2018 Montaribaldi Perno Barolo

The Barolo DOCG Perno is a red wine produced with Nebbiolo grapes from the DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) area of Barolo. The vineyard's perfect exposure, combined with the specific characteristics of the climate and soil, results in an exceptionally elegant and long-lasting wine. The vineyard is located in the most beautiful part of the Barolo DOCG, in the municipality of Monforte d'Alba. The wine is named after the Perno vineyard. The vineyard is situated at an elevated altitude of 395 meters above sea level with a southerly exposure. The soil consists of fossilized marl of S. Agata – grayish-blue marl (more or less sandy) and is highly calcareous. The vineyard covers only a few hectares and was planted in 1980. The perfect exposure, combined with the specific characteristics of the climate and soil, results in an exceptionally elegant and long-lasting wine, and this Perno is undoubtedly Montaribaldi's flagship Barolo. The wine is extremely scarce, and even we, as importers, can only obtain a handful of cases, and this wine is only produced in the top (Barolo) years.

Nebbiolo is a late-ripening grape variety, and the grapes for this superb Barolo are harvested in the first half of October. Once in the winery, the grapes are destemmed and crushed, then placed in stainless steel thermo-conditioned tanks where alcoholic fermentation takes place. Alcoholic fermentation lasts for a good 10 days at a temperature of 28-30°C. The wine then remains in contact with its lees for at least another two months while malolactic fermentation completes. The wine is now ready and must mature in peace. This is done in oak barriques, with approximately 60% in new oak and 40% in one-year-old oak barrels for 36 months. Montaribaldi's vision is for oak to refine the wine, provided it is not excessive. The Barolo Perno is then bottled, but remains in Montaribaldi's cellars for at least another six months. Montaribaldi is a specialist in terroir wines, not a chemistry factory. Luciano believes that good wine should come from a good vineyard, and a vintage should reflect the terroir. We fully support this.

In the glass, this Barolo Perno has the typical light red color with orange reflections at the rim. The nose offers beautiful notes of wood, leather, espresso, a touch of forest floor, ripe fruit, and spices. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with fresh acidity and refined, beautifully present tannins that are not bitter but very well integrated, a good indication of the long life this Barolo Perno will have. We recommend decanting or opening the wine at least two hours in advance. This wine needs at least six years to fully develop. The winery's great success stems from tradition and innovation, enabling them to produce beautiful wines of exceptional quality year after year. The wine pairs perfectly with roasted meats, savory cheeses, and, of course, truffle dishes. This is a wine with excellent aging potential.

FACT: In the tab: Attachment, you'll find the official fact sheet for this fine wine. We'll automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll also receive a nice discount. We're located almost next to the Rijksweg with ample parking. Click here for the address.

BAROLO VS BARBERESCO

Piedmont—synonymous with truffles, risotto, and, of course, delicious wines!—is considered one of Italy's finest wine regions. The local terrain, soil, and weather conditions produce some fantastic wines. Among the red wines, Barolo and Barbaresco are world-renowned, powerful, age-defying wines. Although Barolo and Barbaresco are made from the same grape, Nebbiolo, and produced in neighboring areas less than 10 miles apart, the wines of Barbaresco and Barolo have several distinctive differences.

The Barbaresco region is located south of the Tanaro River, and due to its location, the region enjoys a slightly higher average temperature, allowing the Nebbiolo grape to ripen slightly earlier than in the Barolo region. The young tannins in a young Barbaresco are often not as harsh as those in Barolo, and under DOCG regulations, Barbaresco is permitted to be released for sale a year earlier than Barolo. The most striking difference between the two wines is that Barbaresco's tannins tend to soften more quickly, making the wine more accessible at a younger age than Barolo. The Barbaresco region is smaller than the Barolo region, with an annual production of approximately 35% of Barolo's, which means that Barbaresco is not as widely available on the market.

FACT: In the "Attachments" tab, you'll find the official fact sheet for this fine wine. We'll automatically send it to you when you order it. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount . You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht, just off the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.