Domenico Clerico - Barolo Briccotto Bussia DOCG 2021

Aromas of red cherry, cinnamon, anise, and leather, with subtle earthy notes. Refined and layered on the palate, with a chalky texture, ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, elegant finish. An exceptionally precise Barolo with great finesse.

Pairs beautifully with game birds and slow-cooked beef. Also excellent with tajarin ragù, mushroom risotto, and other dishes featuring wild mushrooms. Serve at 17 °C.

Just as almost every legendary Barolo winery has its own special story, this is certainly true for Domenico Clerico in Monforte d’Alba, on the border with Barolo. Poverty was widespread in the region, and no one had yet become wealthy from the sale of Barolo. After much hesitation, in 1976 he took over two hectares of vineyards and two hectares of peach trees from his father. In a document regarding the takeover of the farm, he noted: "...the land on which we live has a value we do not yet fully understand...". This proved to be incredibly visionary.

The winery now owns 21 hectares of vineyards in the most prestigious crus such as Bussia, Ginestra, Pajana, and Mosconi, and its wines are in enormous demand worldwide. The great visionary himself unfortunately passed away too soon in 2017. His top Barolo, Percristina, serves as a reminder of his daughter, who passed away at a young age. The Barolo Ciabot Mentin is named after the former owner of the Ginestra site. The Barolo Aeroplanservaj is named after the nickname his father gave him, which loosely translates to "lively rascal." In one way or another, Domenico always remained that rascal: mischievous, idiosyncratic, and humorous. The same applies to the labels. Because he liked all the designs by a Florentine artist, the Aeroplan Servaj is only available in a wooden case of six bottles, each with a different label. These art boxes have been very popular with collectors for years.

Domenico was a modernist and at the forefront of everything that signaled progress. He was one of the first winemakers to experiment with barriques and rotofermenters, something that made his wines very popular in the American market at the time. Especially for this market, the Clerico winery still produces a Langhe Rosso, which is aged in new barriques. The fact that Clerico was ahead of the trends paid off handsomely. The traditional path taken ten years ago, in which the Barolo wines were largely aged in large casks (botte), has also been a golden move that gave the company an extra quality boost. It is not for nothing that Domenico Clerico’s Barolo wines standardly receive 92+ ratings from leading wine journalists. Since Domenico's passing, it is his wife, Giuliana Viberti Clerico, who continues the winery alongside the extremely capable oenologist and winemaker Oscar Arrivabene, ensuring and where possible even increasing the quality. The vineyards and the cantina itself were bequeathed to his niece Cecilia and nephew Orlando. For several years now, they have been taking their first steps in the iconic cantina left to them by their uncle. Big shoes to fill, but judging by recent developments, the Clerico winery has a bright future ahead.

Coming from Briccotto in Bussia Soprana in Monforte d’Alba. The nine rows are situated at an altitude of approximately 330 meters, have a southern exposure, and were planted in 1965. The sandy, loamy, and clay-rich soil contains a high amount of active limestone and fossil-rich Marne di Sant’Agata.

Traditionally made from Nebbiolo. Briccotto is only produced in years when conditions are exceptionally good. The wine is made for long bottle aging, with elegance and the character of the small plot at its core.

The 2021 combines ripe tannins, fresh acidity, and a firm structure with great finesse. A wine that opens slowly and is excellent for long-term bottle aging. Cellar-worthy until approximately 2045–2050+.