Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The Nebbiolo comes from Serralunga d’Alba and La Morra. The vineyards face south and southwest and have clay-limestone soils. The vines are trained to Guyot under sustainable viticulture. The wine page gives a vine age of 20–35 years and a yield of 8,000 kg/ha; the 2020 technical sheet gives a vine age of 20–30 years.
Grapes
100% Nebbiolo. Winemaker: Paolo Giacosa.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested entirely by hand, with the 2020 technical sheet specifying collection in crates. Whole bunches are manually selected on a vibrating table and cooled with carbonic snow to limit oxidation and substantially reduce sulphur use. Following destemming, the berries undergo a second manual selection on another vibrating table and are gently crushed. Screw conveyors are excluded throughout this handling process.
The must is chilled before controlled-temperature fermentation in stainless-steel vats and conical oak vats. Skin contact lasts more than 28 days, employing délestage and, for part of the process, a submerged cap.
Ageing
The wine matures for 22 months in medium-sized oak casks with capacities of 2,500–4,000 L. Monclivio is estate bottled.
Technical data
Barolo DOCG. The wine page reports 14.5% alcohol by volume, while the 2020 technical sheet reports 14%. Its stylistic profile is full-bodied, dry, mature in character and strongly influenced by oak.
Tasting profile
Deep ruby red with garnet highlights. The broad, intense bouquet combines redcurrant, liquorice, tobacco, spices, coffee and leather. The palate is multifaceted, harmonious and smooth, with blackberry notes, a full body, chewy tannins and a pleasant finish.
Serving and pairing
Serve at 16–18 °C. Pair with game, roasts or mature cheeses, or serve after dinner. Cellaring potential is 10–15 years.
Vintage notes
The 2020 season began with a mild winter, followed by fine, relatively dry weather in March and April. Significant rain in May and June slowed vegetative growth before conditions returned to balance. Harvest for the estate began with Alta Langa on 21 August. Ripening of Barbera and Nebbiolo slowed but resumed during the latter half of September, and Nebbiolo reached harvest in optimal condition. The vintage produced wines marked by intense, elegant aromas and balance.
The 2020 vintage received 93/100 from James Suckling, 93/100 from Sarah Heller and 90/100 from Wine Enthusiast.
Label / history
Monclivio expresses the combination of clay-limestone land, Nebbiolo and the house’s Barolo tradition dating to 1878. Careful grape handling and oak maturation shape its powerful yet elegant style while retaining the character of its origins.
