Mayolet is a rare grape variety that thrives at high elevations, primarily found west of the town of Aosta where it is typically blended into Torrette DOC wines. However, a few producers choose to showcase it as a single varietal. The Di Barrò Mayolet offers a dark color, with fresh red and blue fruit aromas, a medium body, and lower alcohol content.
Designation
Grape Varieties
Type
Soil
Aspect
Vineyard
WINERY
Fermentation
Aging
Alcohol
AT HOME
Serving Temperature
Cellaring
Vallée d’Aoste DOC
100% Mayolet
Dry, red wine
70% sand, with loam and clay, over fissured granite
Southern exposure at 2500 feet (750 meters). Average slope of 30 degrees.
From two steep terraced vineyards on Monte Torrette. Vine age is 20 to 25 years old.
Harvested in early September. Wines are fermented in temperature controlled steel using indigenous yeasts.
Matures for 12 months in stainless steel tanks. Further aging in the bottle for six months before release.
13%
60°F (13°C)
VINEYARD
Best enjoyed young
Appearance:
Medium purple color
Nose:
Blueberry, black cherry, orange peel, raspberry, clove, nutmeg, white pepper.
Taste:
Raspberry, sour cherry, strawberry. Light and bright.
Pairing:
eal Milanese, fresh goat cheese, charcuterie plate, Cobb salad.
Why We Love This Wine
Sourced from two vineyards near the peak of Monte Torrette, the Di Barrò Mayolet originates from the terraced "Toule" vineyard and the steep "Condemine" vineyard, situated at altitudes of 2600 feet and 2800 feet respectively. Mayolet, with its preference for sunny south-facing locations, can ripen at higher elevations than other local varietals. Nearly extinct, this grape was rediscovered in the 1990s and now boasts around 10 acres planted by 10 producers.
The Di Barrò Mayolet displays an intense purple color and bold aromas of blueberry, sour red cherry, cinnamon, alpine flowers, and white pepper. Despite its intense appearance and fragrance, the wine surprises with a medium body, soft tannins, zippy acidity, and 13% alcohol content. Notably, Di Barrò stands out as one of the few wineries without any barrels, opting for stainless steel (and occasionally clay amphora) for all ten of its wines. The Mayolet is aged for one year in stainless steel tanks, making it a lighter wine ideal for the start of a meal, best enjoyed within two years.
Mayolet
2019
About the Winery
High in the alps, overlooked by Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, sits the tiny estate of Di Barrò. Since 1998, it has been run by the couple Elvira Rini and Andrea Barmaz, with their children Matteo and Francesca taking on increasing roles. The ten acres of vineyard sits between 2000 and 3000 feet in elevation, and sit between the hamlets of Saint Pierre, Villeneuve, and Sarre. 18,000 bottles (1,500 cases) are produced across all wines.
Images Courtesy of Di Barró