Raffaella’s ‘Faren’ bottling sees a super classical and somewhat matured rendition of Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo; something structurally softer and more rounded than you’d traditionally find in the more ‘classical’ corners of the Langhe to the south, and, in this instance, packed with boatloads of brooding red fruit and plenty of darker, alluring savory tones. Wild fermented and raised in 25HL Salvonian botti for 12 months, the Faren achieves a rarely found balance at this price point – high on outright and more primal ‘delicious factor,’ and equally high in terms of intrigue, nuance, and multi-dimensionality. The nose is beautifully savory: beef bouillon, mountain herbs, mint, shiitake, and Dutch licorice rising from a core of wild and powdery red fruits. Much of the aromatic profile rings true on the palate, with added pings of zesty orange citrus, Campari, and Angostura bitters enlivening a chewy mouthful of stupidly moreish mountain Nebbiolo.