THE WINE
Ruby-red, almost transparent color. Ripe fruit on the nose; plum, forest floor, and tobacco. Full-bodied, with powerful and chewy tannins. The mouthfeel is clean and bright with a return of spice notes. Great freshness and persistence.
"Aeroplan Servaj" (wild airplane) is the name of Domenico Clerico's latest Cru Barolo, created as a tribute to his father, Clemente, who gave Domenico this nickname. Made from Nebbiolo grapes from a vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba, the wine distinguishes itself from other Barolo wines both in its characteristics and in its packaging: six different labels are contained in a wooden box, with the legend of the wine's name on the outside.
Please note: the wine is delivered as standard as a package of 6 bottles with 6 different labels and in a wooden packaging (photo 2).
Collector's item par excellence
RP 96+ - JS 93 - Decanter 93
DOMENICO CLERICO
Just as almost every legendary Barolo winery has its own unique story, this is certainly true for Domenico Clerico in Monforte d'Alba, on the border with Barolo. Poverty was rampant in the region, and no one had yet become rich from selling Barolo. After much hesitation, he took over two hectares of vineyards and two hectares of peach trees from his father in 1976. In a document certifying the acquisition of the farm, he noted: "...the land on which we live has a value that we do not yet fully understand..." This proved to be a moment of tremendous foresight.
Today, the winery owns 21 hectares of vineyards in the most prestigious crus such as Bussia, Ginestra, Pajana, and Mosconi, and its wines are highly sought after worldwide. The great visionary himself sadly passed away too soon in 2017. His top-quality Barolo Percristina commemorates his daughter, who died at a young age. The Barolo Ciabot Mentin is named after the former owner of Lage Ginestra. The Barolo Aeroplanservaj is named after the nickname his father gave him, which loosely translates to "lively rascal." Somehow, Domenico has always remained that rascal: mischievous, quirky, and humorous. The same applies to the labels. Because he admired all the designs of a Florentine artist, Servaj's Aeroplan is only available in a wooden box containing six bottles, each with a different label. These art boxes have been very popular with collectors for years.
Domenico was a modernist and a pioneer in all things progressive. He was also 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. Specifically for this market, the Clerico winery still produces a Langhe Rosso, which is aged in new barriques. Clerico's pioneering of trends has certainly benefited them. The traditional approach taken ten years ago, where Barolo wines were largely aged in large (butte) barrels, has proven another golden opportunity, giving the company an additional boost in quality. It's not without reason that Domenico Clerico's Barolo wines routinely receive 92+ ratings from leading wine journalists. Since Domenico's death, his wife, Giuliana Viberti Clerico, along with the highly skilled oenologist and winemaker Oscar Arrivabene, has continued the winery's operations, safeguarding and, where possible, even improving its quality. The vineyards and the cantina itself were bequeathed to his niece Cecilia and nephew Orlando. They took their first steps in the iconic cantina left to them by their uncle a few years ago. They have big shoes to fill, but judging by recent developments, the Clerico winery has a bright future ahead of it.
