L'Insieme Langhe Rosso 2020 (Giovanni Corino)

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. L'Insieme is a solidarity project started in 1997 żeby 7 winemakers from the Langhe area (Elio Altare, Giovanni Corino, Silvio Grasso, Fratelli Revello, Mauro Veglio, Gianfranco Alessandria, and La Morandina), with the aim of financing social projects. Each producer chooses the varieties to use in their blend and the winemaking techniques, but the wines then share the same label. The Langhe Rosso L’Insieme wine from the Corino winery is a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are harvested and vinified separately, at a controlled temperature. After fermentation, the wines rest separately for 18 months in French oak barrels. Then, after blending, the finished wine is aged in steel for 6 months and left to rest for another 6 months in the bottle. The wine has a ruby-red color with violet reflections. Its aromatic profile is broad and elegant with intense aromas of ripe red fruits, notes of vanilla, and some vegetal hints. On the palate, it is round and rich, with light tannins and a well-balanced acidity. The finish is long and pleasantly warm. It pairs perfectly with red meat, game-based first courses, and medium-aged cheeses.