Barolo Briccolina 2019

The Grasso family settled at Briccolina in 1923, moving all the way from Monforte!, and own the largest share of the MGA with 6 hectares, all planted to Nebbiolo. The house and winery sit at the top of the amphitheatre shaped vineyards that are rich in blue marl and limsteone. Briccolina has been in the shadow of neighbouring Ornato and Falletto because for generations the fruit was sold to other wineries and blended but that's all about to change.

In 2012 Tiziano Grasso and son Daniele began reserving the best parcels of their oldest vines (fifty years) to make a Barolo under their own name.  Sadly, just as things got going, Tiziano died in a tractor accident and its taken a few years to get back on track. Daniele farms sustainably, practising organic but is not certified. The wine spends about twenty days on skins in upright Garbellotto tini and is aged for two years in small-medium botti from Garbellotto and Austrian coopers Schneckenleitner and Stockinger.  Barolo from Serralunga is renowned for power and structure but the combination here of vine age, a perfect site and Daniele's gentle approach in the cantina yield a wine that shows energy and finesse.  Theres a core of bright red fruits with spice and floral notes, the firm tannins carrying a long finish. Like a lot of the 2019's its still open and drinking beautifully but I cant wait to see this after a few years in the cellar. Approx 800 dozen produced.