DOC. Langhe (Piedmont), Italy - 100% Nebbiolo from the declassified Roncagliette vineyard and Starderi with calcareous clay soils. (Despite the fact that the grapes are within the Barbaresco appellation, the DOC Langhe regional appellation is used to avoid having to comply with a series of restrictions and minimum aging required by the DOCG Barbaresco). The must is fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks with their skins for 1 month and then aged in large oak boots for 11 months. The wine is not filtered. It has a beautiful cherry color of medium-low layer, slight turbidity because it has not been filtered. On the nose it is an explosion of red fruit, raspberries, blueberries, spices, earthy notes, truffle, tar, rose petal and talc. In the mouth it has a medium structure, medium tannins, calcareous and marked, it is intense and balsamic, with a magnificent acidity that balances the alcohol, with a long and persistent finish. A subtle and very elegant Nebbiolo. Recommended by The Sommelier.
OLEK BONDONIO LANGHE NEBBIOLO 2018
Barbaresco is the second most important wine-growing area in Italian Piedmont, where wines are made with the native variety Nebbiolo. Its extension is somewhat less than that of Barolo and its hills facing south have an altitude (between 200m and 400m) somewhat lower than that of Barolo. The lower altitude and the influence of the Tanaro river favor an earlier maturation of the Nebbiolo resulting in more fruity and somewhat less tannic wines than Barolo in general terms.
Olek Bondonio comes from a family rooted in Barbaresco for more than 200 years. His family sold wine in Sardinia in the Napoleonic era. Olek's great-great-grandfather worked with Domizio Cavazza, professor of oenology in Alba and founder of the Barbaresco cooperative, currently the prestigious Cantina di Produttori di Barbaresco. Olek, after going through university, trained in wineries in France, Australia, New Zealand and Oregon. Olek marketed his first harvest in 2005. He works a small 3.5-hectare vineyard tract that surrounds the family-owned La Berchialla farm for 200 years. The small size of the vineyard allows you to grow and make the wines on your own. Olek has been the first to produce a single wine from the Roncagliette vineyard, a steep amphitheater of vines in the southwest that also houses the Sorì Tildin and Costa Russi parcels of the prestigious Angelo Gaja His attention to detail in the vineyard and his sensitive focus on The canteen ensures that every wine speaks of this wonderful place.
Olek has been certified organic in vineyard since 2018 (Organic Certificate by Valoritalia), he believes that by working hard in the vineyard and sparing no effort, he can produce healthy grapes and wines that accurately reflect the hills of Barbaresco. From low-yielding old vineyard plots, the grapes are pressed in a manual press, the wine ferments with indigenous yeasts with their skins and ages in "big boots" until you're ready. Make old-school Nebbiolos with a heady ocher perfume.
In addition to Nebbiolo, it produces the indigenous Dolcetto and Barbera varieties, and a lesser-known indigenous variety called Pelaverga, of family inheritance and, with just four rows, planted by Olek's father, in firm clay soils, in one of the most reputable areas of Barbaresco.
The 2018 vintage started with a long winter with abundant late rains, restoring the water supply that had decreased due to the rather dry weather conditions of the previous year. The winter season lasted until the beginning of March, with lower temperatures than in recent years. This led to a slow and gradual resumption of the vegetative phase of the vine, with a late outbreak of Nebbiolo in the second week of April. After a month of April, the first fortnight of May was marked by numerous storms and lower temperatures, bringing heavy rains that created some difficulties in managing the vineyards. In fact, problems associated with fungal diseases were registered where it was not possible to intervene in time. June brought warm and dry weather to Barbaresco. Consequently, flowering and curdling took place regularly and in optimal climatic conditions, which immediately suggested that it would be a bountiful harvest. September continued to be hot and the first cold night did not arrive until the 24th of the month. The lack of night / day temperature differences slowed phenolic maturation and did not help a perfect concentration of aromas. However, the absence of rainfall led to a harvest with very good sugar levels. The end result of this challenging harvest are good quality wines, less explosive than those of 2016 and 2017 in terms of complexity, but balanced, flexible and with a good drink.
Olek Bondonio Langhe Nebbiolo 2018 is 100% Nebbiolo from the declassified Roncagliette and Starderi vineyards with calcareous clay soils. (Despite the fact that the grapes are within the Barbaresco appellation, the DOC Langhe regional appellation is used to avoid having to comply with a series of restrictions and minimum aging required by the DOCG Barbaresco). The must is fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks with their skins for 1 month and then aged in large oak boots for 11 months. The wine is not filtered.
Olek Bondonio Langhe Nebbiolo 2018 has a beautiful cherry color of medium-low layer, slight turbidity because it has not been filtered. On the nose it is an explosion of red fruit, raspberries, blueberries, spices, earthy notes, truffle, tar, rose petal and talc. In the mouth it has a medium structure, medium tannins, calcareous and marked, it is intense and balsamic, with a magnificent acidity that balances the alcohol, with a long and persistent finish. A subtle and very elegant Nebbiolo.
Production: 4,000 bottles.
Ratings: Not yet rated. 4.3 / 5 Vivino
Optimal consumption: 2020-2030. 14.5%
Pairing: regional dishes such as salami, pates and light meats, risotto, small game, spiced meat stews, baked and stewed meats with wine sauce, pasta with creamy boletus and truffle sauces, semi-fatty cheeses.
