Cannubi is perhaps the most famous hill in Italy and is the most celebrated and prestigious vineyard with the Barolo designation. Historically, it is the oldest Italian cru when it was recognized in 1752. All the elements including altitude, exposure, soils, layout, and microclimate come together to result in a Barolo at the top of the designation. Lying on a steep slope, Cannubi was the first vineyard in Langhe to be terraced. Cannubi means ‘wedding’ or ‘marriage’ as the wines marry the two unique soils and styles of Barolo, combining the Tortonian-era soil of western Barolo that produces silky tannins and a fruity style with the Helvetian-era soil of eastern Barolo that creates a bolder and more tannic style wine.
Michele Chiarlo owns 4.5 acres of the vineyard with vines that are over 20 years old set in Tortonian and Helevetian-era calcareous marl. The terraces maximize an exceptional hillside exposure with a more than 50-degree gradient. The vines are thinned of excess bunches at the end of summer, leaving 5-6 bunches per vine on average. Hand harvested grapes are fermented on the skins in oak vats and then aged for three years in medium sized oak barrels before 3 years of refinement in the bottle.
The 2016 vintage will be remembered for a long time for its rare quality of excellence. It was a harvest characterized by a climate that followed the normal patterns of the seasons, without meteorological anomalies, producing very healthy grapes and allowing them to reach a perfect and uniform ripening in the classic time frame. An excellent vintage.
Deep garnet red in color, this extraordinarily complex and elegant wine has excellent structure, silky tannins, and notes of red berries, rose petals, licorice, rhubarb, gentian, and fine sweet spices. The captivating finish is harmonious and persistent.