We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
About This Wine
Introduced in 2015, Busso’s Gallina Viti Vecchie is drawn from a small parcel of 1953 vines planted in the heart of the Gallina cru. The soil in this part of the vineyard is rich in calcareous clay (bluish-grey marl), but there is also some sand. Piero Busso describes this wine has having more depth, structure and enveloping fruit than the younger-vine cuvée. Consequently, the grapes are macerated for up to 60 days with a submerged cap and the aging is in large Slavonian oak casks for 36 months, prior to another 36 months in bottle.
The result is an exceptional, old-school Barbaresco that gets better and better with air. It’s dark, brooding and tightly wound now, yet with air there are more and more florals and pretty red and dark fruits. The finish is long and savoury with a deep structure that say’s “stick me in the cellar!”
Type | Red Wine |
---|---|
Varietal(s) | Nebbiolo |
Country | Italy |
Region | Piedmont |
Brand | Piero Busso |
Vintage | 2016 |
Wines of Piedmont
In the North-Western corner of Italy, with a backdrop of the visually stunning Alps, Piedmont is a great place to visit for wine tourism. It is also home to some of the most sought-after wines in the country.
Nebbiolo is the region’s most prestigious grape variety, a red variety not seen much in Australia. Wines made from this grape are powerful with remarkably high levels of tannins but a balancing acidity. The Piedmont region offers the grapes with a reliable autumn fog that provides a cooling effect which is particularly beneficial to the growth of Nebbiolo. This pre-harvest fog (“nebbia” in Italian) is actually where the grape’s name comes from. The fog is vital in that it prolongs the time spent on the vine and allows the grapes to achieve full ripeness.
The most famous examples of Nebbiolo come from the appellations (subregions) of Barolo and Barbaresco, known for their ability to age well, firm tannins and distinct smell of tar and roses. Barolo is a big tannic expression of Nebbiolo, while Barbaresco only about 15km away makes a more elegant style. Barolo wines are generally the more expensive of the two and are known to cellar for decades.
By volume however, Barbera is the most planted red grape in Piedmont. This grape makes a juicy, low tannin but high acidity easy-going red. Perhaps somewhat like a lighter style Shiraz.
While there are quite a few white varieties planted in the region, the most notable is Moscato d’Asti, made in a sparkling style in the Asti subregion.