Barolo Via Nuova DOCG 2020

The nose leans dark: elderberry, cassis and blackberry, joined by plum, wrapped in lilac and pansy. Cubeb pepper and black pepper add spice, while dried marjoram, oregano and sage trace a long herbal line, and cedarwood, forest floor and moss lend balsamic depth underneath.

Via Nuova is a blend from seven vineyards across 3.7 hectares: Terlo, Paiagallo and Liste in Barolo, Ravera di Monforte and Mosconi in Monforte d'Alba, Gabutti e Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba. They sit at an average of 340 metres, predominantly facing south-southeast. Chiara Boschis has farmed her eleven hectares organically, certified since 2014.

Pure Nebbiolo, fermented 100 percent in stainless steel tanks, often with pump-overs and punch-downs. Ageing takes place in small French oak barriques, lightly toasted, around 30 percent new wood, followed by a year of bottle ageing. The method is identical across all the estate's Baroli, so that the origin speaks rather than the technique. In 2020, yields were 30 to 40 percent below a normal year; harvest began on 29 September, with 14,826 bottles and 278 magnums produced.

Silky in its flow. Sour cherry and raspberry lend finesse to the dark fruit, while cool minerality and acidity frame the still-firm young tannin, which softens within just a few minutes. The spice notes stay restrained and in harmony with the fruit.

The dark fruit pairs well with BBQ duck with salted cherries and savoy cabbage. The tannin stands up to braised lamb shoulder with roasted potatoes and rosemary jus. For a vegetarian option: oven-roasted white cabbage with béarnaise sauce and fried kale.

Chiara Boschis took over the estate's leadership in 1990, becoming the first woman to own and run a winery in the Langhe. As the only woman among the Barolo Boys, she championed shorter maceration times and barrique ageing. Since 2010, she has run the estate together with her brother Giorgio.