2018 Barolo Ciabot Mentin, Domenico Clerico

• Style: Luminous, structured Nebbiolo with restraint
• Taste: Ripe red fruit, rose petals, spice, silky tannin
• Food: Braised beef, game, venison, mushroom, aged cheese
• Occasion: Cellar worthy; special gifting
• Serve: 16–18°C, decant 30 mins, drink now through 2028+

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Garnet luminosity announces a wine at perfect ripeness. Swirl to find classic Barolo aromatics: ripe red fruit, rose petals and spice that reveal Nebbiolo's natural perfume. The palate is all balance—intensity without heaviness, structure without brute tannin, finish that lingers. Cool spring followed by ideal ripening in 2018 preserved acidity (6.12g/L) for ten years or more in cellar. Drinks beautifully now; ages with grace.

The Winery — Domenico Clerico

Clerico transformed regional winemaking in the late 1970s, steering Italy's Piedmont toward French technique and vineyard focus when most growers still sold fruit to cooperatives. The Ciabot Mentin sits within Ginestra, a flagship cru in Monforte d'Alba on Tortonian marl and limestone at 390–420 metres. Eighteen months split between French oak barriques and larger Slavonian vessels—traditional Barolo practice—gives structure without masking site character. Sustainable and organic farming; vegan-friendly.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Tannin and acidity cut through richness, making this a natural match for braised beef, slow-cooked game and venison, mushroom and truffle dishes, and aged hard cheese. Serve at 16–18°C; decant for 30 minutes. One of the finest examples of Nebbiolo we've found, and proof that Piedmont's greatest reds reward both immediate pleasure and patient cellaring. Perfect for gifting to serious collectors.