Franchino 2018 Gattinara Piemonte

A structured and vibrant Nebbiolo from the village of Gattinara in Alto-Piemonte. This wine showcases polished dark fruit, seemingly still on the vine, and a silky palate. 

Gattinara is home to old glacial soils and Nebbiolo must work tirelessly to punch through these porphyry rocks to reach nutrients for growth. This constant struggle creates beautiful, taunt-berried wines, never more than medium-bodied, but always an evolution from first to last sip. For this Sommelier, there are two mainstays in Gattinara, Antoniolo and Mauro Franchino. Franchino coaxes a darker fruit expression from his vines than Antoniolo and a noticeable note of minerality. This is old-school Nebbiolo winemaking at its best: long macerations in concrete tank and aging in large cask. Franchino is a tiny estate led by Mauro and his nephew Alberto. They farm 3 hectar of vines for only two wines, while selling the rest of the fruit to nearby wineries.This 2018 Gattinara is strictly medium-body, with rustic edges and balanced fruit and oak. As you dig into a second glass, there is a farmhouse feel, expressed through lingering earthiness present on the mid-palate, something I do not often find in Gattinara.

WINEMAKER: Mauro Franchino and nephew Alberto Raviciotti

VARIETAL: 100% Nebbiolo

APPELLATION: Gattinara

REGION: Piemonte

IN THE VINEYARD: Sustainable viticulture

IN THE WINERY: 20 day maceration, 24 months in large cask of Eastern European wood

ABV%: 13.5

SERVE: Open and decant for 30min and serve in Burgundy-shaped glass