Domenico Clerico, who died in 2017, was one of the leading figures of Barolo's modern turn in the 1980s, one of the so-called Barolo Boys alongside Elio Altare: green harvesting, shorter macerations and barrique ageing. Ciabot Mentin is his most famous Barolo, from the Ginestra cru in Monforte d'Alba; in Piedmontese a ciabot is the little hut among the vines.
Ginestra is one of Monforte's great slopes, facing south, on calcareous marl that gives powerful, long-lived wines. At the time of this vintage Clerico aged Ciabot Mentin in French oak barriques, the signature of his style.
2008 is a classic, cool vintage with a late harvest that produced taut, very long-lived Barolos. Today the wine is mature: cherries in spirit, dried rose, liquorice, tobacco, dark spice and well-integrated oak, with dense tannins and a long finish. Pair with braised meats, game and truffles.
At a glance: Nebbiolo 100% · 14.5% ABV · 0.75 l · Domenico Clerico, Monforte d'Alba