Wine Details

La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano Riserva DOCG (Magnum)

The Riserva Valeriano magnum is a result of the utmost attention to the best grapes in the Valeriano vineyard, released after 10 years in the La Spinetta cellar. Though often considered the more austere of the Barbaresco vineyards, this wine displays a beautiful purity of fruit with ripe strawberries, citrus, and flowers, laced with aromas of herbs and spice. Full-bodied with a striking tannic backbone and beautiful concentration that lasts for minutes. The wine’s gorgeous freshness and vibrancy is maintained thanks to the time spent in magnum.

Region:

Producer:

La Spinetta Piedmont

Classification:

Barbaresco DOCG

Variety:

100% Nebbiolo

Number of bottles produced:

800 Magnums

Production area:

Valeirano, Neive

Altitude:

450 m a.s.l.

Age of vines:

46-61 years

Yield:

2,500 bottles (0.75l)

Training:

Guyot

Vinification:

Alcoholic fermentation for 7-8 days in temperature controlled roto-ferementers, malolactic fermentation in oak

Refining:

32-34 months in entirely new, medium toast French oak barrels

Alcohol content:

14.5%

pH level:

3.5

Acidity:

5.60%

Soil:

Calcareous

Harvest:

Beginning to middle of October

First vintage:

2001

Cellar:

La Spinetta, Castagnole Lanze

Bottling:

Transfer to stainless steel vats for 9 months before bottling, aging in bottle for an additional 5-6 years

Release:

10 years after harvest

Evolution:

Flavors:

A wine with tension and form with beautiful blueberry, spice and mineral character, full body, polished and chewy tannins and a long and flavorful finish

Colors:

Intense, vibrant red

Aromas:

Dense and velvety with lots of chocolate, berry and spice character

Recent press reviews

93

La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano Riserva DOCG (Magnum) 2010

Vinous Media (93)- "The 2010 Riserva Vigneto Valeirano (Magnum) is anothe rich, heady wine in this collection of 2010 Riserva releases from La Spinetta. Everything is dialed up in the Valeirano, a wine that offers tons of dense, dark fruit and plenty of power too. Tannins are imposing, but there is good depth to the fruit as well. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, leather, cloves and new French oak build into the strapping finish. "

97

La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano Riserva DOCG (Magnum) 2009

Wine Advocate (97)- "Made only in magnum and released 10 years after the harvest, La Spinetta's 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano Vürsù (Magnum) ushers forth an amazing experience based on dark fruit, spice, smoke, balsam herb and grilled rosemary. The wine has moved forward along its aging trajectory but slowly and surely, revealing carefully measured evolution on the one hand and primary intensity on the other. You feel those 10 years of Nebbiolo-aging in the mouth, where silky tannins meet a mid-weight feel with good richness and concentration."

92

La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano Riserva DOCG (Magnum) 2009

Vinous Media (92)- "The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Valeirano (magnum) is a powerful, tannic wine. White truffle, spice, leather, cedar, and sweet pipe tobacco lend striking aromatic nuance. The 2009 has aged very nicely. My only concern for the future is that it remains rather taut and that the fruit will at some point start to dry out. "