Cascina Delle Rose Barbaresco Rio Sordo 2022

Cascina delle Rose is a small family winery in the Rio Sordo cru of Barbaresco, run by Giovanna Rizzolio, one of the first women to lead a Langhe estate. This single-vineyard Nebbiolo comes from the valley floor of one of the zone's historic crus, on the calcareous marl that gives Barbaresco its perfume and lift. Nebbiolo ripens late here, holding firm acidity and high tannin even as the fruit matures, and the wine is farmed organically. Fermentation runs with native yeasts before 22 months in large foudres, where the neutral oak and slow oxygen exchange soften the grip without adding wood flavour, letting the grape and the site lead. The colour is pale ruby, already turning towards garnet at the rim as Nebbiolo does. The nose is fragrant, with raspberry and black cherry over rose petal, dried herbs and a touch of liquorice. The palate is medium-bodied and savoury, the tannins fine and firm, carrying red fruit, earth and tar into a long, clean finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits braised beef, roast game birds and mushroom risotto.