Barolo DOCG “Bricco Manescotto” 2018 – Giovanni Corino

To produce the Barolo DOCG “Bricco Manescotto” Giovanni Corino the berries underwent five to seven days of maceration in temperature-controlled rotary fermenters at 25-30°C, then fermentation took place in stainless-steel tanks. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was moved to French oak barriques (225 litres) of which 35% were new and 65% were used (second- and third-passage) for 24 months. The wine was transferred to stainless-steel tanks for final blending and stayed there for six months. Finally, the wine spent a year in bottle before release.

The Bricco Manescotto vineyard is located in Frazione Annunziata, in the commune of La Morra, on the border with Castiglione Falletto. The vineyard sits at 240-260 meters above sea level and enjoys an ideal south-western exposure. The soil is mainly calcareous and clayey with some traces of sand. Vines are Guyot pruned, Corino have replanted a part of the vineyard but the oldest vines here are 40 years old.

Like many producers in La Morra, the Corino family started off as mezzadri, when Celeste Corino moved to La Morra in the early 1950s. His son Giovanni continued in the same vein and focused on viticulture, acquiring most of the vineyards that comprise the present-day property. Grandson Giuliano, the present owner, started working on the family estate in the mid-1980s. Giovanni had primarily been selling grapes, but Giuliano was determined to start making and bottling his own wine. The wines they make are wonderful expressions of the prime sites planted just below La Morra, where the estate’s nine hectares are cultivated.