Alemat (Piedmont, Ponzano Monferrato)
DOC Barbera d'Asti
I think Savio Dominici might be selling himself short. His own winery, called Alemat (a Piemontese slang for "You're CRAZY!"), is pretty darn impressive in its own right. Only 10 years into his wine career, Savio is turning out an exceptional product. His Barbera are powerful and dark wines, filled with richness and structure. But, they also has a silky, fine tannin component that makes them at once complex, but yet again, thoroughly quaffable.
Savio checked out of a career in heavy industry (pipe fittings) and began his small winery near Asti with a head of steam and scientific bent. His winery is simple, clean, and magnificent. On the ground floor is an infernot, a sort of hollowed out cave that are famous in the area, home to a salamander named Sally. It was excavated in the 1850's and used for wine storage. Lots of farmhouses have them, and they are valued now as Unesco heritage sites. People come from all around to tour these by bicycle.
Last July, Savio welcomed us with characteristic vigor. His son Alessandro was there too, having recently joined his father in the business. The two of them joked and shared stories with irrepressible joy all afternoon long, and into the evening over dinner. This quarter, your club pack should keep you upbeat and cheery over dinner, through the lingering winter days, with these three different wines.
2017 Augusta Barbera d'Asti Superiore ‘Augusta' Savio’s flagship wine - the best of his production each year. This is rich and structured Barbera, with a silky, fine tannin component that gives remarkable complexity.
2017 Croatina Monferrato 'Brunaldo' It's almost like Barbera, Pinot Noir, and Syrah got busy and had a love child. Rich and full of fruit, it backs it up with plenty of structure. This uncommon grape variety will never catch on anywhere else and that's okay, its right at home in Monferrato.
2020 Barbacro This playful wine is a perfect mirror of Savio’s jester-like spirit. It is made with approximately 70% Barbera and 30% Croatina, with a short vinification, making it ready to drink early. Savio discovery that in the Normand dialect, Barbacro means “Handlebar Mustache”, so he used that as the inspiration for the label, which won a design award for its innovative approach. He used a new printing technology that can change elements of the design for each label - mustaches, eyes, the shirt and butterflies all differ from bottle to bottle.
