2022 Castrum Roche Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy

Isacco Costamagna is the man behind Barolos brand new Castrum Roche. He inherited two prime hectares in La Morra in 2014, all in the Torriglione vineyarda cru Barolo-heads know, even if they dont. Its blended into the crazy-good Berri Barolo of Trediberri, was once labeled as a (v culty) Rocche dell’Annunziata parcel by Roberto Voerzio, and arguably the deepest cut of all, is on a handful of Bartolo Mascarello labels (as the hometown of his grandfather). This is hallowed ground hes inherited, and its front and center in his tiny production.

From 2017 to 2020 Isacco sold his estate fruit to his neighbor Trediberri (who we love!). During that time he worked for Luigi Oddero, neighbor-and-legend Accomasso – a producer as mythic as they are difficult to find (not imported to the US) – and got his degree in viticulture & oenology from University of Turin. It was in 2021 that he turned his full attention to making his own wine, keeping the fruit for himself and launching the winery with a very, very special Langhe Nebbiolo.

The 2022 is only the second vintage of this wine and the first to be in the US. Its a wildly expressive Nebbiolo, that can’t help but be a serious wine despite being made simply in tank with a weeklong maceration. It has the natural texture and breadth you see from famously packed soils like Torriglione. When having the wine, it reads more as Baby Barolo than Langhe. A delicious introduction to this very talented newcomer. And, has us patiently waiting for when he rolls his first Barolo out (in 2027) from the same site.