Domenico Clerico : Briccotto 2008

Tasting characteristics and tips for the Briccotto 2008 from Domenico Clerico

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a dark, deep hue, reflecting its concentration.

Nose

The bouquet reveals beautiful aromatic intensity, with slightly evolved notes of dried cherry, licorice, white truffle, and toasted hazelnut. The whole expresses a character that is both dark and exuberant.

Palate

On the palate, the wine unfolds remarkable inner elegance, combining grace, power, and length in a harmonious balance. The tannins are fine and perfectly integrated, delivering a silky texture on the finish despite the wine’s evident concentration.

Food and wine pairings

This Briccotto 2008 pairs ideally with braised red meats, notably beef braised in red wine or slow-cooked lamb. Mushroom-based dishes, especially those featuring white truffle, create outstanding harmonies. Game and wild boar also make excellent matches. For more approachable pairings, opt for pasta with Bolognese sauce or a mushroom risotto.

A Monforte d'Alba Barolo crafted by a revolutionary Piedmont producer

The estate

Domenico Clerico founded his estate in 1976 in Monforte d'Alba, transforming the family’s five-hectare holding into a benchmark wine property. A central figure in the “Barolo Boys” movement, he revolutionized Barolo production in the 1980s and 1990s by introducing modernist techniques while maintaining deep respect for the terroir. After his death in 2017, his widow Giuliana Viberti Clerico now runs the estate alongside winemaker Oscar Arrivabene and cellar master Gianmatteo Rainieri. The estate spans around 21 hectares across several prestigious crus in Monforte d'Alba, internationally recognized for their exceptional quality.

The vineyard

The vines for the Briccotto 2008 from Domenico Clerico come from plots in Monforte d'Alba, one of the most prestigious communes in the Barolo appellation. The vineyards are planted between 320 and 410 meters above sea level on soils composed mainly of Sant’Agata fossil marls. This geographic position gives the wines a powerful structure and depth characteristic of Monforte d'Alba. The estate has practiced organic viticulture since the 1980s, with deliberately limited yields through green harvesting to concentrate grape quality.

The vintage

The 2008 vintage in Piedmont stood out for a return to classic weather conditions after two decades of warmer vintages. Following a very cold winter, the growing season began cool and wet. The crucial period from late August to late October benefited from warm days paired with cool nights—ideal conditions for Nebbiolo. This combination allowed sugars and phenolic ripeness to build while preserving bright acidity. The 2008 vintage produced classically structured Barolo, with vibrant acidity and a tannic framework that demands patience while promising outstanding aging potential of ten to twenty years or more.

Winemaking and aging

The winemaking of the Briccotto 2008 followed the principles established by Domenico Clerico, favoring the expression of fruit and terroir. The grapes underwent an extended skin maceration of twenty to twenty-five days. Aging took place over three years in barrels, with continual tastings to select the best lots for blending into larger casks, followed by two years in 25-hectoliter casks and a minimum of five years in bottle before release.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo