Davide Carlone, Boca 2013

From two hectares of vineyard in the Volcanic hillsides of Boca, 450 metres above sea level. A blend of 85 % Nebbiolo and 15% Vespolina, aged in large used Slavonian oak casks for two and a half years before bottling.

Davide Carlone's winemaking roots stretch back as far as the 1880s. Since 1989 Davide has been hand tending his family's small holding of 3.5ha - or in fact, by Boca's standards, a rather large holding. For the entire vineyard surface area of this forgotten part of the Alto Piedmonte has dwindled down to a mere 15 ha devoted to Boca production. When industrial jobs in Turin and Milan became more appealing, people deserted the land, vineyards died and forest took over. Interest or investment in expanding the vineyard area once more has been slow to come, such is the work and cost involved of uprooting trees on sheer, rocky hillsides. However we are delighted that growers such as Davide are keeping the place alive. The vineyards here are magical, the highest in Alto Piemonte, at 450 metres above sea level and with volcanic soils, influenced by their proximity to the Alps. Davide is blessed with old vines, particularly the 80-100 year old Croatina, which he is passionate about getting the best from, in the most environmentally friendly and sensitive way as possible. He is as hands off as possible in the winery allowing spontaneous ferments and ageing the wines either sur lie in steel tank for the Colline Novasresi wines or large used slavonian oak botti for the Bocas. The resultant wines offer a classical beauty, crisp structures and high definition red fruit flavours and spicy balsamic notes. The Bocas in particular can be austere in their first flush of youth but blossom with age.