Nervi is a historic, benchmark Gattinara producer with 28.5ha of highly-prized Nebbiolo vineyards across the appellation, in the northern part of Piedmont. The modern Nervi was founded in 1906 by Luigi Nervi. Valferana is one of the estate’s two top named sites -- a historic cru with mentions in town records as far back as 1231. The Nervi family ran the estate until the 1990s, and in 2011 it was purchased by investors who brought in the leading Barolo figure Roberto Conterno as a consultant.
‘Gattinara represents the purest expression of the northern [Piedmont] zones.’
Vino Italiano - David Lynch and Joe Bastianich
In May 2018 Conterno purchased the estate. Gattinara was awarded DOC status in 1967, and upgraded to DOCG in 1990. Gravelly clay soils – remnants of an ancient collapsed volcano -- are rich in granite and other minerals including iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese. The terroir gives the wines a distinct minerality which sets them apart from the neighbouring appellations. Valferana matures for at least four years in large oak vats.
Penetrating aromas of wild cherry, wild berry, rose, incense and white pepper mark this red, which is silky and fluid, yet with a firm underpinning of tannins and vibrant acidity. A mineral element emerges on the long finish. Drink now through 2035.
95 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (April 2019)
