Winner of Italy's Best Young Winemaker back in 2014, Gian Luca Colombo is one of the leading lights in the Piedmont region. Alongside consulting for a number of the region's estates he produces very small quantities of wine under his own label, following organic and biodynamic principles in his vineyards. His style is always to let the vineyard speak louder than the winemaking, in his words: 'More than “producing” wines, I interpret the vineyards, trying to transfer what they have to say without censoring them.' Wanting to diversify his farming, he also grows spelt to make pasta and is adding fruit trees and forest to increase biodiversity around the vineyards.
His Barbera is among the finest we have come across here at Butlers, a stunningly balanced wine of clear ripeness with beautiful purity. From two vineyard sites in Alba, one 86 years old and the other 45-80 years old. These octogenarian vines lend the wine the complexity, depth and concentration that come with maturity. Spontaneously fermented, given a long maceration on skins and aged in large Austrian oak barrels for at least 12 months.
Deep and sensuous, with red cherry, dark plum and blackberry fruit, wild herbs and lots of spicy aroma. On the palate it is full, with lots of structured tannins and firm acidity giving it brilliant shape and length. A wine ready for osso bucco, roast venison or mushroom risottos and with great potential to mature if desired.