Elio Grasso, a traditional Barolo producer based in Monforte d'Alba, has maintained meticulous standards since the 1970s, focusing on single-vineyard bottlings that express Barolo's terroir complexity. Runcot is a prestigious cru within Barolo's heartland, planted on marl-limestone soils at mid-elevation, producing deeply structured Nebbiolo. The 2010 vintage, a warm year in Piedmont, yielded fully ripe fruit with concentrated tannins—ideal for Riserva production, which demands minimum five years' maturation before release. Grasso's approach emphasises low-intervention viticulture and selective harvesting to achieve optimal phenolic ripeness without overripeness.

Ripe Nebbiolo fruit underwent traditional fermentation in open-top wooden vats, with hand-punching of the cap during a 15–20-day maceration to extract tannin complexity and colour. Post-fermentation, the wine aged for 36 months in large Slavonian oak casks (40 hectolitres and larger), allowing slow oxidative maturation characteristic of Barolo's traditional style. The extended élevage permitted natural softening of harsh tannins, developing secondary flavours of tar, rose, and leather. Minimal new oak was employed; Riserva designation dictated the extended ageing window and gentle handling throughout.