Not so long ago, Luciano Racca, from Domenico Clerico, came
to see us. It was a short while before we started what has become our biggest
and most successful Italian En Primeur
campaign to date. Having tasted the
whole gamut, it is now quite clear that the 2007s across Piedmont are nothing
short of sublime. They combine intense fruit profiles with high-toned aromatics,
sumptuous ripe tannic structures with fresh acidities. They really do have
everything going for them, and anyone with a serious interest in fine wine to
lay down, Barolo lover or not, should probably have at least one case in their
cellar. (yes I know we are bound to say that, but in all honesty, it is true!)
Domenico Clerico's wines have long enchanted us. They have a
certain magic and are undoubtedly some of the most characterful in all of
Piedmont. Indeed they share this in common with their maker. They have always
appealed to lovers of big bold Barolo, parading huge fruit profiles and
luscious textures, whilst never losing their all important sense of place; for
all the inherent `Clerico` style to the wines, they never seem to lose their
sense of terroir.
His newest releases, the 2007 Barolos, are I suspect the
best I have tasted at this estate. There appears to be all of the character
that these wines are known for, but perhaps a greater sense of elegance and hightoned
fruit. And this refers to the Barberas
and Dolcettos as well. In this short
video, we asked Luciano what, if anything, might be changing at this great Barolo
estate.
