Palladino

Piemonte

About the Winery

Hailing from Guarene, Piero Palladino spent his youth in Alba, where he studied winemaking at the Istituto Enologico. In 1974, Piero bought the current Azienda Vinicola Palladino and entrusted its management to his cousin Maurilio, his subsequent business partner. Maurilio, together with his wife Domenica, managed the company for years, and today his experience is combined with the enthusiasm of a new generation, Maurilio's and Piero's granddaughters and their families. The Palladino Philosophy: A wine cellar is its territory: a simple philosophy, focused on the link with tradition, on respect for the terroir and the passion with which we try to communicate these values throughout the world.

Piemonte

Piedmont has fostered a serious winemaking tradition since the Middle Ages. Early references to Nebbiolo wine were documented in the castle of Rivoli in 1266 and in the village of Canale in the Roero in 1303. The region's most prized grape was also highlighted in a book of statutes in the village of La Morra in 1431, wherein a five-lire fine was imposed on anyone who cut Nebbiolo vines. Piedmont is Italy's second largest geographical region and the country's seventh largest wine-producing region. Approximately 45,000 hectares of Piedmont's 25,399 square kilometers are under vine. Piemontese wine makes up 5 percent of Italy's national production and almost 18 percent of the country's total exports. Most of the region's wine comes from small vineyards in which the growers also make the wine. In Barolo and Barbaresco, the region's most revered winemaking areas, the average vineyard is only about five acres with an output of approximately 10,000 bottles a year. Situated in the northwest, Piedmont shares borders with France and Switzerland. The region's Italian name, Piemonte, translates to foot of the mountains, which is a fitting descriptor for its subalpine location and the fact that it's surrounded by mountains on three sides - the Alps in the north and west and the Apennines in the south. The mountains create a protective barrier around Piedmont and the sub-alpine foothills offer many sunny slopes for planting the region's most-prized grape. While the sunniest aspects tend to be reserved for Nebbiolo, nearly all of the vineyards in Piedmont are planted on hills ranging in elevation from 150 to 450 meters above sea level. Very few (less than 5 percent) are officially classified as flat. The coolest sites are usually planted with Dolcetto, except in the hills southeast of Asti, where cooler vineyards are reserved for Moscato. Variations in soil composition, altitude, and aspect combined with the sub-mountainous landscape contribute to a range of mesoclimates throughout the region. source: SevenFiftyDaily

Vineyard(s)

The estate is in the territory of Serralunga d'Alba, which gets its name from the "lunga serra delle Langhe" (long greenhouse of the Langhe). The territory is characterized by limestone-clay soil that gives wines great body, with vigorous yet balanced tannins and significant potential for ageing. There are four vineyards. SAN BERNARDO Facing south-east, San Bernardo emblematically sums up the characteristics of the terroir and the specific features of a Barolo from Serralunga d'Alba. These grapes produce severe and austere wines, with vigorous tannins. We believe these grapes are best expressed in the Barolo Riserva version, which we only produce in the best vintages. ORNATO Situated near the ridge that divides the two slopes of Serralunga d'Alba, it enjoys full southern exposure. Here we obtain wines which are characterised by distinct mineral hints, with good structure and power, without sacrificing elegance and armony. PARAFADA The full southern exposure and the position sheltered from the wind ensure the excellent quality of the grapes grown in the rows of this vineyard. They produce extremely elegant and refined wines, yet always endowed with vigour and personality. BAROLO DEL COMUNE DI SERRALUNGA D'ALBA San Bernardo, Ornato, Parafada, Serra and Gabutti are the vineyards which produce the Nebbiolo grapes for our classic Barolo. They are all located in Serralunga d'Alba, all featuring different characteristics according to the exposure and the type of terrain. The variety is reflected in the wines derived from it, which are characterised by a very wide range of aromas.

Ratings & Reviews

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Barolo 'Ornato' 2021

93

The modestly sized 7ha Ornato MGA is most closely associated with the Pio Cesare estate. In fact, Palladino is the only other owner and the family holds just 0.66ha of steep, south-facing vineyards reaching almost 400m. An animated nose recalls mint, rosemary and damp forest brush. The palate is hearty but not rustic, showing the richness and ripeness of this warm site. Underlying juiciness enlivens the concentrated dark fruit core which is nuanced by balsamic herbs and cocoa. Robust tannins keep everything in place – they just need a bit more time to smooth out.