Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Rabaja-Bas 2020

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Castello di Verduno is a historic Piedmontese winery whose history dates back to the 16th century. It was then purchased by the royal Savoy family in 1838 and finally passed into the hands of the Burlotto family (current owners since the early 1900s). The estate today extends across approximately 12 hectares of vineyards spread across the hills of Verduno and Barbaresco. Barbaresco Rabaj-Bas from Castello di Verduno is made with Nebbiolo grapes from the lowest rows of the Rabaja cru. Here, the vines benefit from unique limestone and clay soils (the famous Marne di Sant'Agata). After harvest, fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in wooden vats, followed by a period of maceration. The finished wine then ages in Slavonian oak barrels for 20 months and another 18 months in the bottle. The result is a complex and structured wine with an intense garnet red color. On the nose, it reveals a broad and mature aromatic profile with notes of blackberry and other berries, licorice, and pepper, along with delicate mineral notes. On the palate, it is well-structured, elegant, rounded, and expressive, with a pleasant, refreshing acidity. The tannins are firm and well-integrated, and the finish is long and smooth. You can leave it in the cellar for a while or enjoy it now with hare or pheasant stew, or with fettuccine with wild boar.