10/01/25
Back in December, we visited Piedmont on a buying trip to both visit our existing portfolio producers and to discover some new names. The trip was a great success in cementing our belief in fantastic producers with whom we work already, but particularly in terms of finding new talent and some thrilling wines.
One of these new discoveries was Ca’ del Baio, based in Treiso, Barbaresco. The estate has been in the Grasso family for five generations, with Luigi Grasso having first planted vines back in 1921. Since the 1980s, the estate has been managed by his great grandson Giulio and Giulio’s wife Luciana, who were the first to start bottling wines under their own label (the grapes were previously sold to Produttori del Barbaresco).
However, in the last few years, they have increasingly handed over the reins to their three daughters, Paola, Valentina and Federica. Valentina, who kindly hosted us during our visit, had experience working at various other producers (including Burgundy’s Domaine de Montille) before joining the family business. The three daughters have helped to reinvigorate the estate, bringing their passion and energy to help push Ca’ del Baio to new heights. You can sense the pride they have in their wines and in continuing their family’s legacy.
The family own 28 hectares and produce a set of wines which were striking in their refinement. The wines are all aged in large oak botti, apart from the Barbaresco Pora and Vallegrande Riserva VV, which are made in tiny volumes and therefore aged in small oak tonneaux.
These are incredibly elegant wines with impressive depth and complexity. Not to mention they offer undeniable value – you are getting Cru Barbaresco for the same price as a Hautes-Côtes de Beaune!
We tasted the 2022 Barbarescos when we visited, which we offer below with our tasting notes. They have not yet been scored by any critics, but the 2021s were praised by Antonio Galloni, with the Barbaresco Autinbej, Vallegrande, Pora (2020) and Asili scoring 91, 93, 94 and 95 respectively. This is certainly an estate on the up and one to watch.
‘Ca’ del Baio excels with forward, open-knit Barbarescos that offer notable charm…The Grassos are one of the historic vigneron families in Piedmont. It’s great to see them doing so well with the refined wines they make today.’
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Oct 2024
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£140.00(Exc. UK Duty & VAT)£192.77Inc. UK Duty & VAT | 10+ |