Vietti

What to look for

• •Garnet colour with orange edges, a sign of age and elegance
• •Aromas of rose, tar, cherry and dried herbs
• •Firm tannins that grip the mouth, then fade to reveal sweet fruit

About the producer

Vietti is a historic family producer in Castiglione Falletto, in the heart of Barolo. They have made wine here since 1875 and own some of the finest vineyard sites in the region.

About the year

2016 was a warm, dry vintage in Piedmont that produced wines with ripe fruit and good balance. Nebbiolo from this year drinks well now but will age gracefully for another decade.

Grape characteristics

Nebbiolo is Piedmont's noblest grape. It ripens late and makes wines of high acidity and firm tannins that feel austere when young but gain complexity and perfume as they age.

About the region

Barola sits in the hills south of Alba, where autumn fog and cool nights preserve acidity in the grapes. The soil is limestone and clay, which gives the wines their mineral depth and structure.

Tasting profile

Expect aromas of wild rose, tar and cherry with hints of liquorice and dried herbs. The palate is dry and serious, with layers of red fruit, earth and spice that unfold as the wine opens.

Serving suggestions

Serve at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in a large burgundy glass. Decant for 30 minutes before drinking to soften the tannins and let the aromas emerge.

Also pairs well with

• • Beef braised in red wine
• • Mushroom risotto
• • Aged hard cheeses
• • Game birds
• • Truffle pasta