2019 Elio Sandri, Barolo, Perno Vigna Ceretta di Perno Riserva

Elio Sandri’s minimalist approach at Cascina Disa centers on non-interventionist farming and patient cellar practices, prioritizing the raw expression of his 40-year-old Nebbiolo vines over modern oenological intervention. This Riserva is sourced from a 0.44-hectare plot in the Perno vineyard of Monforte d’Alba, defined by steep, blue marl soils with minimal topsoil that impose a distinct mineral austerity on the fruit. The 2019 vintage provided a classically balanced growing season, allowing for slow physiological ripening that preserved bright acidity and formed the backbone of the wine’s rigid, fine-grained tannin structure. Following a long, spontaneous fermentation in cement, the wine undergoes extended aging in neutral 40-hectoliter botti, resulting in a Barolo of profound concentration and structural tension. The final wine avoids excessive extraction, favoring a transparent, site-specific character that requires significant time in bottle to resolve its innate architectural density.