Malvirà Roero Red | 2017

The Langhe has three major red wine regions: Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero. Barolo and Barbaresco, south of the Tanaro River, benefit from higher altitude, and the soils are predominantly calcareous, clay, and sandstone. The climate tends to be cooler, breezier, and foggier. Roero, north of the Tanaro River, was once a giant lake, and today is a landscape of gentle slopes with mainly sandy soils and fossilized seashells. The climate is moderate, producing Nebbiolo wines that more fruit-forward and user-friendly. Giuseppe Damonte established Malvirà in 1950, a time when Roero's potential was in its infancy. Giuseppe, who had a passion for farming, passed on the estate to his sons in the early 1970s, who evolved the family’s bulk wine business into a fine wine one. Today, their entire production comes from six vineyards spread over 40 hectares, all organically farmed. 35-year-old vines from the Trinità and Renesio vineyards, the 2017 Roero was fermented in steel then aged in used, 500-liter French oak casks for 25 months. Held in the bottle for an extra year before release, this is exactly the type of Nebbiolo that you can enjoy by itself. Pretty with red fruits and licorice candy spices, the palate is pleasantly juicy, then ends fittingly dry. Along with Langhe Nebbiolo, Roero Red is one of Italy’s greatest gems. ~Allegra A