Barolo Riserva Briccolina MGA DOCG

Vineyard and terroir

Briccolina is a single-vineyard MGA in Serralunga d’Alba, identified on the wine page as cadastral sheet 9, parcels 198 and 297. The south- and southwest-facing vines are 80 years old and grow in clay-limestone soil. They are Guyot-trained and cultivated according to sustainable-viticulture practices. Yield is 6,500 kg/ha, and the crop is harvested entirely by hand.

The cru takes its name from its position at the peak of the hill. Its identity is associated with complexity and with a powerful, austere, full-bodied expression of Barolo.

Grapes

100% Nebbiolo.

Vinification

Whole bunches are manually selected on a vibrating table, then chilled with carbonic snow to limit oxidation and substantially reduce sulphur use. After destemming, the berries undergo a second manual selection on another vibrating table before gentle crushing. Screw conveyors are excluded throughout this process to minimize handling.

The must is chilled and partly undergoes cold maceration before controlled-temperature fermentation in stainless-steel vats and conical oak vats. Maceration lasts more than 28 days and incorporates délestage together with partial use of the submerged-cap method.

Ageing

Approximately 28 months in medium-sized 2,400-litre casks, followed by two years in bottle.

Technical data

• Alcohol: 14.5% vol.
• Winemaker: Paolo Giacosa
• Training system: Guyot
• Farming: sustainable viticulture
• Harvest: entirely by hand

Tasting profile

Deep ruby red with garnet highlights. The broad, intense and complex bouquet combines blackberry, liquorice, tobacco, spices, coffee beans and faded roses, retaining a clearly recognizable Nebbiolo character. The palate is broad and complex, dry, full-bodied, elegant and harmonious, with fine tannins, mineral character and a pleasantly persistent finish.

Serving and pairing

Serve at 16–18 °C. Pair with game, roasts and mature cheeses, or enjoy after dinner. Cellaring potential is 20–25 years.

Vintage notes

The 2018 season began with a long winter extending into March. Abundant rainfall restored soil-water reserves, while flowering and fruit set proceeded regularly in favourable conditions. Green harvesting was required for almost all varieties to restrain yields. Gradual summer development and a prolonged spell of stable, fine weather allowed ripening to continue without bringing the harvest forward; careful vineyard management was essential throughout the season.

The 2017 growing season was marked by April frost, followed by very hot and dry weather that limited plant-protection pressure. Temperatures fell appreciably in September, producing pronounced day-to-night variation that favoured the polyphenolic development of medium- to long-cycle red varieties. It was an early vintage, yielding healthy, complex grapes.

Label / history

The name Briccolina refers to the cru’s position at the top of the hill. The wine is presented as an expression of the house’s “Piemonte Attitude”: complexity, dedication and tenacity.