2019 Ferdinando Principiano Barolo Serralunga Organic, Piedmont

Very fine and beautifully perfumed on the nose, mint, anis, dried flowers, and sweet macerated cherries. The palate is still tight with firm tannins and serious fruit concentration. Classic Serralunga.

Principiano Ferdinando is a third generation family estate in the heart of the Langhe in Piemonte. In 1934, Ferdinando's grandfather first planted vines (just after phylloxera) on the hill of Monforte d'Alba; the winery and family home sat at the bottom of Serralunga, just across the ditch between the two adjoining hills. In 1946, the 6 hectares next to the home (just under the famous Giacomo Conterno) were planted, giving fruit for their top 'Boscareto' wine. Americo, his son, developed and ran the estate until 1993 when his son in turn took over for the family business. As Ferdinando took the reigns, his concept began to transform the estate into what it is today. In the incredible and perfectly pieced together puzzle of Barolo vineyards, very few stand out with natural flora and fauna, as the land is too valuable to take 'risks' from natural grape growing. The vines of Principiano are one of the few and extraordinary exceptions. Treatments are strictly kept to copper and sulfur only when necessary, amazing calcareous soils without layers of other rocks create for incredible drainage, and chosen crops are planted in the vineyards to add or subtract in aiding to the soil. It is meticulously farmed but pure to the earth, and the winery is the same. Natural yeast fermentations, minimal to no sulfites, large Slavonian oak, 15+ year old French Tonneau, and a sincere love for winemaking create the purest expression of Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto.

A delicate and elegant Barolo for a great price. This vibrant Nebbiolo weaves together sensations of violets, bright red berries, forest floor, leather, sweet spices and balsamic notes. The finesse and purity of fruit are supported by silky tannins.

The grapes are grown on 3.5 hectares of land from young vines planted in the valley of Boscareto in Serralunga d'Alba. The focus on the balance of the plant and achieving the ideal ripeness of the grapes allow Ferdinando to harvest in early October. The crushed grapes ferment naturally with their yeasts and without added sulphur for about a month and the ageing takes place for 2 years in 20 and 40 hectolitres barrels.

Being located on the southern fringe of the Barolo zone, the Principiano estate benefits from the biodiversity of the Alta Langhe: the wilderness that lies beyond the dense planting of Nebbiolo vineyards. This helps in maintaining a biodiverse balance in the vineyard. In 2003 he made the decision to move away from the world of consultants and their prescriptions, both in the vineyard and cantina, and since then he’s been rewarded by the purity and drinkability of his wines.