass, the wine reveals a garnet red color and an intense aromatic profile with fruity notes of black cherry and wild berries, followed by floral aromas and hints of undergrowth. On the palate, it is rich and smooth, with a velvety texture and ripe tannins. The finish is warm and elegant. Try it with game pies or Fontina and mushroom crostini.