Santo Stefano (1999)

About this wine

This 1999 Barbaresco is 100% Nebbiolo from the Santo Stefano parcel in the Albesani subzone of Neive, it shows an evolved garnet color with orange rim. The nose features mature red cherry, dried rose petal, cured leather and a layer of aromatic spice with balsamic and mentholate hints typical of this site. On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied with persistent acidity, finely grained tannins and flavors of tart cherry, dried cranberry, tobacco and earthy undergrowth. The texture is resolved and silky after decades in bottle, while the finish is long and slightly savory with a mineral thread. The producer typically ferments in stainless steel with extended maceration and ages in French oak for roughly two years before bottling, facts that help explain the wine s clarity of fruit and structured but integrated tannin profile.

About the grape

Nebbiolo is the classic red grape of the Langhe, originating in northern Italy and prized for its thin skins and aromatic complexity, and Castello di Neive uses 100 percent Nebbiolo from its single vineyard Santo Stefano. Santo Stefano is a monopole in the Albesani subzone, planted in several phases from the 1960s through 2001, with mostly very old vines grown on calcareous soils at about 825 feet and a southern to southwestern exposure, which helps ripen Nebbiolo while preserving acidity. The estate works with Guyot training and low yields from vines averaging many decades, and they ferment and macerate the fruit in stainless steel with controlled temperatures to extract fine tannins before aging in French oak to refine structure. In this bottling the choice of clonal selection, old vine material, site specific calcareous soils and careful cellar handling all emphasize Nebbiolo as the sole grape and shape how the variety is expressed from Santo Stefano.

Quick facts

• 🏰 Santo Stefano is a monopole vineyard owned entirely by Castello di Neive, so the wine comes from a single estate parcel that defines its personality
• 🌳 Many of the vines in Santo Stefano were planted in the 1960s and 1970s, so bottles like the 1999 carry fruit from very mature, low yielding vines
• 🍷 In the past the grapes from Santo Stefano were famously purchased by Bruno Giacosa, a connection that helped raise the site to cult status
• ⛪ The Santo Stefano vineyard once belonged to the parish church in the 18th century, a history that helped the site keep a distinct identity through the centuries
• 🔎 Castello di Neive produces only a few thousand bottles of Santo Stefano each year, making vintages like 1999 relatively rare and sought after

Palate profile

Producer

Castello di Neive, located in the Langhe region of Piedmont, Italy, has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. In 1964, the Stupino family purchased the estate, including its historic castle, and revitalized its vineyards and cellars. The estate spans approximately 60 hectares, with 26 hectares dedicated to grape cultivation, producing renowned wines such as Barbaresco and Barbera d'Alba. Notably, the Santo Stefano vineyard, documented as early as 1742, is a 'monopole' known for its unique terroir. The winery has also been instrumental in the clonal selection of the Arneis grape, collaborating with the University of Turin in the late 1970s.