Mantoetto Barolo Fracassi 2014/15

Umberto Fracassi Barolo from the ancient town of Cherasco, not far from the more famous Barolo town of La Morra is like the Burgundy equivalent of this great region. It is subtle and elegant and has a lovely soft warmth at its heart which wraps you up and keeps you cosy on cold winter nights. Production is traditional all the way, 35 day macerations, long aging in 'botti', indigenous yeast. Umberto, now in his late seventies is actually the 'Marchese' of his town, very apt indeed as Barolo is the 'Wine of Kings, King of Wines'. His presonality is reflected in his wine, warm and humble but with underlying complexity and great ageing potential.

The winery was started in the mid 1800s, before being taken over after the war by Umberto Fracassi, and his family still run the winery today, with respect for tradition and the highest quality and some of the Piemonte's most prestigious appellations, including the Mantoetto Cru Barolo. Indigenous yeasts are used, and large botti for ageing the Nebbiolos, rather than the modern tradition of smaller barrels.