The colour is a vivid garnet red. The aroma is intense, with clear scents of dog rose, vanilla, liquorice and spices, and a vague hint of pine resin and tobacco. Full and elegant taste, good body, prominent tannins. Pleasant spicy and woody notes that merge perfectly together.

95  POINTS R. VECCHIONE

94 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST

98 POINTS FIVE STARWINES VINITALY

Sarmassa is exposed to the south-east, on the side of a hill with a good slope. Although the surrounding area dates back to the Tortonian geologic age, the soil here has typical Serravallian characteristics, also because the slope led to abundant surface runoff: it is a predominantly silt-clay soil, very firm, with a significant percentage of stones. The abundance of stones, associated with clay, limits the vegetative growth of the nebbiolo grape variety and makes the vines quickly feel the effects of variations in climate, thus favouring the perfect ripening of the grapes.       

Pairing Suggestions: It goes well with traditional egg pastas from the Langhe (tajarin and Angolotti del Plin), with roasts, boiled meats, braised meats and game. It is ideal for sipping alongside goat cheeses and hard ripened cheeses.

Maturation: After racking, the wine begins a period of clarification and rest in vitrified concrete tanks, before continuing maturation in wood. The evolution lasts abouttwoyears.Duringthe firstyearthewinematuresinsmall French oak barrels, with the aim of fixing the color and increasing the aging potential; the percentage of new woods is perfectly balanced to maintain the identifying characteristics of this Cru unchanged. The second year the wine ages in large Slavonian oak barrels in which the characteristics of finesse and elegance are enhanced. The complete expression of the wine is obtained after a period of atleast1 year of rest in the bottle.