Region: Piemonte
Sub Region: Roero
Variety: Nebbiolo
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2023
The Wine
Valmaggiore is a magical, three-hectare, amphitheatre-shaped vineyard in the Roero area of Piemonte. Now that Roero is rising in prominence, we can truly recognise what a pioneer Luciano Sandrone was when he established Valmaggiore some 30 years ago. Nobody was talking about Roero at the time, but Sandrone recognised its potential, having worked with Roero parcels during his time as cellarmaster of Marchesi di Barolo. The risks were enormous; establishing an extremely steep vineyard (50% gradient in places) with such sandy soils (quick to dry out and erode) was always going to be a huge challenge, with no guarantee of quality. The land would also need to be terraced and replanted, requiring major investment. And all this in a place outside the Barolo region that no one believed capable of greatness. Luciano Sandrone begged to differ.
The site is farmed meticulously and organically, and strict sorting occurs each year to reach the level of purity and intensity we see in the glass. Fermentation takes place in tank, with malolactic fermentation and maturation in old French demi-muid (with 9-12 months aging). Over the years, this wine has developed a passionate following in Australia and deserves every plaudit. It is a unique wine of tremendous perfume, chalky texture and finesse, with an elegance and prettiness quite distinct from the denser, darker, more structured styles produced in the clay-rich soils of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Cellared Says
Having had a hand in blending the 2015 wine, I’m rather a fan of the Valmaggiore. The sandy soils give this wine a lightness and zip that suits Nebbiolo so well. Soft folded tannins, fine and mineral zippy acid, spice and fruit mid palette. This is the wine all Nebbiolo lovers should have in the cellar to dip into regularly without the guilt of an expensive Barolo. Every serious nebb-lover should have this in the cellar.
Reviews
“The 2023 Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore is a very pretty, aromatic wine. Crushed flowers, ripe red-toned fruit, kirsch, cinnamon, rose petal and hard candy all grace this silky, perfumed Nebbiolo. The 2023 is distinctly Pinot-leaning in its inner sweetness and mid-weight feel.”
90 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Region: Piemonte
Sub Region: Roero
Variety: Nebbiolo
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2023
The Wine
Valmaggiore is a magical, three-hectare, amphitheatre-shaped vineyard in the Roero area of Piemonte. Now that Roero is rising in prominence, we can truly recognise what a pioneer Luciano Sandrone was when he established Valmaggiore some 30 years ago. Nobody was talking about Roero at the time, but Sandrone recognised its potential, having worked with Roero parcels during his time as cellarmaster of Marchesi di Barolo. The risks were enormous; establishing an extremely steep vineyard (50% gradient in places) with such sandy soils (quick to dry out and erode) was always going to be a huge challenge, with no guarantee of quality. The land would also need to be terraced and replanted, requiring major investment. And all this in a place outside the Barolo region that no one believed capable of greatness. Luciano Sandrone begged to differ.
The site is farmed meticulously and organically, and strict sorting occurs each year to reach the level of purity and intensity we see in the glass. Fermentation takes place in tank, with malolactic fermentation and maturation in old French demi-muid (with 9-12 months aging). Over the years, this wine has developed a passionate following in Australia and deserves every plaudit. It is a unique wine of tremendous perfume, chalky texture and finesse, with an elegance and prettiness quite distinct from the denser, darker, more structured styles produced in the clay-rich soils of Barolo and Barbaresco.
Cellared Says
Having had a hand in blending the 2015 wine, I’m rather a fan of the Valmaggiore. The sandy soils give this wine a lightness and zip that suits Nebbiolo so well. Soft folded tannins, fine and mineral zippy acid, spice and fruit mid palette. This is the wine all Nebbiolo lovers should have in the cellar to dip into regularly without the guilt of an expensive Barolo. Every serious nebb-lover should have this in the cellar.
Reviews
“The 2023 Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore is a very pretty, aromatic wine. Crushed flowers, ripe red-toned fruit, kirsch, cinnamon, rose petal and hard candy all grace this silky, perfumed Nebbiolo. The 2023 is distinctly Pinot-leaning in its inner sweetness and mid-weight feel.”
90 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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