Importer notes from Lewis Imports:

"The Adriano family is a classic example of a family-run farm, a true tradition in Piedmont. At the beginning of the 1900’s, Giuseppe and Teresa Adriano were tenant farmers. Their son Aldo and his wife Maddalena bought the first family property in San Rocco Seno d’Elvio township. Marco and Vittorio, with their respective wives, Luciana and Grazia, joined the family enterprise during the 1990’s, streamlining production and perfecting a marketing strategy that culminated in their strong expansion into international markets.

The estate is located in the heart of the Langhe region of Piedmont in the San Rocco Seno d’Elvio township. Marco and Vittorio Adriano cultivate vines and vinify exclusively with their own grapes to make wines that wholly reflect the terroir. The Adriano family began winemaking at the turn of the last century when Giuseppe, a tenant farmer began to cultivate vines. His son Aldo joined him in the enterprise and together they bought and planted a small estate. In turn, the grandchildren Marco and Vittorio, cultivated the love for their land and its fruits, making the company grow. It is the 1994 harvest when they decide to wine their grapes by bottling the first bottles with the label Adriano. The future of the enterprise seems assured with Elisa and Andrea, Marco and Luciana's children, along with Sophia, who is the youngest daughter of Vittorio and Grazia."

About the cuvee:

Sanadaive is made from fruit coming from Southwest-facing hillside vineyards situated in San Rocco Seno d’Elvio (Alba) at 280 meters above sea level. The Adrianos farm 3 hectares of 30 year old vines for this cuvee. Soils are from Lequio formations (grey marl alternating with sand layers). Silt and clay based soils are layered above marl parent rock. After a mid-October harvest, grapes are destemmed and crushed, and fermented by native yeasts in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Maceration is done by the traditional Piedmontese method of submerged cap, and lasts about three weeks. It is aged for at least 12 months in 30-50 hectoliter oak, followed by 9 months in bottle.

Flor impressions:

2020 is being talked about as an open, approachable vintage in Piedmont, in the mold of 2018. Sanadaive certainly fits that description, with a nose that leans more toward fresh, ripe strawberry, with sweet, toasted fennel seed currently in the background. Fairly polished tannins which lean on the soft side for Nebbiolo make this wonderfully approachable for a young Barbaresco. It does however have plenty of acidity to allow it to age 5-7 years, and patience should be rewarded, as its concentration of fruit flavors, and lifted, bright aromas will develop additional savory complexity.

-GG, tasted 4/4/24