# Colli Tortonesi DOC Timorasso "Derthona" (2023)

- **Producer:** San Barnaba
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Timorasso
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €50
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, apricot, quince, stone fruit, lemon, grapefruit, orange, blossom, butter, cream, honey, petrol, ginger

## About this wine

San Barnaba is an exciting, high-profile newcomer based in Serralunga d'Alba, Piedmont, founded in 2023 by brothers Roberto and Giovanni Pasquero alongside winemaker Francesco 'Cisky' Rocca, son of the legendary Barbaresco producer Bruno Rocca. While based in the heart of Barolo country, the team sought out a single-hectare parcel of Timorasso in Monleale, the historic cradle of the variety in Colli Tortonesi. Often referred to as the 'white Barolo' for its structure and aging potential, this wine represents a collaborative project among friends to showcase Piedmont's most compelling white grape from its finest terroir.

## Interesting facts

- Founded by Piedmont real estate brokers Roberto and Giovanni Pasquero, giving them insider access to the region's most coveted, hidden terroirs.
- The winemaker is Francesco 'Cisky' Rocca, son of legendary Barbaresco producer Bruno Rocca and one of Piedmont's top young talents.
- The wine is sourced from a single 1-hectare vineyard in Monleale, historically considered the 'Grand Cru' cradle for Timorasso.
- San Barnaba completely avoids stainless steel in their cellar, opting instead for traditional concrete and old Slavonian oak.

## Food pairing

Timorasso's unique combination of high acidity, medium-to-full body, and phenolic structure allows it to behave more like a light red wine. It pairs beautifully with rich, textured dishes that feature fat or cream, which are cut through by the wine's bracing acidity. The earthy, mineral undertones of the wine make it a perfect match for truffles and mushrooms, while its weight easily stands up to roasted white meats and rich shellfish.

## Wine making process

Farmed organically, the Timorasso grapes are hand-harvested in late September. In the cellar, the winemaking follows a low-intervention philosophy with zero temperature control. Spontaneous fermentation is carried out using 100% indigenous yeasts in wood (barriques or neutral casks) over 20 to 30 days. The wine is then aged on its fine lees for approximately six months in a combination of large neutral Slavonian oak barrels (botti grandi) and concrete tanks. It is bottled completely unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur dioxide added.