About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Rabajà is a 1.23-hectare vineyard in the municipality of Barbaresco, at 300 metres above sea level. The documented parcels are map sheet V, parcels 317, 320 (part), 408 and 409 (part). Parcel 317 was planted in 1974, parcel 320 in 1975, and parcels 408 and 409 in 1990. The slope faces south-west.
The white soil has a high proportion of limestone and clay and is identified as Marne di Sant’Agata. Its composition is 30% sand, 55% clay and 15% limestone. It produces fragrant, elegant wines with considerable longevity.
Grapes
100% Nebbiolo.
Vinification
For the 2010 vintage, the grapes were harvested by hand on 10 October. Only the best bunches were selected and placed in small perforated crates. Maceration lasted 40 days in wooden vats. Traditional submersion of the cap prolonged extraction from the skins beyond the end of fermentation.
The wine was bottled on 5 September 2012 without filtration or fining, under lot number L12-09.
Ageing
The 2010 matured for 20 months in large Slavonian oak casks and then spent 2 months in stainless-steel tanks. It subsequently aged for 26 months in horizontally stored bottles before release in September 2014.
Technical data
For the 2010 vintage: alcohol 14.5% vol.; total acidity 6.05 g/L. Production comprised 3,602 Albeisa bottles of 0.75 L, 326 half-bottles of 0.375 L, 154 magnums of 1.5 L and 15 bottles of 3 L.
Tasting profile
The 2010 is an intensely garnet-red wine. Its aroma opens with ripe raspberry, followed by mineral nuances and herbaceous notes recalling conifers. The palate has good structure and firm tannins, leading to a long, persistent finish.
Vintage notes
The 2010 growing season began with a severe winter and abundant snowfall. April and May brought high temperatures, while early summer was rainy. Fine weather returned during August and September. The season particularly favoured well-sited vineyards whose grape variety, exposure and soil were carefully matched to local conditions.
