La Spinetta
The 2007 edition of Gambero Rosso named this Italy's No. 2 winery just behind Gaja, and the international press continually lauds it as one of the country's most progressive wineries. La Spinetta is truly is a world-class producer.
La Spinetta was founded in 1977 and now spans 165 hectares between Piedmont and Tuscany. Instead of inheriting their land through generations of winemakers, the Rivettis have carefully selected their vineyards over time. All sites have a south, south-east or south-west exposure and the vines tend to have a bit of age (35-65 years). The approach in the winery may be modern but the vineyard ethos is utterly traditional: extensive year round care, extremely low yields and no use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. La Spinetta means "top of the hill” and refers to the location of their first cellar in Castagnole delle Lanze in Piedmont. La Spinetta’s motto is: "Making wine with passion". We’ll drink to that.
La Spinetta Barbarersco Bordini
100% Nebbiolo from the Bordini site, 270m high in the village of Neive in the Barbaresco production zone. It's a four hectare south-facing site on calcareous soils, and the vines have an average age of between 26 and 29 years. The site is sustainably farmed with no use of chemical herbicides or pesticides. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled rotofermenters and lasts between seven and eight days. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in oak, where the wine is aged for between 20 and 22 months. From these medium toast French oak vessels (50% new and 50% one-year-old) it's transferred to stainless steel vats for three months before bottling with no fining or filtration. It is then rested for a further 24 months in bottle before release.
Tasting Notes
Color: dark red
Bouquet: luscious and complex aromas of cassis and red cherry
Taste: gentle mint flavor, completed by Nebbiolo length and elegance
Pairings: grilled red meat and strong cheeses
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