2016 Fratelli Grasso Barbaresco "Giacosa Spessa", Piedmont, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

Prior to 2008, the vineyard was Bricco Spessa, but since there are a many vineyards referencing “Bricco,” meaning hill top in Piedmontese, the name was officially changed to “Giacosa.” Grasso kept “Spessa” on the bottle in honor of its original name. The Giacosa Spessa vineyard imparts more richness and strength to the wine due to the steepness of this parcel. Destemmed, 20+ days fermentation with the skins, pump over 3-4 times a day. Selected yeast is N89 (a yeast cultured from a sample naturally occurring on a large barrel 35 years ago). Closed vat with temperature controlled below 85° F. Aged in large Slovenian oak Botti with a small percentage in smaller French barrels. Average age of the Botti is 30 years. Aging is 18 to 24 months in wood and then moved to tank for at least 2 more years before bottling. A minimum of 4-5 years of aging before the wine is bottled. 

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The Grasso brothers have been making wine since before they founded the Azienda Agricola in 1970. They have been farming the same land and making wine from that land non-stop for 50 years! Nothing seems more traditional or wholesome than joining them for a walk through their vineyards. The vineyards are right out the back door and adjacent to the winery converted from the old family barn. Even though they don’t speak any English, their infectious smiles and easy-going nature make one feel right at home. With large Slavonian oak barrels that average 45 years of age, very little has changed in their approach for the last half a century. The largest portion of their land holdings comes from the Vallegrande cru which runs from the bottom of the hill at 900 ft asl., up to 1300 feet at the crown of the hill. Here Alfredo and Luigi make their flagship wine with a minimum of 30 months (up to 48 months) of aging in the large old barrels.

The Barbaresco region is often times referred to as the ‘Queen’ of the Nebbiolo grape because the wines tend to be more elegant than their neighboring Barolo (The King). Barbaresco is a third the size of Barolo and received DOC status in 1966 and later DOCG status (Italy’s highest designation) in 1980.