Colombera & Garella "Melascone Rosso" Piedmont, Italy 2022

FROM PORTOVINO:

THE WINE: 100% Melascone (Nebbiolo). Melascone was the local dialect name for Nebbiolo around Biella, but it was also short hand for referring to the everyday ‘vino rosso.’ So, even though this is Colombera & Garella’s base wine, it really has all the hallmarks of their great Bramaterra and Lessona bottlings, precise Nebbiolo aromatics, and that salty-minerality. They monitor the maceration closely each vintage to make sure the tannins aren’t too strong, and so the wine is ready to drink on release. The Croatina gives some extra fruit, and the Vespolina some extra spice. What a great wine to enjoy casually the greatness of Nebbiolo and Alto Piemonte terroir!

THE PRODUCER: 300 million years ago, a volcano created the raw material for seven tiny but geographically complex appellations collectively known as Alto Piemonte, an area about two hours northeast of Barolo and Barbaresco, literally at the ‘foot’ of the Alps. After years of abandon, this once great bastion of Italian wines is now being revitalized by a few key producers. This is an area to explore, for the glory that’s Nebbiolo, and also the unique volcanic soils, which makes more finely etched, and lower alcohol, wines that neighboring Barolo and Barolo. Colombera & Garella’s winery and vineyards in the Bramaterra and Lessona appellations.