La Miraja Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato 2023

Castagnole Monferrato is regarded as the birthplace of Ruché, and rather fittingly, Eugenio has the oldest vineyard of Ruché grapes in existence. Only about 800 cases of Eugenio’s hyper-local Piedmont specialty are made each year. A wild nose redolent of violet, rose, iris, jasmine, cardamom, white pepper, and, perhaps most surprisingly for a red wine, lychee. On the palate, silky layers of strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, cherry and pomegranate are complimented by rich clove and an herbaceous undercurrent, all backed by fresh acidity and fine tannins. It’s floral, spicy, with enough grip to make a grown man blush. Nebbiolo fans, buckle up, this is a knock-out.