La famiglia Saffirio boasts two centuries of oenological tradition in Monforte d’Alba. Yet the wines remain an insider’s find. Those lucky enough to have discovered this Piemontese gem know Josetta Saffirio holds an enviable reputation for charming, authentic, terroir-expressive wines. Factor in site prestige and meticulous farming, and the value is hard to beat. We’re delighted to offer a selection of Saffirio’s wines from two excellent vintages. From 2021―a vintage “shaping up to be exceptional”, according to Antonio Galloni―come Nebbiolo and Barbera. The Barolo hails from classically-styled, much-hyped 2019, a harvest that produced “potent, tightly wound wines that will thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo” (Galloni again). Excitingly, we have also secured a small allocation of the estate’s Riserva. Drawn from a small selection of vines planted by Sara Vezza’s grandfather in 1948, this deeply cast, powerful, structured Barolo is as rare as hen’s teeth. Current custodian Sara Vezza is the dynamic, force-of-nature vigneron behind one of the most respected and sustainably minded estates in Monforte d’Alba. Vezza was raised among the vines and has been ensconced in the family business since she was 19. She’s devoted to the land, and under her leadership, this has become a carbon-neutral, organic-certified estate. Only light machinery is used to prevent erosion, yields are strictly controlled, and a large part of the estate’s land has been left as an eco-park to promote native flora and fauna. The estate has five hectares in Barolo, predominantly in Monforte d’Alba, and a further five hectares of Barbera and Nebbiolo vines outside the Barolo appellation in Roddino. Vezza curates the fruit from these prime pieces of Piemonte real estate into the pure, mineral and beautifully structured wines we offer today. The below wines are not available for sale through our website. please contact Paul for more information or to place an order. The Wines 2021 Josetta Saffirio Barbera d'Alba Superiore DOC 23183-750 $59.00/bt or $53.10/bt as part of a case The fruit comes from high, southeast-facing sites in Monforte d’Alba. The soils are loaded with minerals and limestone, lending a chalky tone to the savoury, berry-rich flavour profile. The fruit was picked by hand, destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. It matured in wooden cask for 12 months. Bright, fresh and full of complex flavours, the notes below capture this charming wine well. “A quiet nose leads to woodland notes, porcini mushrooms and lacy lichen on mossy logs. Wild raspberries, soft as silk. Pine needles, wind through cedar, and the sweet-green-red scent of sun-ripened vine tomatoes grown on soil as dark as shadow. A wine rich in earth tones with a wild, fey sweetness of tiny, scarlet-berried fruits carrying piccolo, wind-lifted acidity. Tannins that feel and taste like dry mountain herbs, crumbling to tisane in the mouth. This is wonderful.” 17 points, Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com 2021 Josetta Saffirio Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 23182-750 $66/bt or $59.40/bt as part of a case The Langhe Nebbiolo is made using fruit from the estate’s (comparatively) younger vines on the hillside slopes in Monforte d’Alba. Here, the vines face southeast and are rooted in soils rich in minerals and limestone. Handpicked fruit was destemmed and gently pressed to tank for fermentation. Maceration was short—just 10 days—and the wine matured for 12 months in large-format oak. Fresh, crunchy and pure-fruited, with savoury nuance, plush mid-weight appeal and nippy tannins, this is Langhe Nebbiolo in fine form. “This wine opens with aromas of sour cherry, raspberry, rose and roasted earth giving way to a palate that is elegant and refined. Mixed red fruits dance with savory spice, herbs and underbrush finished by fine tannins and balanced acidity.” 91 points, Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast 2019 Josetta Saffirio Barolo DOCG 23181-750 $127/bt or $114.30/bt as part of a case Saffirio’s five hectares of Barolo are predominantly located in Monforte d’Alba in the MGAs of Castelletto, Perno and Bussia, with another parcel nearby in Ravera (Novello). Altitudes range from 300-400 metres, and the sites face south and southeast. The slopes in the area are quite steep, meaning bud break and, consequently, harvest tend to be quite late. The soil here is elveziano (Helvetian) and contains ancient marine deposits toward the surface. This, along with signature short macerations (10 days!) and maturation in large wood and concrete, contributes to the elegant, restrained, mineral-tinged style of Barolo the house is known for. “A wine that seems to pause in your mouth, before flooding it; fruit first, then a fretwork of intricate tannins. Morello cherry, wild strawberries, coffee bean, truffle. A forest wine; even the fruit seems to have the texture of deeply fissured bark; the top notes pull vertical, as if reaching for the sky, for light; the base notes draw into the shadows, to the forest floor, to aeon layers of leaves. Graceful, quietly composed beauty. Everything unsaid.” 17.5 points, Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com 2017 Josetta Saffirio Barolo Castelletto Millenovecento 48 Riserva DOCG 23184-750 $256/bt or $230.40/bt as part of a case The Millenovecento 48 Riserva comes from the Saffirio estate’s oldest Monforte vines. Planted in 1948, the southeast-facing vines sit in calcareous silt at 380 metres. The roots run deep, and yields are extremely low; just 2000 bottles were made in 2017. The exception to Saffirio’s short maceration norm, Millenovecento 48 spends 90 days on skins, developing deep colour and assertive structure. The wine then matures for two years in oak, followed by two more years in concrete. It’s a powerful, deeply cast Barolo, rich in flavour and structure and a perfect pairing for a great steak or even strong-flavoured, hard cheese. “Warmed fruit leather and dark red fruits entice the nose, accompanied by bay leaf, dried roses, and a hint of pine forest. The palate unveils a captivating interplay of sweet fruits and elegant tannins, creating a harmonious and refined drinking experience. A well-structured wine with depth, complexity, and undeniable allure. Drink 2026 – 2040.” 93 points, Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast