Domenico Clerico : Ciabot Mentin 2022

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Ciabot Mentin 2022 by Domenico Clerico

Tasting

Colour
This wine reveals a deep garnet hue, which takes on subtle orange glints over the years.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with floral notes of dried rose and violet, mingled with aromas of black cherry and ripe red and black fruit. Subtle touches of tar, liquorice and dried herbs, along with balsamic nuances, further enrich this complex palette.

Palate
Powerful and endowed with great structure, the palate reveals a firm, tight-knit tannic framework in its youth. Carried by lovely natural acidity, this wine unfolds a texture that becomes velvety with time, stretching into a long, savoury and deeply mineral finish.

Serving and ageing

Built for very long ageing, this Ciabot Mentin 2022 is a wine that calls for patience. While it can be cellared for several decades to develop complex tertiary aromas, it will gain in finesse and elegance over the years.

The structured, mineral expression of a Barolo wine

The estate

Founded in 1976 in Monforte d'Alba, in Piedmont, the Domenico Clerico estate is an essential benchmark. Originally a small family farm, the estate was transformed by Domenico, a leading figure of the modernist movement, who showcased the local terroirs through a rigorous plot-by-plot approach. Today, the property covers some twenty hectares and is run by his wife, Giuliana Clerico, together with the family and technical director Oscar Arrivabene. The estate thus upholds a philosophy centred on precision and deep respect for the identity of indigenous grape varieties.

The vineyard

This wine comes from a historic plot planted in 1978 in the upper part of the prestigious Ginestra cru, at altitudes of between 390 and 420 metres. Facing east, these vines benefit from slow, steady ripening. The soil consists of fossil-rich Sant'Agata marls, made up of sand, silt and clay, with a high proportion of active limestone. This great Barolo terroir is farmed according to the principles of organic agriculture, with controlled yields to ensure optimal concentration in the grapes.

Vinification and ageing

After hand harvesting and rigorous double sorting, first in the vineyard and then in the cellar, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled tanks. The ageing is extended, combining French barriques for precise oxygenation, followed by a period in large Slavonian oak casks. This Italian wine then undergoes additional bottle ageing before release.

Grape variety

Nebbiolo (100%).