With founder Giancarlo Travaglini's signature on the front label, the Travaglini 2015 Il Sogno ("the dream") is made with fruit that was harvested a bit early and then left to air-dry for 100 days under special conditions with controlled temperatures and ventilation. The grapes lose much of their water volume, thus concentrating the sugars (alcohol) and flavors. That extra intensity and boldness obtained by the appassimento process is immediately evident, and this wine certainly stands out among the more delicate and nuanced wines made by the Travaglini family. Like the Gattinara wines from Travaglini, this wine is also packaged in the estate's trademarked bottle. What you get here is power and bold intensity (with a relatively contained 15.5% alcohol content) that pushes the natural boundaries of the Nebbiolo grape. That push is even more apparent in a warm and sunny vintage like 2015. Some 4,000 cases (with six bottles each) were released.
Winespectator (91)
Fruitcake, fig, leather, tobacco and caramel flavors mark this ripe red. There is an impression of sweetness, yet this is dry, with chalky tannins for support.
