Description
Honest expressions of the terroir of Monforte d’Alba, which generally produces a bigger, more tannic style of Barolo than those from La Morra or Barolo itself. Without doubt, Elio & Gianluca Grasso are one of the great producers of Piedmont. Pedigree and class here. 3 Bicchieri Gambero Rosso 2010 – the Italian Wine Bible. Nebbiolo is all lampia clone. Cold soaked pre ferment to bring to the fore more primary fruit/ floral characters.
A masculine wine, ripe fragrant fruit, tar and leather. A very long and intense wine. 100% Nebbiolo from the Casa Mate site within the Cru of Ginestra in Monforte d’Alba. 30 days on skins in stainless steel, followed by 30 months in large old Slavonian oak.
After their 2008 wines topped the charts of Antonio Galloni’s highly anticipated Barolo Report ( “Case Mate” the top rated wine and “Chiniera Gavarini” 3rd top rated wine out of 250 Baroli and all the other top 10 rated wines were 2 or 3 times the price! ) resulted in huge global demand; and coupled with the 2009 yields being down 20% has meant his wines unfortunately are presold before they land on our shores! We were thrilled to be offered a small allocation of their 2009 Barolos. The thing we love about these 2009 Barolos is that they are sumptuous, generous wines reflecting the warm season. They are approachable and can be enjoyed now for up to 10 years rather than having to cellar them for 15 or 20 years in classic vintages like 2008 which requires a lot of patience! Grasso’s nebbiolo wines represent great value for top shelf Barolo.
“The 2009 Barolo Ginestra Vigna Casa Mate come from 35-year-old vines planted at 350 meters above sea level on mixed sand and clay soils. Gianluca says this is always the first vineyard to flower each year. This expression is without a doubt the more masculine of the two, with bold lines filled tight with black fruit, plum, licorice, tobacco and leather. However, the wine is not all muscle and brawn. It, too, offers a beautiful floral note of pressed red rose that lingers long on the finish.” Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. 94 points The Wine Advocate (6/2013)”
