"Terre dei Ru" Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC 2018

Terre dei Ru, by Pier Paolo Grasso, is a Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC designed to be appreciated young but with a good structure that also allows it to age for a few years in the cellar. It is a wine that tells the story of the Langhe region with sincerity, without barrique ageing or other additions, letting the grape variety and the soil from which it comes do the talking. We are in Treiso, one of the four municipalities that make up the Barbaresco denomination, in the province of Cuneo. Here, the vines have their roots in gentle but well-ventilated hills, with a very particular soil composition: a surface layer of river pebbles favours drainage, while below, a compact clay core gives the wine structure and depth. Red wine vinification, with ageing in large 5,000 litre oak barrels. A choice that allows the tannins to soften while maintaining the freshness and purity of the fruit. In the glass, Terre dei Ru has the classic transparent garnet colour of Nebbiolo. The nose is striking for its spicy notes of black pepper and juniper berries, followed by fresher and more balsamic scents, such as mint and eucalyptus, and an undertone of wild berries and graphite. In the mouth it is elegant, full-bodied, with a well-present acidity, dense but already integrated tannins, and a savoury finish that invites you to take another sip. Ideal with substantial first courses, such as pappardelle with meat sauce, it also goes well with grilled, braised or stewed meat main courses, or with aged cheeses.