Monforte d’Alba, October 19 2022 – Autumn is the ideal season to discover the beauty of the Barolo Langhe. A unique landscape, recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, punctuated by vineyards and hazelnut groves that colour the hills with a thousand shades. Added to the spectacle of nature is the gastronomic excellence that makes this corner of Piedmont famous all over the world. Between these, the Barolo Ginestra D.O.C.G. Ciabot Mentin from Domenico Clerico, the historic winery in Monforte d’Alba that, with the 2018 vintage, celebrates the fortieth harvest of this first wine with which Clerico made himself known to the world. An intense Barolo, decisive, elegant and deep, that reveals to the nose the aromas of fresh strawberries, cherries and red orange juice which blend with notes of mint, dark chocolate and spices. The taste is harmonious with a silky tannic texture, soft and elegant. Forty years have passed since the first vintage of this wine that has written the story of the denomination and which has a fascinating story to tell: The “Ciabot” is a small house among the vines, almost a tool store, while “Mentin” was the owner (the diminutive of “Clemente” in Piedmontese dialect) from who Domenico bought the vineyard. After the purchase, the name of the vineyard remains the same, as tradition dictates, because the owners pass, but the land remains. Autumn is the highlight of the seasons in the Langhe not only to taste the wine, but also to savour another delicacy that is a symbol of the territory: the white truffle. An ingredient that adds a special something to any dish, from the most simple to the most elaborate: from buttered eggs with shavings of truffle, to risotto, up to the traditional tajarin or the raw chopped Fassona meat. Dishes to accompany with a good glass of Barolo Ciabot Mentin.
Domenico Clerico is a big name in Barolo in Italy and in the world. The history of this prestigious winery in Monforte D’Alba coincides with the story of a man who revolutionised the concept of winemaking in the Langhe, animated from a desire to experiment and attain the excellence that characterises his wines. Domenico Clerico was a precursor in the studio of Nebbiolo, but also in Barbera D’Alba and Dolcetto, the wines with which he first started to build his dream in 1976. His strong bond with the land, his untiring work between the vines and the peculiarities of his vineyards have, over the years, built a unique heritage. A legacy taken on by his wife Giuliana and taken forward by a team of collaborators led today by Oscar Arrivabene, winemaker and Director General, with complete respect for the honest and uncompromising imprint of its founder. Today the company has 21 hectares of vineyards, producing a total of 110,000 bottles every year and only cultivates the three Piedmontese grape varieties par excellence, Dolcetto, Barbera and Nebbiolo, and exports to over 40 countries in the world. The range includes 9 labels: Visadi Langhe Dolcetto DOC, Trevigne Barbera D’Alba DOC, Capisme-e Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, Arte Langhe Rosso DOC, Barolo DOCG from the Monforte D’Alba area, Pajana Barolo DOCG, Ciabot Mentin Barolo DOCG e AereoplanServaj Barolo DOCG, Percristina Barolo DOCG.
