Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche Del Falletto 2005

Winery: Bruno Giacosa

Varietal: Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is not necessarily a particularly easy grape to cultivate. Indeed, its very late ripening time often means that yield is very low, and they are also quite susceptible to various diseases and forms of rot. However, in their native Italy and in many other countries around the world, wineries persevere with this varietal due to the fact that few other grapes can produce wines as wonderful, complex and flavorful as those made with the Nebbiolo grape. These grapes offer a beautifully pale red juice, packed full of intense flavors such as truffle, violet and prune, making them a real treat for serious wine drinkers looking for a sensory experience not to be forgotten. They are also renowned for their affinity for aging, which allows their strong tannins to mellow and compliment their stunning flavor.

Region: Piedmont

n Italy, the region most closely associated with excellent quality red wines and characterful sparkling wines is Piedmont. This alpine region is located in the north-west of the country, and features beautiful foothills of the impressive mountain range which forms the nearby border between Italy, France and Switzerland. Wineries in Piedmont work with the Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera grapes which thrive in the warm, dry summers and cooler autumns, as well as the beautifully expressive Moscato grapes which are used for the sparkling Asti wines the region is famed for. For generations, these wineries have perfected the art of aging their red wines, and blending grape varietals to get the most out of each one, leading to a region known all over the world for the exceptional quality of its produce.

Country: Italy

It isn't difficult to understand why Italy is famed not just for the quality of its wines, but also for the vast variety and range of characteristics found in the wines there. The terrain of the country varies wildly, from the lush rolling green hills and valley of Tuscany, to the sun drenched rocky coasts of Sicily, the mountainous and alpine regions of the north, and the marshy lowlands of the east. Italy really does have a little bit of everything. Combine this huge range of landscapes with an almost perfect climate for grape cultivation, and you have a country seemingly designed for viticultural excellence. The results speak for themselves, and it is clear to see that wine has become an inseparable part of Italian culture as a result of its abundance and brilliance. Each village, city and region has a local wine perfectly matched with the cuisine of the area, and not an evening passes without the vast majority of Italian families raising a glass of locally sourced wine with pride and pleasure.

Appellation: Barolo

There are few wine producing countries in the world quite as famous or loved as Italy, and within Italy, one small region seems to stand head and shoulders above all others. The hilly, misty sub-region of Barolo is home to many of Italy's finest traditional wineries, and it enjoys a reputation for excellence and quality unmatched by any other place in the country. The secret to Barolo's success is down to the mineral rich soils and cool, foggy climatic conditions which allow the Nebbiolo grape to grow so well, and express so much flavor and complexity. As such, the red wines of Barolo have become a benchmark for high quality, traditionally made and bottled Italian wines, and are dearly loved all around the world.