Domenico Clerico : Percristina 2014

Tasting notes and serving tips for Domenico Clerico’s Percristina 2014

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays an intense garnet-red hue, reflecting the grapes’ concentration and phenolic ripeness.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity. It opens with notes of small red berries, notably cherry, alongside nuances of brandied cherries. Elegant floral aromas of violet and rose petals gradually unfold. With aeration, the bouquet evolves toward refined tertiary notes of dried tobacco, faded roses, licorice and garrigue. A mineral dimension emerges in the background, evoking granite, river stone and crushed Alpine rock.

Palate

On the palate, this Barolo stands out for its power and assertive structure. The palate unveils cherry flavors alongside orange zest and fennel. Fine, well-extracted tannins give the wine a beautiful framework while preserving a generous, fruit-driven flesh. A mineral thread runs through the entire tasting, underscoring the wine’s linear structure. The finish lingers impressively with persistent impressions of dried herbs, dark fruit and subtle minerality.

Food and wine pairings

Percristina 2014 is an ideal match for grilled or braised red meats, notably beef with mushrooms. It also pairs perfectly with game meats such as venison, slow-cooked beef preparations, and dishes featuring Alba white truffle.

Serving and cellaring

This wine can be enjoyed now, especially if you appreciate the structured tannins characteristic of Nebbiolo. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes before serving will help soften the tannins and fully reveal the aromatic complexity. Serve at a temperature between 18 and 20°C. Percristina 2014 has cellaring potential of at least an additional ten to fifteen years.

An iconic Piedmont Barolo from an outstanding terroir

The estate

Founded in 1976 by Domenico Clerico, the estate has established itself as one of Piedmont’s essential benchmarks. Domenico Clerico, an iconic figure of the “Barolo Boys” movement, revolutionized Piedmontese viticulture by combining modern techniques with a deep respect for terroir. After his passing in 2017, his widow Giuliana Clerico took over the estate, supported by winemaker Oscar Arrivabene. The estate owns parcels in the most prestigious crus of Monforte d'Alba, notably Ginestra, Pajana, Mosconi and Bussia. The estate’s philosophy is rooted in the authentic expression of each terroir, with a particular focus on quality rather than production volume.

The vineyard

Percristina 2014 comes from an exceptional parcel located in the Mosconi cru, in Monforte d'Alba, one of the eleven communes of the Barolo appellation. The vineyard enjoys a due south exposure at an altitude between 390 and 410 meters. The soils are composed of clay with a low percentage of sand, belonging to the Helvetian formation of Marne di Sant'Agata from the Tortonian, dating back around ten million years. The vines, planted in 1955 and acquired by the Clerico family in 1995, were therefore nearly sixty years old at the time of the 2014 harvest, giving the wine exceptional complexity and concentration.

The vintage

The 2014 vintage in Piémont proved particularly demanding for winegrowers. The year was marked by excessive rainfall, notably in July, raising concerns about grape ripening. Fortunately, weather conditions improved from late August onward, with warm, sunny weather that lasted through the harvest period. This favorable turn allowed Nebbiolo grapes to reach satisfactory ripeness and appropriate phenolic development. Despite the climatic challenges, the most talented producers succeeded in crafting elegant wines that demonstrate their technical mastery.

Winemaking and aging

Percristina 2014 was harvested by hand in October, allowing for rigorous selection of optimally ripe bunches. The grapes then underwent an extended maceration of 20 to 30 days in rotating tanks, promoting maximum extraction of color, tannins and aromatic compounds. The wine was aged for three years in 225-liter barrels, 80% of which were new or one-wine barrels. After this first phase, the wine was transferred to large 50-hectoliter oak casks for a further 24 months of maturation. In keeping with the estate’s philosophy, Percristina then benefited from approximately five years of bottle aging before release, for a total of about ten years of maturation from harvest.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo