‘We respect the diversity expressed by each vintage’

Giulio Grasso

 

I love when wineries can allow a vintage to speak to us. 

CA’del BAIO Barbaresco Vallegrande DOCG

2016

100% Nebbiolo (obvs)

15%abv

Piedmont Italy 

 

Aromatics of Red and black cherries with a hint of roses and a tarry note. Classic Nebbiolo nose. The fruit was concentrated on the palate, with grippy, but fine tannin and mouth watering acidity. At 15% alcohol, I expected to taste it , but I didn’t, as it was well integrated and balanced with the generosity of fruit flavours, 

 

These hand harvested grapes are fermented with natural yeasts in stainless steel for 7-15 days, and then mature for 2 years in old Slavonian oak casks before being bottled and aged for another 6 months before release.

 

Ca’ del Baio is located in the village of Treisa, in the Piedmont region of Italy and is currently run by Giulio Grasso who is the 4th generation to live on the land where the Vallegrande vines are planted, but the 3rd generation to grow vines and make wine. Ca; del Baio production (vineyards and winery) is focused on sustainability, with no synthetic inputs in any of their vineyards. They use green manure in the vineyards, and native yeasts in the cellar. They belong to The Green Experience Project which focuses on biodiversity in the vineyard, and respect for all animals and pollinating insects as well as honesty and  transparency with consumers.

 

Vallegrande is a medium sized Cru of Barbaresco DOCG located in the commune of Treiso. Ca’del Baio has 3 ha of vineyards planted here that face west and sit on marl and limestone soils at 300-400 m above sea level. Interestingly enough, the grapes from this vineyard were first fermented separately beginning in 1965, when Ernesto, Giulli’s father believed them to be of higher quality, more distinct and special.A year before Barbaresco was even a DOC, let alone a DOCG.

Vallegrande is Ca’ del Baio’s most traditional expression of Barbaresco, which is more elegant and less muscular.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]