Oggero Roero Le Coste 2023
We have 6 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
Le Coste — "the slopes" — is a single south-facing vineyard in Santo Stefano Roero at 320 meters above sea level. The soils are sandy-clay, slightly heavier than the pure sand of Alberto's Arneis parcels, which gives the Nebbiolo more grip and structure while keeping the lifted, aromatic character that defines Roero reds. The vines are 30 years old. Nebbiolo from the Roero's sandy soils grows into a different wine than it does across the Tanaro in the Langhe: less tannic and more perfumed, with the same varietal DNA but a different expression of it entirely. The comparison to Barolo is inevitable; they are two genuinely distinct wines.
The Wine
100% Nebbiolo, certified organic. Hand-harvested in the second decade of October. 25-day maceration in stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts; aged 14 months in Slavonian oak tonneaux, followed by a full year of bottle conditioning before release at 22-24 months post-harvest. Nothing is fined or filtered. The extended vinification builds a wine with real depth for the appellation: red cherry, dried roses, iron-laced mineral depth, and the sandy soil's characteristic lift running through the finish. The 2023 vintage was warm and concentrated in Piedmont; the Roero's free-draining sandy soils handled the late-season rains better than the heavier ground across the river, and the result is a structured wine that still maintains freshness.
The People
Alberto Oggero grew up in Canale, in the Roero, and spent his childhood working alongside his grandfather Sandro in the family's vineyards. His parents did not follow their own fathers into wine; Alberto was different. When Sandro passed, Alberto returned to take over the 2-hectare property, and by the time he was 20 he had restored the family house and cellar by hand. His first wine was 2009: 500 bottles of Roero Arneis. The first Nebbiolo followed in 2011. In the years since he has reclaimed additional old vineyards in Santo Stefano Roero, building the estate to around 5 hectares with vines ranging from 25 to over 80 years of age. The farming is certified organic; fermentation is with indigenous yeasts; nothing is fined or filtered. His philosophy is restraint and patience: nothing happening in the cellar should get in the way of the fruit. He is a member of RAW Wine and works entirely with the Roero's two native varieties, Arneis and Nebbiolo.
Food Pairing
Tajarin with a slow-cooked meat ragù, rabbit braised with herbs and white wine, roast lamb with rosemary and garlic, or a wedge of aged Castelmagno. Roero Nebbiolo is more approachable younger than Barolo — lighter tannin, more aromatic lift — and Le Coste delivers both depth and accessibility at the table.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Piedmont, framed by the Alps in northwestern Italy, is a land of rolling hills and carefully cultivated vineyards. The continental climate, with its cold winters and warm summers, creates prime conditions for the Nebbiolo grape, which dominates much of the region's red wine production. The Langhe area is home to Barolo and Barbaresco, structured red wines known for their complex aromas, firm tannins, and aging potential. While Nebbiolo is the dominant grape of Piedmont, the region also makes interesting white wines like those from Arneis and Timorasso. Alto Piemonte is a separate region in the north with its own distinctive expressions of Nebbiolo, alongside other red grape varietals.
Italy - Piedmont
Nebbiolo, a prestigious grape from Italy's Piedmont region, is celebrated for its profound truffle and rose aromas, complex flavors, and ability to age gracefully thanks to strong acidity and tannins, producing the renowned Barolo and Barbaresco wines.
