Vigne Marina Coppi Sant’Andrea Barbera 2023
£20.75
The wine
Intense ruby red, opening on alluring hints of chamomile and linden that develop into cherry and wild strawberry. Complex, rounded and supple, with a delicious fresh-fruit character running through.
The wine is named after the street in Castellania where the winery stands, and the estate itself sits in the birthplace of Fausto Coppi, Marina’s father and one of the great cyclists of the twentieth century. Founded in 2003, it works just four hectares, concentrating on the native varieties of the Colli Tortonesi: Timorasso, Favorita, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Croatina. Marina and Giovanni work alongside their son Francesco and his wife Anna, farming sustainably. The vineyard lies mid-slope at 400 metres, sheltered from the cold northerlies, with a marked day-to-night swing and one of the lowest rainfalls in Piemonte; the soil is the grey-blue Marl of Sant’Agata, 55 per cent clay over sand and limestone. Fermented in stainless steel with pump-overs and punch-downs, then ten months in tank and eight in bottle.
The producer
Vigne Marina Coppi
View all Vigne Marina Coppi winesVigne Marina Coppi is a small estate in the Colli Tortonesi hills of Piedmont, founded by the family of the legendary cyclist Fausto Coppi and named for his granddaughter. It has become one of the champions of Timorasso, the once-forgotten white grape now hailed as one of Italy's greatest.
The vineyards sit on marl and limestone in this quiet corner of eastern Piedmont, farmed with care to coax structure and minerality from the local varieties.
The Fausto and Grand Fostó Timorasso bottlings are textured, age-worthy whites of real depth, while Barbera and the delicate Favorita complete a range rooted firmly in place.
Characterful, serious and full of history, this is a estate with a story as compelling as its wines. Discover the revival of Timorasso.
