Domenico Clerico – Barolo Pajana – 1999

Talking about Domenico Clerico is a bit like talking about the history of Langhe, he was able to believe in the dream of a viticulture characterized by high quality production, capable of discovering the unexpressed potentialities of his land and since the seventies he focused on the production of quality wines. Together with a small group of winemakers, later called Barolo Boys, they revolutionized the way of producing wine. Two symbolic and striking gestures marked a watershed in the world of Langhe: thinning in the vineyard and the introduction in the cellar of French barriques, small barrels very different from the huge woods used by traditionalists. Clerico’s wines express this philosophy made of valorization of the vine, exaltation of the vintage and deep understanding of the territory. In the winery, Clerico’s philosophy is to use barrique as an instrument to improve the wine, to exalt structure, not to distort its characteristics. Therefore the choice can only fall on light, light, delicate toasting which respect the raw material, which can change according to the wine to be obtained. Today the winery has 21 hectares (21 acres) in the best cru of the appellation and after Domenico’s death, the winery is in the hands of Giuliana, his life companion who saw the birth of the project and carries on her husband’s work with the help of a great team which has always supported them. The Pajana vineyard takes its name from the old road that runs along the top of the hill, an ancient passage that connected Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga, a vineyard planted in 1971 by Domenico Clerico in the Ginestra cru. Pajana has gained its own notoriety and identity, made of structure and a softer tannin than other Ginestra areas thanks to lower altitudes and cooler exposition. The Barolo produced by Clerico winery is a fantastic expression of this cru, austere, ethereal, in the mouth shows a great balance and very fine tannins.

• Producer: Domenico Clerico
• Name:Barolo Pajana
• Grape Variety: 100% Nebbiolo
• Vintage: 1999
• Alcohol Content: 14,5%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Productive Notes: Maceration for 20-30 days. Aging 24-30 months in barriques, 80% new and 20% second passage.