Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The fruit comes from Vigna Pianpolvere Soprano in Bussia, within the municipality of Monforte d’Alba. Historically divided into Vigna Pianpolvere and the higher Vigna Pianpolvere Soprano, the vineyard extends across 9 hectares and is owned exclusively by Rocche dei Manzoni. Its exposure is predominantly west, with a small south-west-facing section. The published coordinates are 44°36′8″ N, 7°57′55″ E.
The vineyard is managed under the Green Experience programme. Practices include eliminating chemical herbicides, maintaining plant cover, sowing green manure, mating disruption, using organic fertilisers exclusively, and installing artificial nests for birds and bats. A spring-fed lake within the vineyard supports local wildlife. The vines are Guyot-trained at a density of 4,000 plants per hectare.
This Barolo project became possible once replanted vines had reached sufficient maturity to produce a wine intended for a shorter ageing cycle.
Grapes
100% Nebbiolo for Barolo.
Vinification
Primary fermentation extracts polyphenols and anthocyanins during approximately 14 days of skin contact.
Ageing
The wine matures first in wood and then in cement, followed by further bottle ageing before release. Its overall maturation is four years, compared with seven to ten years for the Riserva.
Technical data
Alcohol: 14–14.5%. The available format is 0.75 L in an Albeisa bottle. The projected cellaring life is 25–30 years.
Tasting profile
Intense ruby red. The bouquet combines floral and fruit notes with tobacco, red fruit and spices. The palate is elegant, rounded and smooth, with harmonious complexity.
Vintage notes
The inaugural 2016 vintage combines substantial structure and elegance with immediate drinkability. Its complex aromatic profile includes ripe berries, balsamic nuances and saline notes, alongside considerable ageing potential.
Label / history
The name Pianpolvere dates to the late eighteenth century, when Napoleon Bonaparte built a powder magazine on the site; “Soprano” identifies the higher portion of the vineyard. The land later became ecclesiastical property and was acquired by the Fenocchio family in the early twentieth century. The Migliorini family acquired it in 1998. The first vintage of this younger expression was 2016, and the new project began in 2020 as a Barolo intended exclusively for the Italian market.
