(Day 8)
Our first appointment in Piemonte was at E. Pira in Barolo.
This estate was just a short walk from our hotel. The weather on the last day of October was slightly foggy and pleasant in Barolo.
E. Pira is a family estate, and its leading person is Chiara Boschis, who is one of the first female wine makers in Barolo. Her family acquired the estate in 1981, and currently Pira makes about 25,000 bottles/ year.
Chiara is a wonderful storyteller and it was very interesting to learn about her passion and philosophy in winemaking in person.
We tasted the following wines:
(barrel samples)
2010 Barolo, “Cannubi”…from the famed cru in Barolo village
2010 Barolo, “Mosconi”…from Monforte d’Alba
(bottles)
2010 Dolcetto d’Alba
2009 Barbera d’Alba, Superiore…from Monforte d’Alba. Using older barrique.
2009 Langhe, Nebbiolo
2007 Barolo, “Cannubi”…vines were replanted in 1990
2007 Barolo, “Via Nuova”…from Barolo village
Her Barolo are so called “modern-style”, with the use of French barrique for aging. But, the oak is not overpowerling, as she normally use 1/3 new oak combined with older oak barrels.
After the tasting, we all walked to Via Nuova vineyard right behind the estate. The soil is covered with goat manure from France (Chiara said it’s very expensive). She picked some leftover grapes from a vine for us to taste.
I thought Chiara was an inspiring person, and I enjoyed the visit.
E. Pira is a family estate, and its leading person is Chiara Boschis, who is one of the first female wine makers in Barolo. Her family acquired the estate in 1981, and currently Pira makes about 25,000 bottles/ year.
Chiara is a wonderful storyteller and it was very interesting to learn about her passion and philosophy in winemaking in person.
We tasted the following wines:
(barrel samples)
2010 Barolo, “Cannubi”…from the famed cru in Barolo village
2010 Barolo, “Mosconi”…from Monforte d’Alba
(bottles)
2010 Dolcetto d’Alba
2009 Barbera d’Alba, Superiore…from Monforte d’Alba. Using older barrique.
2009 Langhe, Nebbiolo
2007 Barolo, “Cannubi”…vines were replanted in 1990
2007 Barolo, “Via Nuova”…from Barolo village
Her Barolo are so called “modern-style”, with the use of French barrique for aging. But, the oak is not overpowerling, as she normally use 1/3 new oak combined with older oak barrels.
After the tasting, we all walked to Via Nuova vineyard right behind the estate. The soil is covered with goat manure from France (Chiara said it’s very expensive). She picked some leftover grapes from a vine for us to taste.
I thought Chiara was an inspiring person, and I enjoyed the visit.
