Antoniolo

"...the most dynamic winemaker [in Gattinara] is Rosanna Antoniolo with markedly improved single-vineyard wines...Rosanna Antoniolo is a driving force behind the recovery in Gattinara..." -- Burton Anderson, The Wine Atlas of Italy "Antoniolo's bottles contain the best of Northern Piedmont's heritage. Hard-boned and only apparently lean, they can survive the decades while making all their greatness immediately obvious." - Gambero Rosso Italian Wines 2010 The small DOCG of Gattinara is located far north of the Barolo/ Barbaresco zones in the Alpine foothills close to Lago Maggiore. The soils of this region are more acidic than those of the Langhe, which, paired with the cooler climate and altitude, results in highly fragrant, elegant wines at their best in hot years. Few estates remain in this historic northerly zone, but tenacious Antoniolo, established in 1949, is surely the most dynamic; Antoniolo was the first producer in the DOCG to bottle cru wines, and is one of the only to bottle 100% Nebbiolo without blending in other varietals. Proprietress Rosanna Antoniolo owns over 14 hectares of vineyards in five plots, and son, Alberto and daughter, Lorella, third generation Antoniolos now supervise every stage of winemaking. The Osso San Grato, San Francesco and Castelle vineyards yield selections and the standard Gattinara while Nebbiolo Juvenia and the Bricco Lorella rose come from the Borelle and Valferana vineyards. The “Osso” yields an imposing wine with structure and longevity, while “San Francesco” is the most delicate of the trio. Partly barrique-aged “Castelle” is a forward wine with ripe, pleasing fruit and rose petal aromas. Aging requirements are the same as those for the Barolo DOCG (three years, at least two in wood.) Each of the three 2004 cru Gattinara wines received 92+ scores from the Wine Advocate and the 2005 bottling of 'Osso' was rated "Italian Red Wine of the Year" by Gambero Rosso! These wines are an excellent lower-priced, off-the-beaten alternative to Barolo or Barbaresco. (Michael skurnikwines.com)