Barolo Patrizi  2008

Deep garnet in colour, with an open and spicy nose with notes of dried fruits, woodsmoke and leather.  Full flavoured with good concentration of approachable damson and wild cherry fruit, and warm and velvety mid-palate of coffee and chocolate, leading to a long finish, supported by bracing acidity and firm tannins. Pair with wild boar sausages, venison, roast lamb, gamey stews or vegetables roasted in olive oil, garlic and herbs.

The Manfredi family have been wine producers since 1863. The current family are keeping up with the times by converting their 20 hectare estate of Dolcetto into an organic vineyard, the windy hill of Bricco Rosso being an ideal site. The families other wines from the Gavi, Langhe and Alba region are typical of their areas and express the quality of the vineyards. They also carry some of the personality of the family being unassuming, approachable, interesting and fun.

Patrizi Barolo is produced from Nebbiolo di Alba grapes cultivated within the restricted territory close to the village of Barolo. The vines are grown on clay-calcerous soil and planting density is 4300 vines per hectare. Green pruning is done in May and July and grapes are finally hand harvested at the beginning of October.

The Nebbiolo grapes are sorted, de-stalked with special equipment, and softly pressed. The must is piped into steel tanks where it is fermented at a temperature of about 27 degrees for approx. 20 days. This extended maceration on the skins and high temperature allow extraction of plenty of tannins. The wine is matured in oak barrels for 3 years before bottling.