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19 / 01 / 26

Sommoclivo 2012 - Torre San Quirico

From the cellar, I selected a bottle of Sommoclivo 2012 from Torre San Quirico, a wine that, to me, perfectly demonstrates how powerful restraint can be. Torre San Quirico is the personal project of Alessio Fornasetti, who deliberately chose in the early 2000s to leave city life behind and dedicate himself fully to the vineyard. Working on the morainic hill of San Quirico, he farms on a small scale and without compromise, guided by a single, clear aim: to craft wines that express their high-altitude terroir as purely as possible. Sommoclivo is made from nebbiolo, which here in the mountains shows a strikingly fresh and refined expression.

Today, the 2012 displays a bright, gently evolved colour. On the nose, cool ripe fruit emerges alongside citrus zest, apple and white flowers, followed by subtle spice and a pronounced mineral note reminiscent of wet stone and alpine herbs. Everything is finely drawn, precise and restrained, with no excess.

On the palate, the wine is remarkably vibrant. Fresh acidity brings tension and lift, while years of ageing have added harmony and roundness. There is depth without heaviness, leading to a long, pure finish that beautifully underscores the wine’s mountain character. This is not a wine that overwhelms, but one that convinces gradually, quietly.

In terms of food pairing, it naturally lends itself to Alpine and Northern Italian cuisine: trout or pike-perch, herb-infused risottos, light poultry dishes or aged mountain cheeses. Dishes that honour the wine’s finesse and precision.

After more than a decade, the Sommoclivo 2012 has evolved gracefully. It is now fully balanced, yet still retains enough tension to continue ageing for several more years. A quiet, characterful wine — and a fine illustration of Alessio Fornasetti’s philosophy: patience, purity, and respect for place and time.

Discover all available vintages of this wine.

A presto, Salute!