Clavesana
CLAVESANA - Dogliani Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita
Our 51st vintage crowns our efforts, our pursuits and the work, which unite threehundredandfifty vintner families in Clavesana. Thank you! Our creed and code of behaviour, our prevailing sentiment is branded with Clavesana. This is Italy’s bestselling Dolcetto. Giovanni Bracco Presidente in Clavesana since 1987
Le vigne
The vineyards for the Dolcetto di Dogliani are hillside to hilltop vineyards at 250 to 600 meters above sea level, the lower vineyards with an East-West exposure and the higher ones with a South to South-West exposure. Mostly with loose soil of calcareous nature and grey colour. It’s an original terroir-wine from Dolcetto’s original home Dogliani, after which the DOC-zone for this appellation is named. The vine-rows stand contour-trained – “a girapoggio” – with a density of 4500-5000 vines per hectare, in vineyards averaging 20 years of age and including some very old vines. Each Co-vintner owns about 4 acres of vineyard. Pruning is Guyot with “capo a frutto ritorto” with bent fruiting cane; the growth is walled to the sun – “a parete”. This vintage’s climate Rainfall (Jan-Sept): 663 mm Rainy days (Jan-Sept): 68 Active peak temperatures (Apr-Sept): 1661 °C Average temperature (Jan-Sept): 13,4 °C Temperature range (Aug-Sept): 11,1 °C January and February were very cold, with lows below zero and highs below average. The month of March had plenty of snow at lower temperatures than normal. April was mild with little rain – no more than 50 mm. Another cold wave in May with lots of rainfall. Merely the last days of the month seemed to announce Summertime, with the first days of June reaching 30 °C. Unstable weather followed with lowering temperatures and abundant rainfall. End of June and all of July saw high temperatures and little rain. Most unstable weather in August with heat waves taking turns with cooler phases and rain and temperatures below the norm. Summer rebounded mid September and gave way to colder temperatures and to a few days of rain. Budding The climatic conditions in April eased regular budding.
Blossoming
The temperatures at the end of May slightly delayed blossoming. Fruit setting was complete and contributed to form good-sized clusters.
Ripening
Even in the lack of high temperatures ripening progressed slowly but steadily. September’s good weather conditions picked up the normal ripenening process. Harvest took place in the last decade of September to even include the first days of October. The grapes’ quality was high thanks to leaf trim and green harvest which allowed for ripe and, more importantly, sound grapes. Acidity was above average, equal to 2008.
Vinification
Fermentation was carried out in stainless steel, at controlled temperature of 28 to 30 °C for a well balanced extraction. The lower temperatures were needed to obtain the fruit sensation and the higher temperatures favour the structure. After malolactic fermentation the wine was left to rest at low temperatures in stainless steel.
Tasting notes
Color intensity is true to varietal type with ruby depth extending to violet. Good brightness. The nose is not reached by an often found immature youthfullness, but by the enjoyable bouquet of flowers and spices, supported by vinous and fruitful sensations. The mouthfeel is well sustained by firm tannins and completed with a warm finish, echoed by typical sapid cherry.