Barolo Cannubi DOCG 2020

A Barolo of great stature that takes its time. Still deeply closed, it only releases its fruit after decanting and in a large glass: sour cherry, blackberry and plum, along with fresh rosehip and red fruit tea. Spice notes of cigar box, pale tobacco leaves and mixed pepper, topped with sage, parsley, thyme as well as pine, cypress and plenty of earthiness.

The Cannubi vineyard lies not far from the winery in the village of Barolo, at just under 300 metres of altitude, exposed south to south-west, on calcareous Tertiary soils. Chiara Boschis holds 0.7 hectares here. The 2020 vintage started around 15 days early; thunderstorms in June and rain in September then slowed it down again, while cool nights ensured a slow ripening with a yield 30 to 40 percent lower.

Nebbiolo, planted in 1982 with the Michet, Lampia and Rosé clones. Harvested on 22 September 2020, fermentation 100 percent in stainless steel tanks with frequent pumping-over and punching-down. Ageing takes place in small French oak barriques, lightly toasted, with around 30 percent new oak, followed by a year of bottle ageing. This method applies to all of the estate's Baroli, so that the origin speaks rather than the winemaking technique.

Fine-grained tannin coats the mouth, the fruit flows silkily and remains rather crisp than opulent. The delicate acidity quietly sets the pace, the mineral line runs straight and long. Balsamic and ethereal nuances carry the finish for several minutes, closing with cocoa.

Roast venison in a nut crust with bread dumplings and cranberries, grilled tomahawk steak with romanesco and sweet potatoes or a stew of grey lentils with foie gras and hazelnuts.

3774 bottles and 340 magnums were produced. Chiara Boschis was the first to convert the Cannubi vineyard to organic farming; the winery has been organically certified since 2014. With the Cannubi Bio project, she had won over around 80 percent of the growers in this vineyard to the same step by 2015.