Socré

For a long time, Socré exclusively sold their grapes to local farmers who made wine for their own enjoyment, as well as to neighboring wineries.  Since 1999, they have ramped up their wine production exponentially and brought the winery into the 21st century.

This small estate owns vineyards in Roncaglie, one of the Grand Crus of Barbaresco D.O.C.G. area. The vines (with ages ranging from 10 to 50 years) are planted with a density ranging from 4,500 vines per ha up to 6,000 vines per ha.

Owners: Marco, Giulio, and Lorenzo Piacentino

Winemaker: Fabrizio Torchio

Production Area: 7.5 hectares of vineyards in Barbaresco, Piedmont – Roncaglie

Overview: Socré’s flagship wine

Grape Varietals: 100% Nebbiolo

Exposition: South, Southwest

Altitude: 240-280m a.s.l.

Soil: Clayey with limestone

Training System: Guyot – 5000 vines/ha

Plantation Year: 1966, 2000

Yield: 1.4 kg/vine; 50 hl/ha

Harvest: October

Fermentation: Done in 25 hl vats of French oak and 30 hl stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 29°C

Maceration: Lasts 14 days with pumping over and pigeages

Aging: 18 months in French oak used barriques (2nd and 3rd passage) + 6 months in concrete vats

Bottle Aging: At least 6 months

Residual Sugar: < 1 g/l

Alcohol: 14%

Annual Production: 35,000 bottles

2019 Reviews: “Ripe and heavily extracted with mouth-puckering tannins supported by a sweet core of red apple, violet and cranberry.” – 91pts, 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards

2018 Reviews: “A more traditional style with high acidity and dry tannins. Lifted red cherry, sour plums, a touch of anise and truffle.” – 90pts, 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards

2016 Reviews:

“Balsamic aromas of camphor mingle with scents of pressed rose, vanilla, dark-skinned berry and a whiff of dried aromatic herb and game. On the focused palate, fresh acidity and taut, fine-grained tannins frame dried Morello cherry, sage and star anise. It’s balanced, with firm acidity.” – 93pts, Editor’s Choice, Wine Enthusiast

“Architect Marco Piacentino owns this small property and produces two Barbaresco bottlings, of which this is the regular one. All the same, it packs a punch with its dense cherry aromas, suave texture and full-bodied, weighty structure with grip and concentration. Solid and chewy, it’s not showing much finesse but should age well.” – 92pts, Decanter

2015 Reviews:

“Ripe dark-skinned berry, fragrant blue flower, camphor and exotic spice aromas leap out of the glass. The palate is full bodied but also shows restraint, offering dried black cherry, truffle and licorice alongside taut close-grained tannins. You’ll also detect the warmth of alcohol on the close.” – 91pts, Wine Enthusiast

“Socrè’s 2015 Barbaresco is a big, potent wine. Wild cherry, tobacco, dried flowers, and mint are all nicely delineated. Some of the initial intensity tapers off, which in turn gives the wine a good bit of approachability. This is a solid effort in its peer group.”-90pts, Vinous

Awards: Silver Medal DECANTER World Wine Awards 2022

Grape Variety: 100% Nebbiolo

Aging: 12-15 months in French oak barrels (225 liters) of which one-third is new, and 12 months in large oak casks (20 hl). Refinement continues in the bottle for at least other 12 months before sale.

Tasting Notes: The color is a deep, garnet red.  Elegant bouquet of violets with accompanying balsamic, mint, and cherry jam notes. The palate is soft and smooth with dense and silky tannins.  This is the perfect wine for special occasions.

Alcohol: Between 14.0 and 14.5% vol.

Dry Extract: Higher than 30 g/liter

Cellaring: Great potential for aging (at least 20 years)

Serving Suggestion: Best consumed at 18-19°C in large crystal glasses. Recommended pairings are roast red meat and wild game.

2014 Reviews: “Pipe-tobacco, blue-flower and menthol aromas escape the glass along with an earthy hint of cured meats. It’s linearly structured and racy, offering crushed raspberry, strawberry compote and licorice along with an earthy hint of game on the salty finish. Fine-grained tannins provide support.” 90pts, Wine Enthusiast

2011 Reviews: “The 2011 Barbaresco Roncaglie is darker and more powerful than the estate’s straight Barbaresco. A powerful, structured wine, the 2011 opens up with hints of savory herbs, smoke, tobacco and menthol, all of which add nuance to the direct, expressive fruit.”-92pts, Vinous

2010 Reviews: “The mix of cinnamon, cherry, licorice and tar flavors shows complexity, while the firm, dense structure provides support and drives the finish. The lingering finish comes back with sweet fruit and spice notes.” – 92pts, Wine Spectator

Overview: Croatina, widespread in the relatively far region of Oltrepò Pavese, is a grape variety that is little cultivated in Piedmont; its presence is largely restricted to Tortona, High Piedmont, and in the district of Cisterna d’Asti (between Monferrato and Roero, and on the border of the province of Asti and Cuneo). Traditional wine of Cisterna d’Asti has an intense purplish red color, and has a characteristic astringent aftertaste. De Scapin is produced as a still wine, although the specification allows for the possibility of a lively sparkling version, with 100% of the Croatina grapes coming from the municipality of Cisterna d’Asti, in Varija Bellegardo.

Name: “De Scapin” references the surname of the owners’ mother, Rosella. She was born in Cisterna d’Asti and contributed greatly in the creation of the DOC specification of the wine. Her surname is actually Scapino, but in the day-to-day use in Cisterna, where Piemontese dialect is often used, her surname becomes De Scapin (meaning “of the Scapino family”).

Production Area: Cisterna d’Asti – Monferrato – Piemonte

Grape Variety: 100% Croatina

Exposition: South, southeast

Altitude: 250-270 meters above sea level

Soil: Sandy clay with limestone

Training System: Guyot

Plant Density: 5,000 vines/ha

First Planting: 2001

Average Yield: 1.2 kg/vine; 42 hl/ha

Fermentation: In 30 hl stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature (within 30 degrees).  Maceration lasts 15 days with pumping over and pigeages.

Aging: 18 months in used French oak barriques (2nd passage + more) plus 12 months in stainless steel vats.  Bottle aged for 12 months at least.

Tasting Notes: Purplish red in color, almost impenetrable.  Fruity with vegetable notes.  Soft texture and deep, sustained body with evident tannins. This is a wine of great class and immediate pleasure.

Food Pairings: Pairs well with rich dishes (cheeses, meats) that are enhanced by the tannins of the wine.

Residual Sugar: < 1 g/l

Alcohol: 14.5%

Dry Extract: Higher than 30 g/l

Production Area: Langhe

Grape Varieties: 100% Freisa. Freisa is a red grape variety grown in mainly in the Piedmont region of Italy, and is a genetic parent grape to the Nebbiolo variety.

Exposition: East

Altitude: 240 m a.s.l.

Soil: Clay with limestone

Training System: Guyot – 5,000 vines/ha

First Planting: 1990

Yield: 1,4 kg/vine; 49 Hl/ha

Harvest: Last week of September

Fermentation: Done in 30 hl stainless steel vats at an uncontrolled temperature (within 30°C). Maceration lasts 15 days with pumping over and pigeages.

Aging: 12 months in only used barriques and 6 months in stainless steel vats. Bottle aging for at least 6 months.

Residual Sugar: < 1 g/l

Alcohol: 14%