From: Oltrepò Pavese, Lombardy, Italy
Blend: Pinot Nero

Taste: This wine presents itself in a brilliant scarlet red hue with subtle mauve edges. On the nose, starts with the dominant presence of pomegranate and juicy raspberry, seamlessly blending into the deeper, rich notes of bing cherry and brambly strawberry. Floral nuances of violet and a hint of hibiscus add a delicate touch. At the same time, an essence of an alpine forest provides a refreshing earth undertone with a whisper of light baking spice lingers in the background.

The wine embodies brightness and texture on the palate, echoing the red fruits identified on the nose, with cranberry and pomegranate taking center stage. The freshness and juiciness of the fruits are complemented by a crunchy acidity, making each sip vibrant and lively. The finish introduces a sophisticated layer of Earl Grey tea leaves and dried herbs, offering a nuanced and lingering aftertaste that invites contemplation. This wine's palate is a harmonious blend of freshness, fruitiness, and subtle complexity that makes it a delightful experience from the first sip to the last.

Pairing: Pinot Noir's versatility shines in its pairing potential, elegantly complementing a variety of dishes without overwhelming them. Its dry nature is best suited to dishes that aren't overly sweet, allowing the wine's nuanced profile to stand out. The high acidity of Pinot Noir makes it a perfect match for fatty and creamy dishes, like roast chicken, where it cuts through the richness with its tartness.

Mushrooms are particularly well-suited to Pinot Noir, as the wine's fruity brightness enhances the earthiness of the mushrooms. When it comes to cheese pairings, the wine's great acidity and fruity, earthy notes pair wonderfully with a wide range, from the creamy Brie and Camembert to the bolder goat Gouda and Manchego. Adding dried fruits such as strawberries and tart cherries can elevate a Pinot Noir cheese board even further.

For a casual yet refined pairing, try Pinot Noir with pepperoni pizza, where the spice and saltiness of the pepperoni beautifully balance the wine’s acidity. This principle also applies to marinated meats, where the marinade's flavors harmonize with the wine's fruity notes. Overall, Pinot Noir's balance of acidity, tannins, and fruitiness makes it a flexible choice that can elevate both gourmet meals and simple dishes.

Tarte Flambée
Recipe from Gabriel Kreuther
Adapted by Melissa Clark

About. In one of Italy's lesser-known yet historically rich Oltrepò Pavese region sits the Frecciarossa estate. Since its inception in 1919 by Mario Odero, a visionary Italian merchant with a profound love for the idyllic hills and vineyards surrounding an enchanting 18th-century villa, Frecciarossa has woven a rich narrative of wine, heritage, and innovation.

His son, Giorgio Odero, magnificently carried forward Mario's legacy. His education in Champagne and Burgundy infused Frecciarossa with a profound understanding of Pinot Noir, elevating the estate to international recognition by the 1920s. This acclaim was so widespread that Alfred Hitchcock, during his stay at Lake Como, memorably penned his appreciation for Frecciarossa's 'La Vigne' Bianca on the back of a Villa D’Este menu.

Valeria Radici Odero, Mario's great-granddaughter, has embraced the mantle of stewardship with a blend of reverence for tradition and a zest for contemporary winemaking. Her collaborative efforts with Piedmont consultant Cristiano Garella and historic enologist Gianluca Scaglione have heralded a new era of excellence at Frecciarossa. Valeria's philosophy, rooted in the belief that wine is akin to offspring, nurtured with love and respect to reflect its origins, encapsulates her dedication to crafting authentic wines of their terroir.

The Frecciarossa estate, a 19th-century organic farm, sprawls across 37 hectares of fertile landscape, interspersed with vineyards, hazelnut groves, and other agricultural bounty. This setting serves as the backdrop to the production of Frecciarossa’s wines and as a living museum of the Oltrepò Pavese's agrarian heritage.

From the textured complexity of the 'Anamari' cru, made from local varietals, to the pioneering 'Sillery', a Pinot Nero vinified as a white wine, Frecciarossa's offerings
celebrate variety and quality. The ‘Sillery,' in particular, stands out as a vibrant homage to its namesake in Champagne, capturing the essence of Pinot Noir with a unique twist that resonates with wine lovers - novice and experienced.

The soils of Frecciarossa, rich in iron-red clay, marl, and limestone, bear the imprints of a long-gone sea, adding layers of minerality and complexity to the wines. The name Frecciarossa means "Red Arrow" in Italian. However, the origin of the name stems from a misinterpretation of the local dialect phrase "fraccia rossa," which translates to "red landslide." This naming was due to the color and nature of the soil on the estate, characterized chiefly by clay with iron ore veins, which tends to retain a significant amount of water underground and is prone to frequent landslides. The term was mistakenly translated as Frecciarossa at the local registry at the turn of the last century, and it has remained the name of the hill and the winery ever since. This unique name reflects the winery's deep connection to its terroir and adds a layer of historical and cultural identity to the estate.

Located just south of the Po River in the Lombardy region of Italy, this area is known for its ideal wine production conditions, thanks to its hills at the foot of the Apennine mountains. The terroir of this region is characterized by pebbles, sandstone, and clay subsoils, which are excellent for the cultivation of fine wine grapes​​.

The estate spans nearly 25 hectares, with 20 hectares planted with vines, including grape varieties such as Riesling Renano (Rhine Riesling), Pinot Nero, Coratina, Barbera, Uva Rara, and Merlot. Frecciarossa has adopted a philosophy that balances vine vigor and yields through careful vine management practices, avoiding using potent fertilizers but using organic compost to nourish the vines. This approach, coupled with allowing wild grasses to grow between the vine rows to compete with the vines' root systems, ensures that the grapes express the fullest potential of the Oltrepò Pavese terroir. The vines are planted at high density, and spur pruning and fruit selection are employed to enhance fruit quality​​.

The 2022 vintage of this Pinot Nero, cultivated in the foothills of Casteggio, demonstrates meticulous care and attention to detail in vineyard management and winemaking. The vines, thriving in lime/clay soils at 120-200 meters above sea level, enjoy a NE-SW orientation that optimizes sunlight exposure, contributing to the grapes' balanced ripening. Using a simple Guyot training system, coupled with a vine density of 5,000 vines per hectare, underscores a commitment to quality over quantity, as evidenced by the yield of 1-1.2 kg per vine. The process of leaf thinning in mid-July, followed by a selective hand-harvest into 17 kg boxes, ensures only the best grapes make it to the fermentation vats, setting the stage for a wine of exceptional quality.

Vinification of this wine respects the traditional yet innovative spirit of its makers. Destemming, gentle crushing, and fermentation with indigenous yeasts at controlled temperatures below 26 °C, along with a carefully monitored 8-day maceration period, reflect the winery's dedication to preserving the natural character of the Pinot Nero grapes. Natural malolactic fermentation in oak barrels and aging in stainless steel vats for six months, followed by at least two more months in the bottle before release, contribute to the wine's complex profile. The 2022 vintage, marked by its very hot conditions and minimal rainfall, led to a harvest with remarkably high day-night temperature variations, ultimately enhancing the wine's aromatic expression and acidity.