Serralunga D'alba CRU



Serralunga is one of the 11 communes of Barolo and accounts for 16.50% of the production of this great wine "Barolo". Serralunga is considered one of the most age-worthy complexes Barolo with the white soil locally called Serravallian internationally Helvetian from a Miocene era [chalky beige light in color, loser calcareous and less fertile, high level of iron and phosphorous with sandstone and limestone].
This type of soil with Nebbiolo planted on top, is a Terroir result of a nervous wine with great acidity, tannin structure, and lots of energy. This commune makes commonly a masculine Barolo with power and maximal arousal tannin at a young age; however with time the aging potential is out of control.
Barolo produced in Serralunga can be dated from 1858 when King Vittorio Emanuele chose to create his own Barolo estate.
More than 30 crus make up this fantastic commune, by Italian legislation, this is called MENZIONE GEOGRAFICHE AGGIUNTIVE.
For many connoisseurs, the best vineyards site of the entire denomination of Barolo come from this commune such as Vigna Rionda, Francia, Faletto, and Boscareto in a way they are the Chambertin, Clos de Beze, Musigny and Romanee Conti of Burgundy.
I'll recommend always the Gabutti Vineyard in the central of the commune make really cool wine.
However, it always comes down to the producer and his way to work the vineyard.
Barolo has always had by tradition, different cru assembled together but from sometimes now only one cru can be written in the label; this made upset lots of old-school producer...
Here the words of Giuseppe Rinaldi a rock star of this wines, who left us a few weeks ago:
"We are not Burgundy," explains Rinaldi, who has traveled to that wine region every year since his first motorcycle tour in the 1960s. "The oldest tradition of Barolo is to blend to have the harmony of acid, tannins and color. We have our own history. We have our own dignity!"
Cascina Francia from Giacomo Conterno is perhaps the most expensive cru of this Commune when referring to the reserve Wine of him Monfortino. 2007 is a warm vintage, wine full of richness with lots of structure; this wine had a long finish with mellow tannin but pronounced and full in the palate. Conterno is considered an old-school producer long fermentation and aging in big Botti Slavonian oak.
The Cru is located in the south of the commune and his called Francia.

From the center of the Commune the Gabutti vineyard is the single cru of the old fashion producer Cappellano, here the winemaking and farming is truly humble nothing added and nothing take away.
2004 is a 5-star vintage still young fresh with lots of life ahead definitely one of the best vintage of the century.
The back label shows how humble and sincere Teobaldo Cappellano it was.
A legend in Barolo, Teobaldo Cappellano was one of the region's most outspoken traditionalists. Today, his son Augusto continues his father's important work.
Barolo is a Unesco Heritage place important to the beauty of nature worldwide.

The signs at the door of Cappellano show from 1870 this family has been making wines.
Here you can see the biodiversity in this pic full of grass through the vineyard. Barolo is a place where lots of chemical has been used but still you will find producer can achieve maximum quality working in respect of nature.

In the center of this Pic, you can see an arid vineyard exhausted by the synthetic chemical used.
Also as Burgundy in Barolo, there is not much more space to plant new vineyard, an exhausted land very expensive.
Barolo is a place with lots of years behind is always nice to drink an old bottle and ensure a pleasure with a glass, yes with lots of tertiary notes but still vibrant and complex... Wine to buy and store for an experience late on the life of a single person.

Bruno Giacosa is one of the most respected producers of this region with Barbaresco as well a Negociant at the beginning, a producer later. Was one of the first producer to bottle a single vineyard cru and one of the first to bottle Vigna Rionda which he called Collina Rionda which stopped in early 1990.
Anselma in Serralunga is another old-school producer, farming the famous Vigna Rionda and the below vineyard Collaretto
This was 2010 a violet, licorice, sour raspberry and intense palate aroma with the limestone core minerality.

Barolo is always a good companion with the expensive luscious wines of France.

Best

Raf 

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wine / spirit / lambic / drinker
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