2021 Moccagatta - Barbaresco (750ml)

Moccagatta has farmed the Langhe foothills of Piedmont since the 1800s, and the estate today is run by Sergio Minuto alongside his daughter Martina, who continue a hands-on approach shaped by generations of local knowledge. Best known for a trio of single-vineyard Barbaresco crus, Bric Balin, Cole, and Basarin, the family has built a reputation for polished, site-focused Nebbiolo without ever expanding beyond Barbaresco and Neive.

This entry-level Barbaresco is a blend rather than a single cru, drawing fruit from the Muncagota and Ronchi vineyards in Barbaresco itself, along with Cottà and Basarin in neighboring Neive. The parcels sit at slightly lower altitude than the estate's cru sites, with a mix of sandier ground and richer, clay-based soils that together give a more approachable, early-drinking style. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented separately by vineyard, then the finished wine ages a relatively brief twelve months in barrique before bottling, with production held to around ten thousand bottles a year.

The wine shows bright primary aromas of redcurrant, rose, and wild strawberry, with a finely textured palate that stays graceful through a glossy, medium finish. Serve it with braised veal shank, porcini-topped polenta, or aged Toma cheese.