The story of Beppe Caviola, owner of the Ca’ Viola winery and famous Piedmontese oenologist, began almost as a joke in 1991 when, after studying at the Scuola Enologica d’Alba, he met Maurizio Anselmo, who would become his trusted friend. Maurizio, who cultivated a small plot of land in Rodello, an equally small village 10 kilometers south of Alba, owned a tractor that lent to Beppe to use it on a vineyard that, in the latter’s opinion, would have the potential to give life to great Dolcetto grapes: the Barturòt vineyard. Clearly it was a matter of experimentation, so much so that Beppe vinified his grapes in the garage of his parents’ house, but by chance the famous Elio Altare tasted that wine and encouraged Beppe to bottle and sell the first 860 bottles of wine. Ca’ Viola was born.
A short time later Beppe began to produce a Barbera that, inspired by the techniques of the so-called “Barolo boys”, aged in barrique, despite this means renouncing the denomination Barbera d’Alba because the disciplinary did not allow the use of that type of containers for aging. The wine will be released with the generic definition of table wine and with the name of Bric du Luv (wolf’s Bricco) in homage to his native country Montelupo, soon becoming the second pillar of the wines produced line. In addition, Beppe, also at the suggestion of Elio Altare, begins to devote himself in parallel to consulting with producers in the area (first) and outside (then) that increase from year to year, to the point that in 2002 he will be named “Oenologist of the Year”. Today the winery covers just under 15 hectares and the headquarters, moved in 2002 from Montelupo to Dogliani, has a renowned reception center, as well as winemaking and aging rooms and a next-gen analysis laboratory.
In addition to Dolcetto d’Alba Barturòt , Barbera d’Alba Bric du Luv (the laws have changed and the wine may have this denomination), and all the other wines obtained from these two varieties, since 2005 the range has expanded thanks to new acquisitions, and now also counts on two Barolo, a Nebbiolo and a Lange Riesling. This last comes from Rhenish Riesling grapes grown in a south-facing plot of one hectare, 600 meters above sea level, in the municipality of Cissone, on soil composed of limestone and clay marl. Once harvested, around the middle of September, the grapes are gently pressed and then left to settle statically, at controlled temperature, before fermenting for 15-20 days in thermocontrolled tanks. After about 10 months of aging in stainless steel, the wine is ready for bottling and marketing.
The 2015 vintage has a clear and brilliant straw yellow color, with an olfactory range that opens on notes of lychee, nectarine, madernassa pear and chlorophyll, followed by medlar, cedar peel, and hawthorn, with conclusive echoes, just hinted, of hydrocarbon. The palate mainly strikes for the great freshness, followed by a discreet softness and the typical sapid/mineral component; all enriched by the return of chlorophyll and citrus fruits that accompany the sip until a good length finish.
Rating: 86/100
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