Erbaluna is an organic estate which was established in the late C19th by Sisto Oberto. In 1985 after Severino Oberto and his brother Andrea finished school they took over and went organic. Wines made are Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, Barbera d’Alba Superiore DOC and Barolo DOCG.

Vineyards: 9.55ha of Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto on calcareous marl in the hills south-east of La Morra, in the heart of the Barolo area. The vineyard plots are called La Bettola (Barbera), Le Ghiaie (Dolcetto) Rocche (Barolo); Le Liste (Dolcetto); La Rosina (Barbera; south-facing).

Certification: 1985 Organic practices began in 1985. | 2007 9ha (AB) AIAB. | 2007 9ha (AB) ICEA.

Viticulture: No biodynamics to 2009. Seaweed sprays. Propolis.

Wines

Grignolino delle Piemonte: Grubbed up.

Piemonte Rosso NV: 80% Nebbiolo, 20% Barbera. Lightish colour, lovely balance, texture, complexity at Mill Bio 2003.| 2004 80% Nebbiolo, 20% Barbera. €7.50 retail in 2005.

Dolcetto d’Alba, Le Liste: No longer made. | 2001 Softer than Le Ghiaie, but again outstanding at M Bio 2003. |c2013 A bit extracted, perhaps? at M Bio 17.

Barbera d’Alba, La Bettola: Fermented in stainless steel. Crisp, ripe wild red fruit, bright, length, focus, VG at M Bio 2003.| 2003 Superiore. €7.50 retail in 2005.

Dolcetto d’Alba, Le Ghiaie: 1997 11.5% alcohol. 1998 Stylish, deep cherry fruit, solid tannin, not aggressive at M Bio 1999. | 2001 Fermented in stainless steel. Very crisp and mineral rich, excellent at M Bio 2003: 2007 Nice crisp wild fruit, less extracted than Mario Torelli’s at M Bio 2009.

Barbera d’Alba, La Rosina: 1998 Heavy colour, concentration, going anywhere? Lots of new oak, well laid on, estate claims it can age to 2010. | 2001 Older wood, softer than the La Bettola, again lovely depth at M Bio 2003. | 2003 Superiore. €10.00 retail in 2005. | 2007 Lovely wild deep fruit at M Bio 2009.

Nebbiolo delle Langhe: 2001 6-8 months in wood. Crisp and ripe, good mineral, balanced and full at M Bio 2003. | 2005 Bought for €9.09 retail from Natura supermarket in Siena on Saturday 25th August 2007. Not bad when tried in Torrenieri a few days later, elegant, light but nice fruit and varietal character. | 2012 Good solid traditional entry level at M Bio 17.

Barolo DOCG: 1994 Drying out, reduced (13.5%) at Millesime Bio 1999. | 1995 Moderate colour, non-aggressive tannin, deep cedar, more flavour than colour at M Bio 1999. | 1998 Lovely amber, developing well, textured, very good at M Bio 2003. | 2000 €22.00 retail in 2005. | 2001 Ready to drink at the Atlantic restaurant, Toronto with Mark Cuff, John Szabo and Zoltan Szabo on Saturday evening 16 April 2011. | 2012 Typical nose, youthful, bit rough, nice fruit, bit of fade at M Bio 17.

Barolo DOCG, Vigna Rocche: This site was first mentioned as Rocha in 1477 and is south facing. | 1995 Concentrated, good style, well-evolved due to non-reductive winemaking (?), at M Bio 1999. | 1997 More perfumed and finer than the basic Barolo at M Bio 2003. | 1998 Seems to be riper than 1997, with sweeter, more forward tannin, almost ready at M Bio 2003. | 2004 Nice nose, well evolved, good length and depth at M Bio 2009.

Barolo Chinato: 2005 Made from Barolo.

Grignolino delle Piemonte: Grubbed up.

Piemonte Rosso: NV 80% Nebbiolo + 20% Barbera. Lightish colour, lovely balance, texture, complexity at Mill Bio 2003. | 2004 80% Nebbiolo + 20% Barbera. €7.50 retail in 2005.

Dolcetto d’Alba, Le Liste: No longer made. | 2001 Softer than Le Ghiaie, but again outstanding at M Bio 2003. | 2013 A bit extracted, perhaps at M Bio 17.

Dolcetto d’Alba, Le Ghiaie: 1997 11.5% alcohol. 1998 Stylish, deep cherry fruit, solid tannin, not aggressive at M Bio 1999. | 2001 Fermented in stainless steel. Very crisp and mineral rich, excellent at M Bio 2003. |. 2007 Nice crisp wild fruit, less extracted than Mario Torelli’s at M Bio 2009.

Barbera d’Alba, La Bettola: 2001 Fermented in stainless steel. Crisp, ripe wild red fruit, bright, length, focus, VG at M Bio 2003.

Barbera d’Alba, La Rosina: 1998 Heavy colour, concentration, going anywhere? Lots of new oak, well laid on, estate claims it can age to 2010. | 2001 Older wood, softer than the La Bettola, again lovely depth at M Bio 2003. | 2007 Lovely wild deep fruit at M Bio 2009.

Nebbiolo delle Langhe: 2001 6-8 months in wood. Crisp and ripe, good mineral, balanced and full at M Bio 2003. | 2005 Bought for €9.09 retail from Natura supermarket in Siena on Saturday 25th August 2007. Not bad when tried in Torrenieri a few days later, elegant, light but nice fruit and varietal character. | 2012 Good solid traditional entry level at M Bio 17.

Barolo DOCG: 1994 Drying out, reduced (13.5%) at Millesime Bio 1999. |1995 Moderate colour, non-aggressive tannin, deep cedar, more flavour than colour at M Bio 1999. | 1998 Lovely amber, developing well, textured, very good at M Bio 2003. | 2000 €22.00 retail in 2005. | 2001 Ready to drink at the Atlantic restaurant, Toronto with Mark Cuff, John Szabo and Zoltan Szabo on Saturday evening 16 April 2011. | 2012 Typical nose, youthful, bit rough, nice fruit, bit of fade at M Bio 17.

Barolo, Vigna Rocche: This site was first mentioned as Rocha in 1477 and is south facing. | 1995 Concentrated, good style, well-evolved due to non-reductive winemaking (?), at M Bio 1999. | 1997 More perfumed and finer than the basic Barolo at M Bio 2003. | 1998 Seems to be riper than 1997, with sweeter, more forward tannin, almost ready at M Bio 2003. | 2004 Nice nose, well evolved, good length and depth at M Bio 2009.

Barolo Chinato: 2005 Made from Barolo, alcohol, sugar, and aromas. €18.00 per bottle retail in 2005.

Contact

Azienda Agricola Erbaluna

Frazione Annunziata, 43

12064 La Morra (CN), Italy

Tel: +39 0173.5080

Website: www.erbaluna.it

Agriturismo

Borgata Pozzo, 43

12064 La Morra (CN), Italy