Bel Colle Monvigliero, Barolo DOCG 2019

Cantina Bel Colle is located a few minutes out of Verduno in a spectacular panoramic position on the hills of Langhe. The winery cultivates 10 hectares of vineyards across Barolo, Roero, Barbaresco, the Langhe Hills and the area around Asti. Bel Colle's vineyards include three prestigious crus (MGAs); Monvigliero and Bussia in Barolo and Pajorè in Barbaresco.

"Monvigliero would be, maybe, in my top 10 crus in Barolo. It’s specific, and now highly prized, which is as it should be. It’s medium to full-bodied, fresh and gently sappy, crushed rock tannin, red fruit, dark cherry and quite some mouth-perfume, but also dense and concentrated, despite its vivacity. The finish is tight, long and focussed, with dusty tannin grip, new leather and quiet succulence. Very good. Very."  Gary Walsh 

 

Expert reviews

"Monvigliero would be, maybe, in my top 10 crus in Barolo. It’s specific, and now highly prized, which is as it should be. Perfumed, but earthy and ferrous, dark cherry, mint, leaning towards liquorice, with a fair bit of spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, fresh and gently sappy, crushed rock tannin, red fruit, dark cherry and quite some mouth-perfume, but also dense and concentrated, despite its vivacity. There’s some sage and mint, and the finish is tight, long and focussed, with dusty tannin grip, new leather and quiet succulence. Very good. Very. Drink: 2025 - 2036+."  Gary Walsh, The Wine Front - 95 points

"Ruby red. A fragrant bouquet emanates from the glass of violets and iris, dark cherry and blueberry fruit, brick dust and a hint of rusty nail. In the mouth the wine is concentrated and focussed, tautly structured with the fruit supported by a quite formidable layer of ripe tannin before drawing to a lengthy conclusion. There is density and depth here, an excellent if robust iteration of Monvigliero. Drink 2028 to 2048."  Stephen Blandford, The Real Review - 95 points

Piedmont Nebbiolo

The Piedmont wine region is located in the north-west corner of Italy. The name Piemonte means "at the foot of the mountains", the mountains in this case being the Alps. Piedmont is just Italy’s seventh largest wine region, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality.

Piedmont is famous for its Nebbiolo wines. Nebbiolo, the most exalted wine variety of Piedmont, gets its name from the Italian word for 'fog', nebbia. During harvest, which generally takes place late in October, a deep, intense fog sets into the Langhe region where the Nebbiolo vineyards are located. The Nebbiolo heartland is the tiny Barolo production zone, a cluster of fog-prone hills around the village of the same name.

Nebbiolo is early-budding, but also late-ripening. It needs good weather and lots of sunlight to achieve full ripeness, which is why the best vineyards for growing Nebbiolo are located on hillsides that are exposed to plenty of sunlight. Hence the suitability of the slopes of the Langhe hills near the town of Alba. Nebbiolo is only planted on the hills at an altitude above 250m, as fog hangs over lower vineyards for large parts of the day and there is no chance of making decent wine from this late-ripening variety if it is not exposed to maximum sunshine. The lower vineyards are generally planted with Barbera or Dolcetto.

Soil types also play a crucial role. Nebbiolo thrives on calcareous marl, a lime-rich mudstone that is found on the right bank of the Tanaro River, home to the famous appellations Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo grapes grown on other soil types tend to make wines that are not as aromatic and elegant.

Nebbiolo produces a full-bodied wine with high levels of acidity and tannin, particularly when it is young - at odds with its light colour. It also has great aging potential – particularly the Barbaresco and Barolo wines that garner the highest price tags.

The two highest classifications of wines produced from Nebbiolo in Piedmont are the DOCG denomination Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) and the DOC denomination Denominazione d'Origine Controllata (Denomination of Controlled Origin).

In total, there are seventeen DOCG and DOC wines made in Piedmont. The five applicable to Nebbiolo are Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG and Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC (which must be made from 100% Nebbiolo) and Roero DOCG and Langhe Nebbiolo DOC (which must be made from at least 85% Nebbiolo).

 DOCG and DOC Nebbiolo production zones in Piedmont

Barolo DOCG is perhaps the most famous Nebbiolo wine. Its name derives from the small town in the heart of the Barolo production zone, but it is produced in eleven communes around the larger hillside towns in the area. Barolo DOCG wines must be made from 100% Nebbiolo and must age in oak for at least 18 months with a total age time of 38 months before release. Barolo Riserva DOCG must age in oak for at least 18 months with a total age time of 62 months before being released.

Barbaresco DOCG is often described as more elegant than the more powerful Barolo, the 'queen' to Barolo’s 'king'. Barbaresco DOCG wines must be made from 100% Nebbiolo. The production zone is tiny, a third of the size of Barolo, and has less stringent regulations. Barbaresco DOCG wines must age in oak for at least 9 months with a total age time of 26 months before release. Barbaresco Riserva DOCG must age in oak for at least 9 months with a total age time of 50 months before being released.

Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC is produced between Barolo and Barbaresco. Near the two zones the wines are full-bodied and age very well. Further away, they’re delicate and best drunk young. This wine can also come from grapes from Barola or Barbaresco not quite up to heavenly standards, such as grapes from new vineyards in the famous hills or from less exalted vineyards. Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC wines must be made from 100% Nebbiolo and must age for at least 12 months before release. Nebbiolo d’Alba Superiore DOC wines must age in oak for at least 6 months with a total age time of 18 months before being released.

Roero DOCG is a little known zone just north of Barolo within the Langhe. Roero DOCG wines must be at least 95% Nebbiolo and must age in oak for at least 6 months with a total age time of 20 months before release. Roero Riserva DOCG must age in oak for at least 6 months with a total age time of 32 months before being released.

Langhe Nebbiolo DOC falls in (is a subset of) one of the largest wine zones in Piedmont, Langhe DOC. The Langhe DOC covers 54 communes of the Langhe and Roero hills. Varietally focused wines can include the name Langhe plus the grape. All told, there are 23 different forms of Langhe wines with Langhe Nebbiolo being just one. Langhe Nebbiolo DOC wines can come from anywhere in the Langhe i.e. from any of the four zones above (Barolo, Barbaresco, Nebbiolo d’Alba or Roero). Langhe Nebbiolo DOC must be at least 85% Nebbiolo and allow for up to 15% of other indigenous grape varieties, such as such as Barbera and Dolcetto. In practice most are made entirely from Nebbiolo.

Serralunga d'Alba in Piedmont, where the Nebbiolo grape is king

Barolo

Barolo, often referred to as the "King of Wines", is a powerful and full-bodied red wine made from Nebbiolo grapes. Barolo is special due to its unique combination of factors – its terroir, the Nebbiolo grape, and its winemaking traditions. The zone's spectacular terroir, a multitude of distinctive microclimates and soil compositions, is ideal for growing Nebbiolo. Furthermore, the centuries-old winemaking traditions add to the allure, resulting in a wine that is complex, full-bodied, and capable of aging gracefully for many years.

The Barolo zone (the regulated production area) is a relatively small area in Piemont. It is 11km north to south and just over 8km at its widest point. Barolo comprises 11 different communes around the larger towns in the area - some of the more famous towns or villages are Barolo, Montforte d’Alba, La Morra and Serralunga d’Alba. These communes each have unique geography, soil, climate and altitude. 

Barolo largely consists of three chains of hills separated by two north-south valleys, the Central Valley and Serralunga Valley. The communes are dotted up and down the twin valleys and hilly ranges that offer a huge variety of terroir.

The 3D flyover of Barola below is worth watching to appreciate the compexity of the topography, the countless number of small hills and the changes that occur in the space of a few metres. However, for anyone wishing to gain a full appreciation of what Barolo looks like in the flesh, Alessandro Masnaghetti's  Barolo MGA 360°  provides a superb digital replica of the landscape.
 

 Click on image to play 3D flyover

The Communes and 'Cru' Vineyards of Barolo 

There are 11 approved communes in the Barolo production zone. Over 87% of Barolo is produced in the original five and largest communes; La Morra, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d'Alba and Monforte d'Alba.

The remaining six communes are Novello, Verduno, Cherasco, Roddi, Grinzane Cavour and Diano d’Alba (which is planted more to Dolcetto than Nebbiolo). Interestingly, the first two of these are home to two of the most in-demand vineyards in the entire region; Monvigliero in Verduno and Ravera in Novello.

La Morra and Barolo are the two main communes in the western part of the zone, also known as the Central Valley. The soils are Tortonian - a fertile, compact, calcareous marl that produces graceful wines with more florals and fruit. 

The Serralunga Valley to the east has Serravalian (also referred to as Helvetian) soils which are heavy in sandstone and sand, producing structured bold wines with high tannins. Within this area you will find the famous communes of Castiglione Falleto, Serralunga d’Alba and Monforte d’Alba.

 
Barolo drinkers had become familiar over the years with the most recognizable of the 11 commune names appearing on the labels; Castiglione Falletto and Monforte d'Alba, for example. However, in the ‘90s the world rediscovered Barolo, whose wines bore little comparison to the rough wines of the past. Barolo began selling out, prices increased and so did the surface area of vineyards. With new producers came a rise in new labels and new ways to distinguish one from the other. They began personalising their labels with more than just the commune; they used the names of the vineyards, villages, and people. This desire to differentiate quickly got out of control, and as has been the case in many other wine regions, the consumer became confused.

The first priority was to create order, to delineate and define the varying wine-growing areas. To make it official, the Barolo Consorzio, in cooperation with the province of Cuneo and the various Barolo villages, undertook the challenging task of regulating the use of vineyard and zonal names on labels. By 2010, after several years of hard work, they came up with a list of geographical designations that are allowed to appear on the Barolo label.

These geographical designations or MGA (menzioni geografiche aggiuntive or additional geographic designations) refer to specific delimited areas of production and can be seen as the equivalent of the French term cru. 

In total, there are 181 geographical designations, of which 11 are communal (one for each commune; e.g. Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba, Barolo del Comune di La Morra, etc.). Wines may be labeled with one of these MGA provided the fruit comes from the stated designation.  

The MGAs – it’s important to emphasize this – do not imply superiority in a qualitative sense. A Barolo carrying the name of an MGA on the label is not necessarily better or more valuable than a Barolo with another name or even with no name at all, although for many producers Barolo wines with an MGA usually represent the most prestigious wines in their lists.

Most of the 170 MGA refer to a single vineyard such as Cannubi or Brunate, however as there are a number of exceptions, the MGA term cannot technically be defined as a vineyard. Bussia, for example, in the commune of Monforte d'Alba and the second largest MGA at 738 acres, is actually a large hill made up of several vineyards. The name of single-vineyard wines within their eponymous MGA are permitted on the label. Poderi Aldo Conterno, one of Barolo’s greatest producers, makes wines from three separate vineyards situated within the Bussia MGA; Colonello, Cicala and Romirasco.  

 

Click map to enlarge 🔍

A number of the MGA extend across more than one Commune. The Cerequio MGA, for example, is located between the towns of La Morra and Barolo and extends across the boundary of the two communes. It is one of the most prestigious vineyards within the appellation and a truly stunning landscape – it is so revered that it has been nicknamed the "Riviera of the Langhe." Grapes from both sides are of extremely high-quality and become great wines, but acquiring land with the southwestern exposure is considered la crème de la crème of the MGA. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the labels that have made Barolo history are all from here.

Strange as it may seem, European laws prevent the use of two or more MGA names together on the label, thus effectively stopping a noble and well-documented tradition of Barolo obtained by blending various vineyards. However, if the MGAs are situated in the same commune, the label may specify "Barolo del Comune di Barolo" or "Barolo del Comune di La Morra" and so on. Although contradictory, the same law that prevents use of two or more MGAs on the label allows the producer to add up to 15% of Barolo obtained from a second MGA to a Barolo with an MGA stated on the label.

The proper term for a vineyard is vigna, which can also appear on the label. Two well-known examples are Poderi Oddero Barolo Bussia Vigna Mondoca and Bruno Giacosa Vigna Le Rocche Barolo Falletto. Note that the term vigna does not have to be used as an identifier – Aldo Conterno does not label his separate Barolos with this descriptor.

A brief summary of the most important communes and crus in the Barolo production zone follows.

La Morra

Situated at the northern end of the Central Valley, La Morra ranks first among all the communes as far as most acreage of Nebbiolo planted for production of Barolo as well as number of wineries (62); it is tied with Serralunga d’Alba for most MGA (39). Several of the highest vineyards in the zone are located here at elevations of more than 420m.

La Morra is known for Barolo with rounder, more gentle tannins and more floral aromatics (especially from the Brunate MGA), as opposed to wines from Serralunga and Monforte d'Alba. The wines from the Rocche dell’Annunziata site are among the most complex, elegant and structured in all the commune.

Top vineyards: Rocche dell’Annunziata, La Serra, Arborina, Conca, Brunate and Cerequio (these last two are primarily situated in La Morra, with a smaller part of these sites also in the commune of Barolo).

Top Producers: Renato Ratti, Roberto Voerzio, Poderi Oddero, Elio Altare, Fratelli Revello, Marcarini, Mauro Molino, Mauro Veglio, Trediberri, Aurelio Settimo

Barolo

Situated at the southern end of the Central Valley, this commune lends its name to the wine produced in the Barolo Zone. The wines here are a mix of styles, with a typical Barolo from here being rich in tannins with a slight austerity. The most famous vineyard here is Cannubi, which contains both Tortonian and Serravalian soils, creating wines of great complexity.

Top vineyards: Cannubi, Sarmassa, Bricco delle Viole, Terlo, Liste, Castellero

Top Producers: Bartolo Mascarello, Marchesi di Barolo, Scarzello, Borgogno, Damilano, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Francesco Rinaldi, Giacamo Brezza, Luciano Sandrone

Monforte d'Alba

Situated at the far southeastern reaches of the zone, Monforte d’Alba is home to long-aging, powerful examples of Barolo. There are only 11 MGA, but 53 wineries here; one reason for this is the large number of producers that make a Bussia Barolo. The wines here are generally quite ripe, and while there are numerous producers that take a modern approach in the cellar (e.g. Domenico Clerico), there are some such as Elio Grasso that specialize in more traditional examples of Barolo, with their Ginestra Casa Maté and Gavarini Chiniera Barolos.

Top vineyards: Ginestra, Bussia, Mosconi, Castelletto, Le Coste di Monforte

Top producers: Elio Grasso, Domenico Clerico, Poderi Aldo Conterno, Giovanni Manzone, Josetta Saffirio, Giacomo Conterno, Giacomo Fenocchio, Amalia Cascina in Langa

Serralunga d’Alba 

Situated north of Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba marks the eastern border of the Barolo zone. If a classic syle of Barolo combines deep structure and longevity, then the Barolos of Serralunga are certainly among the most classic. These wines require time, but offers great rewards at their peak. Yet, you can find very approachable examples of Barolo from here; the offerings of Barolo Comune di Serralunga d’Alba are often quite open upon release, displaying the rich fruit and tannins of Serralunga in a more refined manner. These are among the best values of the entire Barolo zone.

As much as any commune, Serralunga is known for its remarkable assortment of vineyards, including Lazzarito, Vignarionda, Falletto of Bruno Giacosa, and Francia, the source of the celebrated Monfortino Barolo of Giacomo Conterno.

Top Vineyards: Falletto, Francia, Lazzarito, Vignarionda, Margheria, Cerretta, Prapò, Parafada

Top Producers: Fontanafredda, Ettore Germano, Paolo Manzone, Giovanni Rosso, Schiavenza, Palladino, Luigi Pira

Castiglione Falletto

The commune of Castiglione Falletto is located to the west of Serralunga d’Alba, north of Monforte d’Alba and east of La Morra. The soils here are mixed with a good percentage of sand, resulting in wines that are often more fragrant and less tannic than those from Serralunga and Monforte. A typical Castiglione Falletto Barolo displays red cherry and starwberry fruit aromas and flavors along with distinct red spice notes. Rocche di Castiglione is arguably the best known site here, along with Villero (the source of Vietti riserva), Bricco Rocche of Ceretto, and Monprivato, this last made famous by Giuseppe Mascarello.

Top Vineyards: Rocche di Castiglione, Bricco Rocche, Villero, Bricco Boschis, Parussi, Fiasco, Pernanno, Monprivato, Montanello

Top Producers: Vietti, Paolo Scavino, Cavallotto, Monchiero Fratelli, Giovanni Sordo, Livia Fontanai

Verduno

Verduno represents the far northwest reaches of the Barolo zone, and is known for wines that combine excellent ripeness with subtle spice, generally with mid-weight tannins. Clearly Verduno is most famous for the Monvigliero vineyard, situated just east of the town of Verduno, ranging from 220-310m above sea level. While most of this commune’s producers make a Monvigliero Barolo, recently many vintners throughout the Barolo zone have also added a Barolo from this vineyard - this includes Paolo Scavino, Giovanni Sordo and Terre del Barolo.

Top Vineyards: Monvigliero, San Lorenzo di Verduno, Boscatto, Massara

Top Producers: Burlotto, Fratelli Alessandria, Bel Colle, Castello di Verduno

Novello

The commune of Novello is located at the far southwestern corner of the Barolo zone and has one of the coolest climates of any commune, thanks to the winds from the Cottian Alps to the south. The wines of Novello were among the most unrelenting years ago, but because of climate change, a typical Barolo from Novello is now riper and much more elegant. Clearly the interest in this commune over the past decade can be traced to the work of Valter Fissore and his wife Nadia, at their Elvio Cogno estate, with wines from the Ravera vineyard. Recently several renowned producers such as Vietti and Paolo Scavino have also released a Ravera Barolo.

Top Vineyards: Ravera, Sottocastello di Novello, Cerviano-Merli, Panerole, Corini-Palaretta

Top Producers: Elvio Cogno, Ca’Viola, Le Strette, Marenco

Monvigliero

An MGA of Barolo, Monvigliero has always been considered the "Grand Cru" of the commune of Verduno, as well as one of the most prestigious vineyards of the entire Barolo zone. The vineyard is considered to be one of the most feminine in the appellation and the Barolos from here are prized for their finesse and elegance.

Verduno is the northernmost of the Barolo communes and as shown in the map below, Monvigliero is one of its most northern vineyards. The vineyard is a natural amphitheatre facing south to southwest and has access to the sun's rays all day, and this, together with the dry climate and white soils, provides ample summer warmth. The River Tanaro runs through the commune and just to the north of the Monvigliero vineyard and the heat generated during the day is mitigated by a cooling breeze that flows along the river valley at night.

The soil is primarily light-colored limestone mixed with chalky veins. According to Fabio Alessandria of Comm. G. B. Butlotto, the soil is traditional Sant'Agata marls with a mix of 40% silt, 30% limestone, and 30% sand. These white limestone soils drain well and ally with the micro-climate to give considerable finesse to the wines.

The portion of the vineyard owned by Bel Colle is 1.35 hectares in size and has a southern exposure. The vines are on average 25 years old and are planted at a density of about 5,000 plants per hectare. 

 

Monvigliero MGA in the Commune of Verduno

The winery

The Bosio family, owners of Bel Colle: Valentina, Valter, Rosella and Luca (left to right)

Cantina Bel Colle is located in the small village of Borgo Castagni, a few minutes out of Verduno on the road to La Morra, in a spectacular panoramic position on the hills of Langhe. This is one of the most fascinating areas of Piedmont, characterized by undulating hills planted with vineyards that are tinged with the warmest colours in autumn, forests and ancient villages.

Bel Colle was established in 1978 by Giuseppe Priola and brothers Franco and Carlo Pontiglione, who chose to invest in Verduno, which at that time was a peripheral territory. It was a far-sighted choice, as under the leadership of enlightened oenologist Paolo Torchio from 1980 to 2015, Bel Colle became one of the most important wineries in Verduno and the first producer of Verduno Pelaverga.

In the 1990s, Bel Colle chose to invest in the native red grape varieties of the Langhe: Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto. In addition, Bel Colle also gave space to the native white grape varieties: Arneis, Roero’s princely variety, Nascetta, a rare indigenous variety of Novello and Favorita. Belle Colle under Paolo Torchio was renowned for producing clean, highly elegant wines with finesse and an austere femininity.

Bel Colle was acquired by Valter and Rossella Bosio in 2015. The Bosio family, originally from Santo Stefano Belbo, has been producing wine for four generations since they planted their first vineyard in Valdivilla. Today it is Valter and Rosella, together with their son Luca and his wife Valentina, who run the company (refer to photo above). The winery is led by Luca Bosio and fellow oenologist Mario Albrito. Luca, the fourth generation of the family, has the courage to take new paths and expand the vineyards. On the other hand, Mario, a Langhe wine veteran of over 40 years, brings all his experience in the area to the table. Together they make a formidable team. 

The winery cultivates 10 hectares of vineyards across Barolo, Roero, Barbaresco, the Langhe Hills and the area around Asti. Winemaker Luca Bosio practises sustainable viticulture and abstains from the use of any synthetic treatments, with all vineyards prepared organically and worked by hand.

Bel Colle's vineyards include two of the most prestigious Geographical Mentions (MGAs) in Barolo, Monvigliero in the Commune of Verduno and Bussia in the commune of Monforte d’Alba - which produce Barolo DOCG Monvigliero and Barolo DOCG Bussia respectively. 

In the hills of Barbaresco, Bel Colle has vineyards in Pajorè MGA in the Commune of Treiso and the Gallina MGA in the Commune of Neive – which produce Barbaresco DOCG Pajorè and Barbaresco DOCG Gallina respectively.

Belle Colle is the largest producer in Piedmont of Verduno Pelaverga DOC, a wine that rose to cult status in the mid-2010s. Made from the rare Pelaverga Piccolo grape, the Verduno Pelaverga production area is confined to just over thirty hectares - slightly more than 25 are in Verduno, 4 hectares are in Roddi and 1.6 hectares are in La Morra. 

The Alba area produces Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, Barbera d’Alba DOC and Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, the hills of Roero produce Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC, and the hills of Bionzo produce Barbera d’Asti DOCG.

For the white wines, the vineyard of Turna Lunga in Santo Stefano Belbo produces Moscato d’Asti DOCG Turna Lunga, the hills of Roero produce Roero Arneis DOCG, the Commune of Novello produces Langhe Nascetta DOC and the hills of Langhe and Roero produce Langhe DOC Favorita.

The Vineyards

Bel Colle cultivates 10 hectares of vineyards across Barolo, Roero, Barbaresco, the Langhe Hills and the area around Asti. Winemaker Luca Bosio practices sustainable viticulture and abstains from the use of any synthetic treatments, with all vineyards prepared organically and worked by hand. Bel Colle's vineyards include three prestigious Geographical Mentions (MGAs); Monvigliero and Bussia in Barolo and Pajorè in Barbaresco.

Monvigliero, Comune di Verduno

An MGA of Barolo, Monvigliero has always been considered the "Grand Cru" of the commune of Verduno, as well as one of the most prestigious vineyards of the entire appellation. The vineyard is a natural amphitheatre facing southwest characterized by a particularly dry climate and light, loose soils that push the vines to give their best. Barolos from here are prized for their finesse and elegance.

Bussia, Comune di Monforte d’Alba

An MGA of Barolo, Bussia is the most famous vineyard in Monforte d’Alba and has only recently been included among Bel Colle’s cultivation plots. Bel Colle's section of the vineyard is one of the highest, near the village of the same name, with excellent south-southwest exposure. Here the Nebbiolo vineyard reaches unparalleled heights of intensity and elegance. The marly soils meet a limestone matrix that expresses complex, sumptuous and excellent structured Barolo, with a slight savory note that enhances its freshness.

Pajorè, Comune di Treiso

An MGA of Barbaresco, it is one of the appellation’s most renowned crus. It enjoys a well-established reputation thanks partly to the cult wines of Giovanni Moresco (now almost unobtainable). The rows have a very steep, almost terraced layout that enhances the excellent south and southwest exposure. Soils, elevations and exposure produce classic and elegant structured Barbaresco that is well delineated and beautifully balanced.

Borgo Castagni, Municipalities of Verduno and La Morra 

The vineyards of Borgo Castagni include the plots that extend around the Bel Colle winery, on the border between the municipalities of Verduno and La Morra. They are divided between two Barolo MGAs, those of Neirane in Verduno  and Castagni in La Morra. The west-facing exposure, cool climate and good altitude express the wines unique olfactory array of intensity and persistence, marked by good freshness. Excellent structure is combined with extreme elegance. A peculiarity of Borgo Neirane is the presence of clay-limestone soils, characterized by veins of chalk, which give the Verduno Pelaverga wine produced here excellent aromatic breadth and sapidity.

Turna Lunga, Santo Stefano Belbo

Turna Lunga is a magnificent vineyard in Valdivilla, a hamlet of Santo Stefano Belb. The vineyard is located on one of the most spectacular ridges of the eastern Langhe and is planted entirely with Moscato. The very steep slope of Turna Lunga, around 35 percent, means the plot demands a huge amount of laborious manual labour. The resulting single vineyard Moscato d’Asti DOCG Turna Lunga is extremely elegant, fresh and balanced, sweet yet never cloying.

Bionzo, Astigiano (area around Asti)

Belle Colle produces its Barbera d’Asti from a one hectare vineyard of Barbera in Bionzo, a small town overlooking the Tinella Valley which divides the hills of the eastern Langhe from the Monferrato Astigiano. The rows rise in a hot, well-exposed area that is extremely dry, inducing the clusters to ripen early and have great concentration. The resultant Barbera d’Asti Superiore DOCG Nuwanda is a single vineyard, full-bodied and alcoholic wine of great power which still preserves the acidity of the Barbera grape variety.