Musso
A family endeavor, four generations of winemakers have worked under the family label to date.
BACKGROUND
The Musso Family connection to the historical fabric of Barbaresco dates back over 300 years. It is in fact Giacomo Filippo Musso, the original Mayor of Barbaresco in 1698 who lays claim to playing the main role in establishing the town. Fast forward to the Great Depression and the year 1929 which is when Sebastiano Musso, at the age of 23, established the small Musso family winery with a tiny 1.5ha plot of Nebbiolo in the locality of Cavanna.
As the Great Depression ended and WWII came and passed, the Musso winery survived and slowly but surely overcame the difficulties of the first half of the 20th and began to thrive in the latter half.
The 1960s brought much progress with Sebastian’s son Augusto joining the company and in 1966 they expanded their vineyards with the purchase of a plot on the hill of Pora and an entire farm in Rio Sordo.
Today the winery is run by three generations of the Musso family, Valter Musso, who joined the family winery in the mid-1980s and is now head of the winery. Valter’s Son, Emanuele, is in charge of marketing and Valter’s grandson, Luca Accornero, oversees vineyard management.
The majority of the vineyards are planted in the hills of Barbaresco in four of the most prestigious crus: Pora, Rio Sordo, Ronchi and Cavanna. As well as a vineyard in Roero where they produce Arneis.
The Terroir
The winery is located in the heart of the village of Barbaresco, and above the winery is the home of Valter and Emanuele Musso. The Musso vineyard holdings currently span 10ha in the most prestigious vineyard sites of Barbaresco: Pora, Rio Sordo, Ronchi and Cavanna. These superior sites, high in the Barbaresco hills are planted indigenous local varietals Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto and Freisa while Roero Arneis is also cultivated in Santo Stefano. Of course, Barbaresco is the star of the winery with DOCG production accounting for over 40% of the 80,000 bottle annual production.
The Pora label comes from a 1-hectare vineyard purchased by Sebastian and Augusto in the 60’s; these are some of the steepest plantings around. Vines here have a life span of up to 65 years, planted in calcareous soil rich with clay, giving great focus and longevity to this Barbaresco.
Musso’s Rio Sordo vineyard is a 2.5 hectare farm joined the project in the 60s as well. This cru has a soil content that is much sandier than that of Pora and gives a delicate roundness to the wine at a much younger age.
The history of the Musso family is engrained in the hills of Barbaresco. Their tradition in farming and wine making is unmistakable in every bottle that you open. Musso is a collection of focused wines intent on showing the world what is truly incredible about this land.
THE CELLAR
The entrance of Barbaresco, Via Domitius Cavazza 5, is still the home of the Musso Winery. There in the cellar, is where the grapes are vinified, aged, and when ready, bottled for final aging. The bottle then assumes the final look, the elegant label that will accompany the wine it’s the way to the market.
Each step is performed in a dedicated environment, using the most appropriate containers to give the best quality to each wine. Steel tanks are used for vinification, wooden casks of various sizes, dedicated space in the cellar the maturation of the wine and the aging in the bottle before release.
The results of the work in the vineyard and in the cellar are about 80,000 bottles of wine per year on average. The main star of the winery is the Nebbiolo grape with about 50% of their total vineyard area. The remainder is divided among five other varieties: Langhe Nebbiolo DOC, Barbera d’ Alba DOC, Dolcetto d’Alba DOC, Langhe Freisa DOC., Langhe Chardonnay DOC, and Roero Arneis DOCG. Barbaresco makes up 40%, a grand red wine with structure and long aging. Three types of Barbaresco are produced: a blend from the union of grapes from different vineyards and two single crus: Pora and Rio Sordo.
tHE WINE
Barbaresco Pora DOCG
The Pora vineyard site is one of the most famous in all of Barbaresco. The wines produced from Pora grapes tend to be muscular and bold with a rich tapestry of ripe fruits, truffles, spice box, and Marasca cherry. Musso’s 2.5ha plot extends through the central amphitheater of Pora, enjoying the best exposure and elevation. The Musso Pora is wonderfully complex and powerful example with intense rich fruit woven over big rich tannin and polished acidity buoys the backdrop of tea leaves, black cherry, and fresh cut herbs. This is a wine that needs time for its best presentation showing a ferocious spirit when fresh and young.
Appellation: Barbaresco DOCG Pora
Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard site: Pora in commune of Barbaresco
Vineyard size: 2.5ha
Soil: Limestone / Clay
Exposition: West / Southwest
Altitude: 280 meters above sea level
Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with 20 days maceration with periodic cap pump over
Maturation: 12 months 50hl Slavonian oak barrels then 12 months 20hl with further refinement in bottle for 8 months before release
Barbaresco Rio Sordo DOCG
The Rio Sordo vineyard lies just across the tracks Musso’s Pora site. Rio Sordo is a 25ha vineyard with 5 producers each owning a share. Musso’s plot is the smallest at just 1ha. The soil here is mainly limestone with a compelling clay presence. This ancient soil primarily from the Tortonian-Messinian period tends to be replete with a full complement of elements like manganese, zinc and boron, with fine particles that tend to form easily erodible laminae (silty marl) which accounts for the high toned sugared fruit and leathery rose bush aromatics. Quite sublime and elegant the Rio Sordo is fresh and open earlier than Pora but precocious as well, only revealing her full spectrum of complexity with 5-8 years of cellaring.
Appellation: Barbaresco DOCG Rio Sordo
Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard site: Rio Sordo in commune of Barbaresco
Vineyard size: 1ha
Soil: Clay / Limestone
Exposition: Southwest
Altitude: 300 meters above sea level
Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with 20 days maceration with periodic cap pump over
Maturation: 12 months 50hl Slavonian oak barrels then 12 months 20hl with further refinement in bottle for 8 months before release
Roero Arneis DOC
The Roero area stretches out to the left of the Tanaro River with a collection of 19 villages, similar to the Langhe zone. The terrain here is difficult, rugged, and steep affording excellent viticultural advantages such as large diurnal temperature variation as well as good drainage and wind. The village of Roero is tucked into the valley with high sloping vineyards with a South to Southwest exposure. It is here that Musso’s vineyards lie at the crest of the hill at an altitude of over 350 meters above sea level.
This is a classic Arneis with clean and vibrant minerality, ripe acidity and zaftig fruit components that contribute to the overall crisp and lush balance on the palate.
Appellation: Roero Arneis DOC
Varietal: 100% Arneis
Vineyard site: Santo Stefano Roero
Vineyard size: 2ha
Soil: Calcareous and clay
Exposition: South / Southwest
Altitude: 350 meters above sea level
Vinification: Cold maceration on the skins for 18-36 hours then fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks
Maturation: 6 months in stainless steel tank on fine lees with further 3 months refinement in bottle before release
Langhe Freisa DOC
Freisa is one of the more unique varietals available in the Langhe. The grapes are grown on a small parcel of the estate holdings inside the subzone of Rio Sordo. It is a very traditional production and generally produced in a fresh and ready style. The Musso Freisa is a classic interpretation done in stainless steel with with frequent pump over during an 8 day maceration cycle. The wine goes through the customary second fermentation in the Spring following the vintage in autoclave. The wine refines in bottle for 2 months and then is perfect for chilled consumption with charcuterie and Hors d ‘Oeuvres.
Appellation: Langhe Freisa DOC
Varietal: 100% Freisa
Vineyard site: Rio Sordo in Commune of Barbaresco
Vineyard size: 2ha
Soil: Limestone/Clay
Exposition: Southwest
Altitude: 260 meters above sea level
Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with 8 days maceration and continuous pump over of cap
Maturation: Stainless steel tanks 6 months with second fermentation taking place in autoclave during the Spring following the harvest
Bottling: Mid-Spring following harvest then further refinement of 2 months in bottle before release
Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
Dolcetto is an interesting and satisfying variety capable of producing top level and often age worthy wines at a fraction of the entry fee of it more famous Piemontese cousins. Because the vines tend to enjoy very chalky white soil they are able to take good positioning in the fight for prime expositions behind the “more important” Nebbiolo and Barbera. The unique flavor profile and easy growing style of the Dolcetto allows it to enjoy a cozy spot next the more prolific wines of the zone. Often the wine is a great entry point for an artisanal Barbaresco or Barolo producer to showcase their style and accessibility, at a low consumer price. For this reason quality Dolcetto d’Alba is often made in very small quantities and evaporates from the market quickly. Musso’s Dolcetto is an open and fresh style with textbook blueberry and all spice notes layered over cocoa and darker stone fruit component that adds complexity and softens the bold structure.
Appellation: Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
Varietal: 100% Dolcetto
Vineyard site: Rio Sordo in Commune of Barbaresco
Vineyard size: 2ha
Soil: Limestone/Clay
Exposition: Southwest
Altitude: 260 meters above sea level
Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel thermal jacketed steels tanks with 6 days maceration
Maturation: Stainless steel tanks 6 months then transferred for 2 months in 40 hl barrels with further 2 months refinement in bottle before release
Barbera d’Alba DOC
Barbera is one of the most prolifically grown varietals in all of Italy and it exists in nearly every region in one variation or another. In Piemonte Barbera is a main red grape variety and second in importance only to the noble Nebbiolo. It is here in the Langhe and in Alba specifically do we find the perfect conditions for this generous grape. Quickly adaptable and able to thrive in high temperatures and difficult conditions, the vine in the hands of an artisan winemaker on the correct hillside with the right exposure can make an exquisite and cellar worthy wine in nearly every vintage condition with the exception of heavy precipitation. Acidity and fresh bursting fruit are the main characteristics of the grape and most interpretations play on this traditional platform. In Musso’s case the use of small and large barrel aging along with very old vines and superior vineyard locations produce a wine true to form and filled with potential.
Appellation: Barbera d’Alba DOC
Varietal: 100% Barbera
Vineyard site: Rio Sordo in Barbaresco commune
Vineyard size: 2ha
Soil: Limestone/Clay
Exposition: Southwest
Altitude: 270 meters above sea level
Vinification: ½ harvest fermented in stainless steel and ½ harvest in 500l oak barrel then blended after finishing fermentation
Maturation: 6 months 500l oak barrels then 6 months 20hl oak barrel with further 6 months refinement in bottle before release
Langhe Nebbiolo d’Alba DOCG
Langhe Nebbiolo DOC represents an expression of this noble grape that plays across the spectrum of wine making styles found within this historical growing territory. Traditionally the grapes come from the younger vineyards that have yet to mature into Barbaresco worthy vines. For this reason it is commonly made in a fresh and drinkable style which is a delightful window into the more serious versions produced by most estates. An exceptional wine to sample the style of artisanal producers while generally commanding only a fraction of the price of their loftiest Barbaresco wines. Musso’s Langhe Nebbiolo is a fresh and lively style which showcases the expression of pure fruit and traditional components of Nebbiolo such as tobacco, tar, and crushed rose petal notes.
Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo DOC
Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard site: Ronchi in Commune of Barbaresco
Vineyard size: 2ha
Soil: Limestone / Clay
Exposition: Southeast
Altitude: 260 meters above sea level
Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with 12 days maceration with periodic cap pump over
Maturation: 8 months 50hl Slavonian oak barrels then with further refinement in bottle for 6 months before release
PAIRINGS AND RECIPES
