Brezza, Barolo 'Cannubi'

Alcohol percentage: 14.5%

Area:
“If there were a classification in Piedmont similar to the one in Burgundy, the Cannubi vineyard would be considered one of the very few Grand Cru that exist in Barolo.
Furthermore, and with little debate, Cannubi would easily be among the most famous Crus in all of Italy. The vineyard itself, as a parcel of recognized land, dates back to the 1700s. Wine has been made from this soil for generations. As best known, the oldest surviving bottle in the world is preserved in Bra by the Manzone family. The bottle bears the words “Cannubi 1752”. This rare and precious heirloom establishes the reputation of Cannubi prior to the recognition of the Barolo zone. Yes, you read that correctly. Cannubi predates Barolo.
Encompassing a mere 37 acres, the vineyard is not large by any definition. This has spurred many emotional and heated debates in the Langhe as producers argue over the precise boundaries of Cannubi. Eleven families own portions of the vineyard and producers, seeking prestige and the increased revenue the name provides, wish to have the coveted word “Cannubi” on their wine labels. In 2013, this debate found it’s way to the Italian Supreme Court in Rome, where the firm Marchesi di Barolo successfully lobbied to have Cannubi’s boundaries increased; thereby enlarging the vineyard to 84 acres. Reaction was swift, argumentative and may not be finished.”
John Fodera, US wine writer.

Grape variety:
100% Nebbiolo given a long (3 week) fermentation/maceraiton on the skins, before 2 years ageing in huge, old Slavonian oak barrels – all very traditional.

Producer:
Brezza are based just outside the small town of Barolo and have around 30 hectares of vines, spread across 20 different vineyards. Family owned since 1885.

Maturity potential:
Will steadily improve to 2029, then hold for 10 more years beyond that.

The Bottle Shop rating:
Young, of course, but this is seductively ripe already (by Barolo standards).