Piercarlo Culasso Langhe Nebbiolo 2023
- Region
- Italy » Piedmont » Langhe DOC
- Type
- red still, dry
- Producer
- Vintage
- 2023
- Grapes
- Nebbiolo
- Alcohol
- 13.5
- Volume
- 750 mL
- Cellar
- 4 bottles
Ratings
Three months on and this has sorted itself out. Or maybe just a duff bottle last time? Because that emptiness I noted has vanished. Classic, beautiful Culasso now - gentle, perfumed, charmingly floral with that juicy fruit core you expect from them. The balance is spot-on. Earthiness and wild strawberries on the palate, touches of medicinal herbs. This is Nebbiolo in silk gloves - all that varietal character but delivered with real finesse. Lovely stuff now, gentle but compelling.
Lovely, but compared to the 2022, it doesn't quite hit the same mark - most likely just too young. Very juicy, light on its feet, bursting with fruit and lifted by vibrant acidity. The tannins are still a bit granular. Strawberry, cherry, underbrush - all clean and inviting. A beautiful wine, just still gathering itself. Worth revisiting in a few months.
About Producer
Established in 2017, the family-run winery embarked on its vinification journey with a focus on crafting wines from the Nebbiolo grapes sourced from their own vineyards located in the sub-zone of Faset. The roots of winemaking run deep in the family, tracing back to the 1970s when Piercarlo's father, Dante, engaged in wine production. Piercarlo joined the family venture in 2000, dedicating several years to meticulously cultivating the vineyards. With each passing year, his expertise flourished, leading to a significant reduction in the use of chemicals in the vineyards. He used various types of green manure between the rows, tailored to the soil composition, focused on thinning practices, and took measures to prevent excessive sun exposure to the grape clusters.
The enduring objective in the vineyard has been to harvest mature yet still fresh, crisp, and uncooked clusters. In 2017, Piercarlo reignited the winemaking process, backed by the unwavering support of his family. The wines produced are a testament to the legacy of old vineyards and time-honoured traditions, passed down from father to son, resonating with the essence of their lineage.
In the winery, innovations have been embraced to yield clean, flawless wines, avoiding any excessive interventions. This approach ensures that each glass of wine embodies the clearest possible expression of that particular vintage. Recognizing that every vintage is distinct, with its own set of characteristics, it's pivotal to discern these nuances in the glass and comprehend how the grapes reacted to varying conditions presented throughout the season. Through a blend of ancestral wisdom and modern innovation, Piercarlo Culasso strives to encapsulate the purest expression of their terroir and the resilient Nebbiolo grape in every bottle crafted.
