Valentine Chardonnay Langhe DOC 2024 - Ca' Del Baio x 3

The Origin and Identity of Langhe DOC Chardonnay Valentìne

The Langhe DOC Chardonnay Valentìne stems from an intuition of Valentina Grasso, driven by the desire to apply the expressive canons and interpretive sensitivity of Burgundy to the estate's viticultural heritage. This selection represents a stylistic departure within the local white wine landscape, combining the evolutionary potential of old clones with the mineral signature of the Langhe. The winemaking focus centers on precision oak management, tailored to support the richness of the original fruit without weighing down the palate, echoing the verticality of great French terroirs.

Agronomic Notes and Cellar Protocol

The grapes originate from the most mature parcels facing northeast in the Treiso district, planted in 1985 on white limestone matrices alternated with marine marls. The manual harvest is followed by gentle pressing; the must undergoes static cold settling overnight to separate coarse fractions. Alcoholic fermentation takes place directly in 500-liter French oak tonneaux. During aging, the wine undergoes regular weekly bâtonnage to encourage noble lees lysis. Before bottling, the liquid rests in stainless steel tanks until the following autumn, and is packaged without invasive filtration.

Sensory Profile of Chardonnay Piedmont white wine

Prolonged oak contact and the white soil matrix of Treiso impart a layered organoleptic precision and remarkable tertiary depth to the varietal.

• Blend and Alcohol Content: 100% Chardonnay / Langhe Denominazione di Origine Kontrollata / 13.50% Vol.
• Visual Assessment: Brilliant straw-to-golden yellow hue, characterized by a rich and viscous consistency in the glass.
• Olfactory Framework: Broad and deep bouquet, distinguished by sharp notes of flint, candied lemon peel, and acacia honey, integrated by buttery sensations and pastry nuances.
• Palate Characteristics: The entry is dry, solid, and supported by a profound mineral sapidity. The development displays an elegant vertical progression, closing with a taut and long-lasting finish.

Service Guidelines and Gastronomic Pairings

The extractive density and crisp acid profile of this Chardonnay suggest pairings with complex, succulent dishes.

• Stable Pairings: It pairs beautifully with structured land appetizers, rich traditional Piedmontese pasta dishes, baked fish, crustaceans, and elaborate white meat preparations. It also finds harmony with medium-aged or bloomy-rind cheeses.
• Serving Method: To facilitate proper aeration and allow the aromatic bouquet to unfold, a serving temperature of 10-12°C is recommended.

Temporal Evolution and Storage

This structured white wine displays stability and elegance from its market debut, while possessing an aging potential that favors development in the bottle for several years. For proper preservation, bottles should be stored horizontally in dark environments, protected from thermal fluctuations and vibrations.