Olek Bondonio has become one of the most sought after names in Barbaresco. He grew up in the family’s farmhouse, ‘La Berchialla’, which sits amongst Barbaresco’s most famous crus and has been in his family for several centuries. After conquering Italy as a professional snowboarder, he turned his mind to wine, working in the Langhe and also abroad before returning home to look after the family’s vineyards. In the vines, Olek works organically and with a real hands on approach, whilst in the cantina he works without fuss, exhibiting a patience beyond his years. The results are pure, deep and decidedly old school expressions of Piedmont’s local grapes.

Roncagliette is the parcel of Nebbiolo vines that sit right outside the cellar and were planted around 50 years ago. The site is exposed full south and its firm clay-limestone soils lend the Nebbiolo from here power and finesse. Macerated on the skins for two months before being pressed off to old botti for a couple of years, this is a Barbaresco with incredible complexity, power and poise where every little thing seems to be in place.