The idea was as well-intentioned as it was obvious. When Giovanni Dalmasso crossed Nebbiolo and Barbera in his laboratory in 1938, he wanted to combine the best attributes of the two dominant Piedmontese grape varieties: the fragrance and intensity of Nebbiolo with the vibrancy and freshness of Barbera. However, the only flaw in his ambitious project was that he made a mistake with the grape variety and instead of Nebbiolo, he accidentally used Chatus, an equally exciting grape variety that is very similar to Nebbiolo.
For Lidia Carbonetti and Paolo Baretta from Rocco di Carpeneto, the mistake is not too serious. They still like Albarossa, the grape variety that emerged from Dalmasso's mistake. Planted only a few years ago, they keep their yields low and pick grapes late in October, which they macerate for a long time and ferment in wooden barrels. The resulting wine is then matured in amphorae for 15-18 months.
Wild berries, flowers and sweet spices. Juicy, fresh, straightforward. Has tightly woven, well-integrated tannins, a body that is as elegant as it is full-bodied and an increasingly friable texture. Is open, inviting, has drinking flow and depth and a fruity, spicy finish.
Data Sheet
Grape variety: 100% Albarossa
Vineyard: Vigna Rocco. Partly planted with Albarossa in 2013. Situated on a plateau at 270 metres above sea level, the vineyard is mainly based on loam and clay, the planting density is 5000 vines per hectare with an average yield of 0.8 kg/vine
Exposure: East-west
Harvest: by hand
Fermentation: spontaneous | wild yeasts, in large wooden barrels
Ageing: 15-18 months in terracotta amphorae
Filtration: no
SO₂: < 60mg/litre
Alcohol content: 12.5 % vol
Closure: Natural cork
Drinking temperature: 16-18 °C
Perfect drinking maturity: from now - 2029
Bottle format: 0.75 litre
Content and price per litre: 0.75 l/(€24.87/l)
Maxime: All winegrowers listed with Vinonudo work with compost, organic fertilisers and natural preparations in their vineyards and refrain from using herbicides, pesticides and artificial fertilisers.
