Antoniolo Gattinara DOCG Riserva Alto Piemonte – 2020

Alto Piemonte – literally “higher (or upper) Piemonte” – is a small, hilly wine region situated between Turin and Milan in northern Italy.

The Antoniolo winery is the most famous in Gattinara, and their Osso San Grato vineyard produces one of the best respected wines in all Alto Piemonte; it is a former winner of Gambero Rosso’s “Wine of the Year”.

The winery was founded in 1948 by Mario Antoniolo, grandfather of current owners Alberto and Lorella. Their mother Rosanna worked tirelessly for many years in between to raise the image of both Gattinara and the Antoniolo’s wines, contributing enormously to the prestige and recognition the winery earns today. Like most wineries in Alto Piemonte, Antoniolo are small, owning twelve hectares in total in the Gattinara DOCG, of which only ten are planted with vines. Their soils are volcanic, which gives a noticeable minerality and bite of freshness to the wines. All their reds are made from 100% Nebbiolo. 

The family’s Gattinara Riserva comes from six hectares of Nebbiolo vines averaging 60 years old, planted on south facing slopes just to the west of the town. It was fermented in cement tanks using wild yeasts with a very gentle maceration of the skins. The wine was then aged for at least 36 months in large 30hl Austrian or French oak casks and matured for a further 12months in bottle in the winery before sale.

Tasting note

Garnet red, with aromas of red fruits, autumn leaves and cigar tobacco.

Medium to full bodied, fresh, elegant and very complex in the mouth, with gentle flavours of dark cherry combined with tobacco, leather, herbs and spices. Firm acidity and tannins which are nicely integrated with the deep dark fruit flavours. A fairly serious/traditional style Nebbiolo which opens up beautifully over time in the glass. 13.5% alcohol.

Enjoy with a mushroom Risotto made using the local Arborio rice and Carneroli mushrooms.

1670 cases were produced. Drink 2026 – 2045.