Crotin
1897
Asti - Piedmont
Brothers Federico (Agronomist) and Corrado Russo (Enologist) produce a suite of expressive wines from organically farmed Piemontese grape varieties in the hills of Monferrato. Their vineyards are found inside a cool microclimate west of Asti and the wines are strikingly pure, low key and unadorned. Crotin’s bone dry sparkling Freisa is achingly fine. Bussanello is a fascinating cross from the 1930’s between Riesling Italico and Furmint and has lovely pear and jasmine aromatics. The Grignolino is pepper filled and light with a wonderful bitter finish while the Barbera is dark fruited and raised in stainless steel for purity and elegance.
THE WINES
Crotin Piemonte Bussanello DOC ‘Plisun’ (Riesling Italico X Furmint)
Bussanello is a cross between Furmint (Hungarian) and Riesling Italico (Central European) from 1936 and Crotin is the only producer of it in purity. Crotin have a single, organically farmed hectare that they planted in 2003, producing a wine that now has 'Piemonte Bussanello DOC' status. This extremely unique white wine is vinified traditionally in stainless steel tanks with intermittent battonage taking place until January with bottling in February.
Crotin Piemonte Bianco ‘Camporotondo’ (Malvasia Moscata)
Malvasia Moscata has long been present in the hills of Monferrato but was confused with Moscato di Canelli, as the two share the classic Muscat aroma. In 2014, Fede and his brothers planted 0.5 of a hectare with an eastern exposure to guarantee good acidity and a slow ripening. Vinification is done with 30% maceration on skins for 15/20 days, after which the wine remains in cement tanks for 1 year. This is their first vintage of the wine and strikingly well made. Skin contact performs a great textural role and quietly weaves in with the aromatics of the wine. Tiny quantities are made and we are very proud to be showcasing this wine in Australia!
Crotin Spumante Brut Rose ‘Nautilus’ (Freisa)
This is a delicious Rosato made in the hills of Monferrato outside Asti. It is 100% Freisa (rare) from 30 year old organically farmed vines. Only 2500 bottles produced.
"Bright pink-red. High-pitched aromas of strawberry, herbs, rose and violet. Then sappy red berry and floral pastille flavors are complicated by hints of botanical herbs offering very good inner-mouth perfume. A lively Rosato with noteworthy finishing thrust, length and cut. Not especially complex but balanced and refined; it’s a delicious, juicy, vibrant Rosé that will match to many different foods. A rare Rosato made with 100% Freisa, from 30-year old northeast-facing vines planted on mostly clay (80%) and sandy (20%) soils at roughly 260 meters above sea level. Lovely." Ian d'Agata - Vinous
Crotin Piemonte DOC Rosato ‘Malvento’ (Nebbiolo)
Crotin Grignolino d’Asti DOC ‘San Patelu’
Light-weight Grignolino but packed with juicy strawberry, pepper and natural tannin, this is so Piemontese! It is high on fragrance and food-friendly acidity this elegant wine is the perfect light red.. From a single hectare (Grignolino is sadly a rarity in Piedmont these days) of organically farmed vines with wine making in stainless steel.
"Yum. Strawberry and raspberry, maybe red cherry, but pretty much all the fresh and juicy red fruits your heart desires. There’s also some aniseed and almond, orange peel, lightness and crunch, a pomegranate and cranberry freshness, a light rasp of tannin, and a pretty red fruit finish of solid length. Yum, again. Chill it lightly, and you’ll be smiling. The score is, for the most part, irrelevant. It’s one of those wines that’s pure joy to drink." Gary Walsh - The Wine Front
Crotin Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG ‘Monterosso’
Ruchè is a marvelous, if unknown, native variety from a tiny DOC surrounding 7 villages just outside Asti. 'Monterosso' is captivatingly aromatic - rose petal, mulberry and tobacco. Palate wise it is juicy, weightless and unique. With fruit character atypical for Piedmont this is a wine lover's treasure. Made in stainless steel.
“Fresh rose and violet aromas set the tone for this elegant and pretty Ruchè. Notes of cherry combine with savory spices and wild herbs to ask you to explore the wine more deeply. Raspberry and red currants both fresh and macerated develop on the palate alongside pine and forest-like aromas finishing with a chiseled structure and crunch acidity. Try with moderately spicy or smoked dishes.” 91 points - Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast.
Crotin Freisa d’Asti DOC ‘Aris’
Freisa is a relative of Nebbiolo and native to the hills around Asti. The grape is packed full of sumptuous tannin, rushing acidity and can be used in a range of styles from fizzy and semi sweet to brooding and tannic. We work with three fascinating renditions of freisa from the gentle hands of the Crotin family; bone dry sparkling, a racy rosato and this juicy yet structured red.
‘Aris’ comes from a single south-facing hectare carved into the woods at 280 metres — a site that delivers both ripeness and freshness to this distinctive, character-driven wine. Crotin works with a light hand: healthy organic fruit, gentle extraction, and extended stainless steel ageing let Freisa express its purest self.
The wine is sleek and complex, rich yet fresh, with rose perfume, black olive, tart cherry and wild herbs seamlessly layered. The palate is driven by Freisa’s signature grip — tannin is everything… embrace it.
7-10 days maceration in stainless. Aged for 12 months in stainless steel vats and a minimum of 12 months in the bottle before release.
Soils: 50% ancient marine soil with white coral, 20% silts and 25% clay, rich in fossil.
FURTHER READING
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