Established in 1993 by Tino Colla (brother of the legendry Beppe Colla) and his niece Federica, Poderi Colla is very much a family affair and continues the Colla family’s three centuries of winemaking heritage in northern Italy.
The Dardi le Rose vineyard, in the hamlet of Dardi, is located on the slopes of the Bussia hill, an area regarded as one of the best for the production of full-bodied Barolo with the potential to age well. These wines reflect the quality and principles that Beppe Colla has devoted his life to. In 1961 he was the first to include ‘Bussia’ on his wine labels – elevating the status of the cru. The vineyard covers 8 hectares, 6ha of which are planted entirely with Nebbiolo, south and south-west facing at 300-350m altitude.
Since 1995, Colla has taken part in Piemonte’s agricultural environmental programme, modified with a more restrictive internal protocol governing integrated management and environmental sustainability. The use of fertiliser is limited and occasional, mainly organic, using worm compost produced by a small and entirely reliable firm. Only if vines are suffering from specific deficiencies does it use chemical fertilisers permitted for organic farming.
This very special wine is from a single vineyard called Dardi le Rose, on the hill of Bussia, a historically renowned site for great Barolo. The vineyard covers 8 hectares, 6ha of which are planted entirely with Nebbiolo, south and south-west facing at 300-350m altitude. The grapes are destalked and pressed, and the must is macerated on the skins for approx 15 days – it undergoes malolactic fermentation. In the spring the wine matures in casks of Slavonian and French oak, part new, for a period of 24 to 28 months.
This Barolo has fresh red fruit aromas alongside hints of dried figs and spice. The palate is complex with bright redcurrant fruit and a herbal, mineral character. The fine tannic structure and level of acidity means that, whilst drinking now, this wine will age and improve for many years.
