The big news from Piemonte in 2018 was Roberto Conterno’s acquisition of Gattinara's venerable Nervi estate, adding its iconic vineyards to Francia, Cerretta and Arione as jewels in Piemonte’s greatest crown. And as Roberto’s California importer for all of his wines, we were deeply honored to add Nervi-Conterno to our own portfolio.
 
Roberto's estate and cru Gattinaras are, of course, the marquee attractions within the Nervi-Conterno portfolio. But for many of us, his Il Rosato has been equally exciting. Made entirely from estate-grown Nebbiolo, Il Rosato towers above just about any other rosé you can think of ... from anywhere.

Fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees in tank for four months, Il Rosato possesses exactly what you'd expect in a great rosé: delicacy and minerality, yet with the depth to make you think you're drinking a red wine. 

But Il Rosato also has something other elite rosés don't. It has the haunting perfume of Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo.
 
Rebirth of a Great Rosé
Longtime Nervi devotees know the estate is famed for its Rosa—a pale, fragrant blend of Nebbiolo and a local grape called Uva Rara. But Roberto felt that an even more expressive rosé could be made by eliminating the Uva Rara. And he was right.
 
But the wine is not only expressive of Nebbiolo, it also vividly communicates the nuance of Gattinara’s steep, high-elevation slopes and their volcanic gravel soils. And there’s something else that gives this noble terroir the potential to make world-class rosé: wide diurnal temperature swings, the warm days bringing the fruit to full ripeness, while the cool nights preserve freshness and acidity.
 
The result is a delicate Nebbiolo of kaleidoscopic complexity, beautiful minerality and unusually long life. Don’t miss it.