| Producer | Montalbera |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piemonte |
| Varietal | Ruche |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 05473 |
| Size | 750ml |
| ABV | 15.00% |
The origin story of Ruche is muddled, but it may have evolved in France’s Haute-Savoie before finding it’s real home in Italy’s Piemonte region but was more likely born in Monferato of a crossing of Croatina and Parma’s now extinct Malvasia Aromatica. It’s wildly flavorful, redolent of berries, citrus peel, roasted herbs and exotic spice, but tannic and light in color. It was left behind post-phylloxera and though extinct when parish priest Don Giacomo Cauda found 10 rows growing in the Monferato church’s vineyard and decided to see what happened when he turned it into wine.
Fireworks, that’s what. Montalbera has helped champion Ruche’s return to the wine stage with this beauty. Around 80% of the fruit is pricked just ripe and 20% left an extra few weeks on the vine to shrivel and concentrate a bit. Both lots are made all in steel to let the grape shine through. It’s aromatic, dark and very flavorful, with notes of Asian and Persian spice, fresh flowers, super dark red and black cherry fruit, and a big dollop of something earthy underneath. The fine tannins make your mouth water, keep the flavors flowing, and invite enjoying this with dark meat poultry, rich stews, tagine, mushrooms and other earthy fare.
For You If: You want something both “big” and vibrant – this carries its 15% alcohol beautifully; you’re digging into food that’s earthy or full of spice flavors and want a wine to complement and even amplify those flavors.
Not For You If: You’re looking for light or lithe – this is bold, rich, stuff and needs it to carry the deep black cherry fruit and wild spice/earth flavors.
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