Ca' del Baio Langhe Nebbiolo Bric del Baio

Located in Treiso, in the Cuneo province of the hilly Italian region of Langhe, the Ca' del Baio winery was founded in 1929 by Giuseppe Grasso. It is now run by his great-grandson Giulio, his wife Luciana and their three daughters Paola, Valentina and Federica. Ca' del Baio Langhe Nebbiolo Bric del Baio 2019 is a very personal wine made with Nebbiolo grapes collected by hand in early October from a selection of their best plots and is a clear example of the winemaking philosophy of this Piedmont winery. The vines were planted in 2001 in chalky-clay loam soils and look to the west to make the most of the afternoon sunlight.

The result is splendid - aromas of ash and cherries perfume a transparent wine whose colour combines the reddish tones of young grapes with the red roof-tile colour ageing brings with it. It has fragrances of clay, wild strawberries, raspberry jam, plums and bay leaves. It is agile and spritely in the mouth, with a wonderful acidity and the bitter finish we expect. Subtle hints of aniseed appear after the wine has stood for a few minutes in the glass, and its fragrance and wild character remind us of a good sloe liqueur. Eventually dark fruits and discrete touches of coffee and tar also join in. Ca' del Baio Langhe Nebbiolo Bric del Baio 2019 is a dry, warm, compact and well-balanced wine. Its tannins coat the gums with no hesitation, proudly expressing the delights of the Nebbiolo grape and calling out for a partner – meat, if possible. As we are enjoying a Piedmont wine, what could be better than a steak tartare meat dish or a serving of homemade tagliolini and meat sauce. It also pairs well with cheese, especially hard cheeses which are not too strong.

Ca' del Baio Langhe Nebbiolo Bric del Baio 2019 has enough body and character to evolve and gain in complexity for at least five years.