La Miraja | Grignolino D'Asti '22

Working within the castle of Castagnole Monferrato, La Miraja was constructed as an armory in the 11th century, only to be retrofitted as a cellar in the 1400s. In this armory-turned cellar, Eugenio Gatti, a seventh-generation viticulturist, turns out Barbera, Grignolino, Freisa, and his fabled old vine Ruché. This has long been considered the top site of Castagnole Monferrato—the epicenter of Ruché production and the first of seven villages granted permission to produce single-varietal Ruché under the DOCG.

Producer: La Miraja

Grapes: Ruché

Origin: Italy, Piedmont, Asti

Vintage: 2022

Alcohol: 14%

Farming/Winemaking: Organic. silt and loam soils rich in calcium carbonate. Hand picked, destemmed, basket pressed in stainless, on the skins for 10 days. Native yeasts, and spontaneous Malo fermentation.  Ages 3 months in Cement vessels, then 4 months in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Notes: This is a wild one with many layers of potent memories percolating to the surface.  It has an insane bouquet of jasmine, violet, and cardamom and as you sip its a swirling potpourri reminiscent of grandma’s floral hugs.  Its quite a journey but you stick the landing with a wonderfully dry spicy finish