# La Scoperta Selezione Grande Barolo (2019)

- **Producer:** Famiglia Occello
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €65
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** rose, violet, cherry, plum, raspberry, black pepper, vanilla, cloves, smoke, cedar, leather, tobacco, forest floor, mushroom, tar

## About this wine

La Scoperta, meaning 'The Discovery,' is a special selection Barolo crafted by Famiglia Occello. Located in the heart of Piedmont's Langhe region, the estate focuses on expressing the nuances of the Nebbiolo grape. This 'Selezione Grande' represents a curated selection of the family's finest vineyard parcels, where the combination of clay-silt soils, high elevation, and ideal sun exposure yields grapes of exceptional concentration and structural complexity. Famiglia Occello balances respect for historical Piedmontese traditions with meticulous modern vineyard management to produce a wine that truly reflects its prestigious terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The name 'La Scoperta' translates to 'The Discovery,' celebrating the family's identification of a unique microclimate within their estate vineyards.
- Barolo is often referred to as 'The King of Wines and the Wine of Kings,' historically favored by Italian nobility.
- Famiglia Occello utilizes traditional large Slavonian oak casks rather than small French barriques to preserve the pure, floral character of Nebbiolo.

## Food pairing

Barolo requires rich, high-protein, and high-fat dishes to soften its formidable tannin structure. The high acidity of the wine cuts beautifully through rich meats and buttery sauces, while earthy elements like truffles and wild mushrooms mirror the complex tertiary development of the Nebbiolo grape.

## Wine making process

The Nebbiolo grapes for La Scoperta are hand-harvested at optimal phenolic ripeness. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with extended skin contact maceration lasting up to 30 days to extract the grape's signature tannins and color. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for 30 months in traditional large Slavonian oak casks (botti), allowing for slow, micro-oxygenation without overpowering the delicate floral and fruit aromas of the grape. The wine is then aged in the bottle for an additional year before release.