Boca DOC Le Piane 2011

Boca DOC Le Piane 2011

LE PIANE

In the 90s, and together with enologist Alexander Trolf, Christoph Kuenzli visited Boca and its forgotten vineyards and both became enthusiastic about the region and it’s excellent potential. At that time we became acquainted with Antonio Cerri, one of the last winegrowers to produce the typical and outstanding Boca wine. In view of his advanced age, more than 80 years old, Antonio Cerri handed over to us his small vineyard (0.5 hectares), cellar and his old vintages. We seized the opportunity and step-by-step acquired further small plots of forest. Like a jigsaw, the property developed to become a whole. The best areas of Boca – 4 vineyards with about 1.5 hectares (4 acres) each – were cleared and replanted with Nebbiolo and Vespolina vines. “Le Piane” now has an area of 8 hectares (20 acres) of vineyards, 2 (5 acres) of them with old vines.

Sadly, Alexander Trolf was killed in 1998 in a road accident and did not live to see the results of this successful development. His ideas and dreams, however, remain in the “Meridiana” vineyard that he had replanted. The prominent yellow house there has become the company’s logo and thus symbolizes a new beginning. A group of international friends of wine culture is financing the project, which is leaded by Christoph Kuenzli and his team of 5 persons in Boca. They grow the grapes, process them and sell the wines all in the summer.

BOCA DOC

Consists of Nebbiolo (85%) and Vespolina grapes. This wine requires full maturity and is treated in the barrel for 3 to 4 years, and can then be stored for decades. The mineral composition of the porphyritic soil together with the characteristic structures of the Nebbiolo grapes allow “Boca” to become a full, expressive wine. Its flavour reminds one of well-matured forest fruits, violets, tobacco and dried herbs with hints of balsam and citrus fruits. Power and a silky elegance will develop in the mouth, fascinating and playful, with a slightly noble and bitter final note. The vast complexity of taste allows one to discover new facets over and over again. Our Boca can mature and refine in bottles for up to 10-20 years.

Vineyards:

Yield per hectare ca. 3000-4000 kg

Old vineyards (30 – 50 years) at Traversagna, in Prato Sesia, and at Le Piane (old vineyard of Antonio Cerri). New vineyards (plantation 1998-2004) in the best sites of Boca (Mottosergo, Meridiana, Valvecchi and Traversagna). Vineyards in rows with guyot system and 5000 plants per hectare. The ground consists of porphyr gravel (of vulcanic origin) of a pink colour and full of minerals without any organic and calc, south exposure. Surface of vineyards 4.5 hecatres.

Winemaking:

Long fermentation with the skins (30 days) in open steel and wood casks (2000-3000 litres) with natural yeast. The skins are pushed down 1-2 times a day by hand (Follatura a mano). After pressing, the wine remains for 3 years ripening in big oak-wood (slavonian wood) barrels (2000-3000 litres). The malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in spring after harvest in the wooden casks. Bottling after 3 years with very soft filtering and after 12 months ripening in the bottle before sales.

Characteristics:

• Colour: Deep ruby ​​red with purple reflections
• Scent: Hints of violets, berries, citrus and pomegranate, delicate balsamic tobacco perfumes
• Taste: Structured and powerful, elegant and complex, with a long finish

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