Castello di Neive Santo Stefano Barbera d'Alba 2020

Cellar for up to 6 years. No need to decant before serving.

The castle of Neive is a stunning 18th century building set in a historic medieval village in the heart of the Langhe. The area is renowned for its structured Nebbiolo-based Barbaresco as well as the more approachable Barbera d’Alba which tends to have softer tannins and less intensity. The Stupino family have owned the Castello di Neive winery since 1964 and today they have around 20 hectares of vines planted with these local grape varieties.

Their most prized vineyard is Santo Stefano which was used as a hunting ground and left to grow wild for many years until Giacomo Stupino came along in the 1960s. He quickly saw the potential of the site and planted both Nebbiolo and Barbera d’Alba vines here. It is now considered a “monopole” or single vineyard appellation. The vines here are between 30 to 40 years old and tend to produce concentrated, aromatic fruit as the vines have to dig deep for moisture and nutrients.

Zingy red berries dominate on the nose, such as cranberries, redcurrants, and sour red cherries, while the first sip reveals a bright acidity, smooth tannins, and a medium body. The vibrant flavour profile of this youthful wine makes it a great match for tomato-based dishes with plenty of acidity as well as hard cheeses.