# Barbaresco Rizzi (2022)

- **Producer:** Azienda Agricola Manera Fratelli
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €38
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, rose, violet, redcurrant, black pepper, liquorice, vanilla, cedar, smoke, cloves, leather, tobacco, forest floor, wet leaves

## About this wine

This Barbaresco is crafted by the Manera family, who have been cultivating vineyards in the scenic Langhe hills of Piedmont for generations. The grapes are sourced from the prestigious 'Rizzi' Cru (MGA), a vineyard renowned for its steep, south-facing slopes and limestone-rich soils. This unique terroir imparts a distinct elegance, structure, and mineral complexity to the Nebbiolo grape, making it one of the most respected designations within the Barbaresco appellation.

## Interesting facts

- The Rizzi vineyard is one of the largest and most consistently high-performing crus in the entire Barbaresco zone.
- The Manera family winery has been operating in the heart of the Langhe region since the early 1950s.
- Nebbiolo is named after 'nebbia', the Italian word for fog, which frequently blankets the Piedmontese hills during autumn harvests.

## Food pairing

The high acidity and robust, youthful tannins of this Nebbiolo require dishes with ample fat, protein, and savory depth to soften the wine's structure. Earthy ingredients like mushrooms and truffles mirror the wine's complex, forest-floor undertones, while slow-cooked meats harmonize beautifully with its powerful frame.

## Wine making process

The Nebbiolo grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness from the Rizzi vineyard. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, accompanied by an extended maceration period on the skins to extract the grape's signature firm tannins and complex aromatic compounds. Following fermentation, the wine is aged in traditional large Slavonian oak casks (botti) for a minimum of 12 to 24 months, allowing the structure to soften while preserving the pure varietal character of the fruit.