Gattinara, 1961 Red Wine

Luigi Nervi

Bottle size: 75cl

ABV: 13%

Price:

£119.00

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Description

Vintage & Background
1961 is remembered as one of the greatest Piedmont vintages of the 20th century. While Barolo and Barbaresco gained most of the fame, Gattinara—crafted from Nebbiolo (locally known as Spanna)—also produced exceptional wines with structure and longevity. Luigi Nervi, the oldest continuously operating winery in Gattinara, has long been regarded as a benchmark producer, making wines that combine firm mountain structure with elegance and aromatic complexity.

Appearance & Nose
After more than sixty years, the wine shows a garnet core shading to tawny and amber at the rim. The bouquet is refined and deeply tertiary, offering aromas of dried cherries, violets, rose petals, and hints of orange peel. With time in the glass, savoury notes of leather, tobacco, underbrush, truffle, and subtle spice emerge, alongside a faint iron-mineral edge characteristic of Gattinara’s volcanic soils.

Palate & Texture
On the palate the 1961 Nervi Gattinara is elegant and complex rather than powerful. The fruit profile is delicate, with dried red berry and cherry flavours balanced by notes of tea leaf, earth, and balsamic herbs. Tannins have softened considerably but still provide a framework, while acidity remains lively, giving lift and freshness. The finish is long, silky, and savoury, echoing dried flowers and spice.

Maturity & Drinking Window
This wine is fully mature and drinking at its peak, though condition of the bottle will strongly influence the experience. Well-stored examples can still show remarkable vitality, but further ageing risks fading the remaining fruit. It is best enjoyed now to capture its elegance and subtlety.

Food Pairing & Serving Suggestions
Serve gently decanted at around 15-17 °C. Ideal pairings include roast game birds, mushroom dishes, truffle risotto, or aged cheeses. The wine’s earthy and floral complexity shines with food that mirrors its delicate yet layered character.

Overall Impression & Verdict
1961 Luigi Nervi Gattinara is a classic example of aged Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo at its finest: elegant, perfumed, mineral, and deeply complex. It embodies both the greatness of the 1961 vintage and the Nervi estate’s historic reputation. For those fortunate enough to have a well-preserved bottle, it offers a rare and contemplative drinking experience.

Condition

Good conditions

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Single bottle cardboard presentation box. Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit a 75cl bottle (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

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Sliding lid wooden gift box with straw lining. Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
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***Please note this product is manufactured to fit a 75cl bottle (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

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***Please note this product is manufactured to fit a 75cl bottle (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

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Select this option for your first wine and then standard packaging for the remaining wine.

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***Please note this product is manufactured to fit two 75cl bottles (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).