A powerful, elegant Nebbiolo from the legendary Cannubi vineyard site in Piedmont – a sleeping giant with enormous ageing potential and unmistakable terroir expression.
Bottler: Az. Agricola E. Pira & Figli, Via Vittorio Veneto 1, 12060 Barolo / Italy
In the glass
Colour
Brilliant, dark cherry red with dense core and delicate violet reflections
Nose
Sour cherry, blackberry and plum, complemented by rosehip and red fruit tea; alongside spicy notes of cigar box, tobacco and mixed pepper as well as ethereal herbs such as sage, thyme and pine
Palate
Silky-smooth fruit, fine-grained, structure-giving tannin, vibrant yet never intrusive acidity; linear minerality, balsamic nuances and a long, elegant finish with a hint of cocoa
Character
Sublime and multi-layered – a great, still young Barolo with profound ageing potential that rewards patience and decanting; subtle, precise and of the highest class
Pairing
Venison roast with nut crust and lingonberries, grilled tomahawk steak with Romanesco, lentil stew with foie gras and hazelnuts
Notes
From just 0.7 ha of the prestigious Cannubi vineyard site on calcareous Tertiary soils; 30–40% lower yield in the 2020 vintage; maturation in lightly toasted barriques (30% new wood) for maximum terroir expressivity; micro-production of only 3,774 bottles and 340 magnums
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Brilliant, deep cherry red with a dense core and delicate violet reflections – youthful, vibrant and of impressive depth.
Nose
A sleeping giant that demands time and patience – a decanter and a large glass are essential. Those who wait will be rewarded: sour cherry, blackberry and plum unfold with noble restraint, accompanied by fresh rosehip and red fruit tea. Spicy notes of cigar box, light tobacco leaves and colourful pepper lend complexity, whilst sage, thyme and parsley open up a herbal, almost ethereal dimension. Pine, cypress and a hint of fir round out the picture – mineral, earthy, charged with tension.
Palate
Sublime and suffused with quiet power. The fine-grained tannin coats the mouth completely – structure-giving, never harsh. The fruit glides silky-smooth across the palate, always subtle, rather crisp than opulent. A fine-boned, precise acidity sets the pace without imposing itself. The mineral line runs linear and seemingly endless through the wine – concentrated, clear, unshakeable. Balsamic and ethereal nuances stand in perfect harmony.
Finish
Lingering for minutes, elegant and sustained. In the closing, a fine hint of cocoa joins in – the crowning conclusion of a great wine.
Terroir & Origin
The vineyard site Cannubi is considered one of Barolo’s absolute Grand Crus. Chiara Boschis manages just 0.7 hectares here on tertiary limestone soils, just under 300 metres above sea level, with a south to south-westerly aspect. The 2020 vintage brought a slow, regular ripening process through cool September nights and sufficient daylight – with a yield reduction of 30–40 % compared to a normal year.
Grape Variety & Vinification
Nebbiolo at 100 %, fermented in stainless steel with regular remontage and pigeage. Maturation in small barriques of French oak, lightly toasted, with approximately 30 % new wood. Followed by one year in bottle. The philosophy: let the origin speak, not the winemaking. Harvest on 22 September 2020; only 3,774 bottles and 340 magnums were bottled.
Food Pairing Recommendations
A wine for grand tables and equally grand dishes: venison roast with nut crust, bread dumplings and lingonberries, grilled tomahawk steak with Romanesco and sweet potatoes or an elegant grey lentil stew with goose liver and hazelnuts.
Special Characteristics
This wine is a long-distance runner – today still closed and uncompromising, it will reveal its full potential only in a decade or more. Those who open it now should approach it with a decanter and time. Those who lay it down will be extraordinarily rewarded.
EN 
DE 
FR 
IT 
