Among the vineyards of Nebbiolo at Tenuta Carretta, the storied winery in Piobesi d’Alba, those planted in the Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva “Bric Paradiso” in Roero are distinguished for their ability to showcase a particular, and lesser-known, face of this wine. The soils of marine origin – poor in organic matter and rich in mineral salts – the predominantly sandy composition of the soils, the steep slopes of the vines and the important daily temperature range which is accentuated in the last stages of maturation gives the Roero DOCG wines that originate here ample and intense aromas, structure, finesse and the elegance renown in the great wines of Piedmont. These characteristics are coupled with the distinct terroir of the Roero that may seem unusual in a Nebbiolo. However, it is just further proof that vines grown on the left bank of the Tanaro benefit from the soils left from millions of years ago, which we know from the abundance of fossils found, when the area was the seabed of the Padano Sea. All of this amounts to a Roero DOCG appellation, which also bears the label of “Riserva” due to a long ageing in barrel and bottle. The 2013 vintage is remembered for an unusually late harvest, so much so, that the last of the Nebbiolo grapes were harvested in the first week of November.
A spring with below-average temperatures and plentiful rainfall slowed down the vegetative growth of the vines and required attentive care in the vineyards to ward off plant diseases caused by the excess water. Then, in September and October, there were consecutive warm and clear days which helped to balance vine growth and ensure proper ripening of the grapes. This turn in climate resulted in a harvest of much higher quality than expected given the circumstances. In particular, the Nebbiolo grapes proved to be some of the best of that year, showcasing the aromatic terroir that distinguishes it. This is all thanks to the contrastof hot days and cool nights that occurred in the last phase of ripening.