Langhe Nebbiolo

HISTORY  The family estate of Piero Busso is a leading name in Barbaresco for its dedication in reflecting the natural elegance of Nebbiolo from Neive.

 

Indeed, of all the “big” names in Barbaresco, it is Busso who makes true wines of the soil, each carefully selected cru telling the honest, generations-deep story of why this part of Piedmont is so enchanted.

Piero Busso’s father planted in 1948 by hand the Nebbiolo vines that today wrap around the family’s house and cellar in cru ‘Albesani.’ Now Piero’s son, Pierguido and daughter, Emanuela, work side by side with their father and mother, Lucia, in crafting the family’s wines.

Three of the estate’s four crus – Albesani, Mondino and Gallina — are located in Neive, where Barbaresco’s highest-altitude vineyards are found. The fourth, San Stunet, is in Treiso, at the southern end of the appellation.

What is striking when you taste these Nebbiolo wines is not a “house” style but a symphony of flavors and textures unique to each vineyard. This is not “baby” Barolo, but Barbaresco writ large, standing proudly apart with its suave tannins, silky texture and endless depth.

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING  Three of the family’s cru vineyards are located in Neive (Cru Albesani Vigna Borgese, Cru Mondino, Cru Gallina) and the fourth in the south near Treiso (Cru San Stunet). Neive’s vineyards are some of the highest-altitude plots in Barbaresco; wines from Neive are also known for their suave tannins and elegant, aromatic profiles.

 

Vineyards are cared for according to organic principles, and the estate as of the 2019 harvest is officially certified. The family plants cover crops between vine rows to control pests and moderate vine growth. Most work in the fields is performed by hand, by Piero Busso and his son, Pierguido.

Grapes are harvested by hand in small crates and destemmed before fermenting on indigenous yeasts in either temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks or wooden cask fermenters, called “tine.” Macerations are long and slow, for some wines up to 60 days. Wines are aged in large, neutral oak casks (“botti”), and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The Bussos select younger vine fruit for this gorgeous Langhe Nebbiolo wine, redolent of red roses and cherries and wave after wave of baking spices. Truly too good.

Aromas of ripe red cherries and red roses, light baking spices.  Plush and juicy, with bright cherry and plum flavors.  Long.