Derthona Timorasso Montemarzino 2023 · MAGNUM

Roagna | Piedmont
Az. Agr. I Paglieri | Loc. Paglieri 9 | IT 12050 Barbaresco

Some grape varieties die. Others survive in oblivion. And some awaken when the right family finds them. When the Roagnas acquired a plot of land in Montemarzino in 2014 – previously owned by a cousin –it was more than just a land purchase. It was a commitment to Timorasso, the historic white wine grape of the Colli Tortonesi, which was once considered lost. On Tortonese soils, at an altitude of 450 metres and facing east, the vines are now around 35 years old and have been rejuvenated through massal selection from historical genetic material. The grapes are harvested in small crates and macerated whole in the press for a few hours. The must oxidises in a controlled manner without the addition of sulphites before fermenting spontaneously with its own yeasts and maturing for two years on the fine lees in large barrels.

Bright, dense golden yellow with green reflections. The nose opens reductively, with hints of great white Burgundy: flint and gunpowder meet grilled corn and popcorn, followed by quince, vineyard peach and a whole bed of herbs – marjoram, sage, oregano, savoury. But the palate tells a different story: Piedmontese angularity reigns here instead of suppleness à la Côte-d'Or. Angular architecture, open-pored tannins, fine bitterness and chalky phenolics carry through to the long, demanding final. A masculine white wine that demands time and attention – three to four thousand bottles a year for those who understand that Timorasso is not a compromise. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2023 Timorasso Derthona Montemarzino is magnificent. Luca Roagna has created a Timorasso that combines the texture and structure typical of this grape variety with the finesse that characterises all his wines. The result is a Timorasso of unusual elegance. Notes of dried pear, camomile, mint, spices and crushed flowers develop over time. A long, sonorous finish rounds off the whole effortlessly." Vinous