Generations making wine, a century of harvests, a family that almost becomes one with its land and unites year after year around its vineyards, facing difficulties and joys all together, in an atmosphere made up of eloquent silences, patience and respect for nature and its fruits. A little of all of this but not only is the Monchiero family, which has been producing Barolo for generations in the vineyards of Castiglione Falletto and La Morra (province of Cuneo).
It all started with the grandparents, Vittorio Monchiero recounts today over a glass of his Barolo, who already had one hectare in Roere di Santa Maria before the war. The sons, Remo and Maggiorino did not abandon the lands like many others and as part of the family who emigrated to America, but bought more hectares of land and in 1971 bottled their first Barolo. Vittorio, Maggiorino's son studied oenology in Alba and the 90s arrived when the ancestral vineyards were replanted and the land adapted to the most modern viticulture techniques. After marrying Daniela, today precious and tenacious coordinator of the entire production chain and of the farm owned by the family, in 1999 the purchase of Rocche and Roere di Santa Maria, in the localities of Montanello and Pernanno, the Monchieros have their own Cru.
The company today it has vineyards for a total of 12 hectares in the heart of the Barolo area, vineyard landscape recognized as a World Heritage Site. Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, Arneis, Moscato are the vines bred with passion and skill by Vittorio. Production is around 40 bottles a year, with 80% of the production sold abroad, particularly in America, Australia, Northern Europe and a little in Asia. A great economic value that of the Barolo lands, but - says Daniela Monchiero, answering the question if they are tempted to sell while tasting Barbera 2017 and Nebbiolo 2017 ("an amazing vintage", respectively 9 euros and 12,50 euros in the cellar) , we take care of the children, we do not sell. Today the son Luca is already in the company while the second son Stefano finishes his agricultural studies to continue in the wake of the family tradition, that of Barolo.
So here we are in front of a glass of Barolo 2016 Rocche di Castiglione (a production of about 2800 bottles, with a price in the cellar of around 32 euros) combined with a flan of Castelmagno on a reduction of red wine, with late radicchio and pears cooked in the saffron served at the Roman restaurant Il Ceppo which hosts the tasting. Elegant, refined in the bouquet, this Cru has a magnificent freshness that plays with the power of its tannins. The chestnut flour ravioli stuffed with wild boar served on scorzonera fondue and parmesan crumble goes well with the glass of Barolo Castiglione Falletto 2016, immediate in the aromas of hazelnut and roses, with persistent tannins.
And the Barolo Roere Santa Maria 2015 is captivating (it comes from La Morra and 3000 bottles are made, about 30 euros in the cellar). With braised beef cheek served with cauliflower cream you can taste the Barolo Rocche di Castiglione 2015, (5000 bottles, 30 euros in the cellar) which when the vintage is good, it is also made in reserve. A true "nectar of the gods" refined on the nose, with soft and sensual tannins. It deserves a toast, in a few words in the Piedmontese way, in the name of the elegance and refinement typical of the king of Italian wines.
Monchiero Wines Farm
Via Alba – Monforte 49
12060 Castiglione Falletto (CN)
Phone: +39 017362820
monchierovini@monchierovini.it
