Barolo Riserva 'La Foia' Nadia Curto 2015

Barolo Riserva "La Foia" offers us the chance to read Nadia Curto's interpretation of the more distinctly traditionalist aspect of her work in the cellar.
Nadia Curto's Barolo Riserva "La Foia" originates from Nebbiolo grapes grown in the east-facing part of the Arborina vineyard, the additional geographical mention extended over the territory of the municipality of La Morra and located at altitudes between 270 and 300 metres above sea level. The steep slopes combine with the peculiar lithological composition, essentially formed by the blue marl layers of Sant'Agata Fossili, to create a decisive draining effect that is beneficial to the natural concentration of extractive substances in the fruit. The varietal's characteristic late ripening normally pushes harvesting into the month of October, although the continuous environmental warming now tends to bring operations forward to the month of September. Harvesting is carried out by hand in small crates, with yields of around 65 quintals per hectare, and the bunches are destemmed and crushed, starting fermentation through a pied de cuve created using only indigenous yeasts. Manual pumping over and punching down is carried out daily, while maceration on the skins proceeds for about 20 days, at the end of which racking in steel tanks gives freedom for malolactic fermentation to take place. Maturation in large oak casks of 20 and 30 hectolitres takes 36 months, until, in the summer months of the fourth year after the harvest, the Riserva is bottled without clarification or filtration. It will spend a final year of ageing before leaving the cellar.
Nadia Curto's Barolo Riserva 'La Foia' has a rich, distinctly garnet colour with almost explosive orange reflections. The aspect heralding great classicism consistently introduces a nose characterised by intense ethereal effluvia, indicative of a composed evolution in the emergence of dark cocoa tones and warm tones of leather and tobacco. The peculiar floral of dog rose is still alive and intriguing the spicy pungency combined with balsamic depth. The full, austere taste represents a message of great elegance, masterfully balanced between the alcoholic softness, the integrated tannic texture, the marked freshness and the long mineral closure.