Costa di Bussia – Barolo Riserva – 2017

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Since 1988, the Costa di Bussia winery and vineyards have been owned and managed by the Sartirano family. The estate is located in the Bussia region near the village of Monforte d’Alba. It includes 15 hectares of the famous vineyards of ‘Campo dei Buoi’ and ‘Campo del Gatto’, which produce very special and complex wines.

THE VINTAGE:
2017 was a vintage to remember; it was one of outstanding quality. Winter was marked by plenty of snow, providing the soil with an excellent supply of water, which nourished the vines through the hot, dry summer conditions. Mild spring temperatures brought the vegetative cycle and flowering forward. The second half of June until the end of August was dry and experienced above -average temperatures. These warm, dry conditions allowed the grapes to accumulate impressive polyphenols and the quality of tannins will ensure elegant, long lasting wines.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
A good wine comes to life in the vineyard, thanks to the soil’s characteristics, the sun’s exposure and the weather during the vintage. The area known as Bussia, is a ‘Cru’ recognised in particular for the production of Barolo. The soil is clay and is rich in minerals that are transferred from vines to grape and finally to the wine, elevating it in structure and complexity. The vines are meticulously tended by hand as the steep slopes make it very difficult to use machinery in the vineyards. The bottles produced each year in Costa di Bussia are exclusively obtained from the 11 hectares of vineyard that surround the cellar.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
Vinification took place in small fermentation tanks, with delicate pumping over to extract flavour and tannins while oxygenating the wine. The wine was aged for a minimum of 36 months in large Slovenian casks of 5,000 litres. This was followed by a further ageing in the bottle prior to release.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
Complex aromas of exotic spice, dried flowers and herbaceous notes are underpinned by deep fruit. An excellent concentration of sweet, smooth tannins envelop the palate though to a persistent, savoury finish.

GRAPE:
Nebbiolo 100%.