Barolo, Dom. Clerico 'Pajana'

‘Dear Dad, it is with great honor that I accept the job of carrying on the business that you created with a lifetime of hard work! But, I beg you to accept my wishes: with the greatest respect for everything you have done and passed on to me, I want to go ahead and only make wine. With your support and Giuliana’s help, I want to show everyone that I can make great wines that people will appreciate, because the land where we live has something precious that we still do not fully understand...’

And with that letter in 1976, Domenico Clerico began to not just grow grapes but produce Barolo from Monforte d’Alba. Today, he’s one of the most respected producers in the world, his wines are now a benchmark for Barolo. Never afraid to push or explore new ideas, Domenico started out with next to nothing and a desire to understand the unknown.

Domenico left us a great gift, a philosophy that spans time, between the tradition of a land that offers great emotions and innovation, the desire to continually improve.

Known for it’s fuller-body and high tannins, Barolo is by far the most famous producing regions of Nebbiolo. Sommeliers love to describe Barolo with two words: ‘roses’ and ‘tar.’ Of course, Barolo is actually the fruitiest and most full-bodied of all the Nebbiolo regions in Northern Italy. Expect flavors of raspberry, red cherry, roses, potpourri, cocoa, anise, licorice, allspice, truffles, and a clay lick.

The Pajana vineyard, originally planted in 1971, always manages to give back in his Barolo DOCG the most exuberant notes of Ginestra. Proof of the incredible kaleidoscope of shades that this great geographical mention can give.

The plot takes its name from the old road that runs along the top of the hill, an ancient passage that connected Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga which can still be traveled on foot today. A plot in lush balance, vinified with scrupulous attention to convey its exuberance into the glass: a certainty for 30 years.