Roero Riserva Loreto DOCG 2018

The Azienda Agricola Valfaccenda was founded in 2010 by Luca Faccenda and his partner Carolina Roggera in Canale. On the steep and sandy hills of the Roero, Luca and Carolina exclusively cultivate the autochthonous Nebbiolo and Arneis grape varieties - in the firm knowledge that only grape varieties with native roots are able to authentically reflect their origin in the bottle. The two hectares owned by the estate are located around the winery near Canale, further areas on the hills Le Rocche, the landmark of the Roero, as well as in Vezza, Madonnna di Loreto in Canale, and San Grato in Santo Stefano are cultivated in lease. The soils of Roero are made up of sand, which in ancient times formed the seabed of the Gulf of Padania, sometimes mixed with clay sediments. In 2014, Luca Faccenda registered the farm for organic certification to allow his vines the best conditions for the authentic expression of Roero. 

The grapes for the Loreto Roero Bianco Riserva are harvested at the best ripeness and come from two steep sites with sandy soils in Madonna di Loreto with a south-southeast orientation. Fermentation lasts up to one month, depending on the vintage, after which the wine matures in barrels before being bottled during the waning moon of the following spring, after which it matures in bottle for another year. The first Riserva vintage was released in 2017.

Light straw yellow with bright reflections.

With restrained floral notes of white flowers, the 2018 Loreto Roero Riserva from Valfaccenda shows its balanced side. Chattiness is anathema to it, and so its fruit on the horizon only vaguely outlines a fruit basket with apples and pears, sea buckthorn, green apricots and freshly cut kitchen herbs. A handful of green hazelnuts and some liquorice calmly round off the still life. 

As taciturn as the nose, as expressive is the palate. Closed on the palate, the Loreto is firm and punchy as a striking haptic experience. With an expressive mouthfeel, the mellow fruit functions here more as a juicy side effect than as a style-defining means. Luca Faccenda, it seems, gets the maximum of spice and texture out of the Arneis and puts it into a completely different picture than one was used to from the grape variety so far. The timely aeration of the wine is strongly recommended.