Travaglini Trevigne 2018

Travaglini is a family winery in the heart of the Gattinara hills in northern Piedmont, founded in 1958. Trevigne is made only in the better vintages from Nebbiolo, the grape behind the region's most ageworthy reds. The vineyards sit on steep slopes of acidic, iron-rich porphyry soil, which gives the wine a mineral backbone and the pale garnet colour typical of Nebbiolo. Gattinara has a continental climate with a wide day-to-night temperature range, letting the grapes ripen slowly while keeping the high acidity and firm tannin that mark the variety. The region was rebuilt after phylloxera devastated it in the early twentieth century, and Travaglini's founder was central to its revival. The wine is aged in wood, which rounds the tannins and adds a savoury, spiced edge. It pours a translucent ruby-garnet. The nose shows red cherry, red berries, rose and dried herbs over earth and leather. On the palate it is medium bodied with bright acidity and fine, persistent tannins, finishing savoury and long. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted ahead, with braised meat, game or mushroom dishes.