Lungarotti
Riserva Vigna Monticchio Torgiano Rubesco Sangiovese Blend 2010
If in Umbria, Lungarotti merits attention. This riserva from a very strong vintage is already showing old leather, tar and dry cherry. A steal at 24 euro.
Another example of Italian women taking over and upping the ante. — 10 years ago
Elio Altare
Vigneto Arborina Barolo Nebbiolo 2010
We had the honor of a private tasting with Silvia Altare in the Michele Chiarlo tasting room at Palas Cerequio in La Morra. Silvia is the daughter of Elio Altare, Godfather of modern Barolo. She is a delightful, humorous, efferevescent and worthy heir to her family's craft. The 2010 is a culmination of all the family has learned since they began making Barolo in small casks, and revolutionizing what was otherwise (at the time) little more than small fruit production in the Barolo region. She tells the story of her grandfather leaving the vineyard for two days and her father taking a chainsaw to the family's traditional large casks in favor of his new approach.
Elegant, with perfect poise in tannins and acidity, this single cru from Arborina will go for decades. — 10 years ago
Vietti
Sant' Anna Dolcetto d'Alba
Tasted after a private tour with Elena and Lucca of the family estate. They are "crazy" Italian in all of the best ways. Expressive, talented, creative, artistic and masterful, Lucca's grandfather Mario was thought to have lost it when back in the early 1900's he began buying discontinuous plots of land because they exhibited different geologic characteristics. Townsfolk would laugh as "Crazy Vietti" would haul his donkey and cart to the different vineyards when they all farmed and lived on a single plot.
That breadth of knowledge defines Vietti today. This Barbera d'Alba is worlds apart from their Barbera d'Asti, a testament to Mario's vision.
True to form for Barbera, but more akin to Nebbiolo on the nose and finish. This one intrigues if not familiar or thought Barbera might not be for you (...that was me...). — 10 years ago
Malvirà
Riserva Mombeltramo Roero Nebbiolo 2010
Malvira is a lovely family winery in Roero. The Malmbeltramo single vineyard is a more bold expression of their reserve Rosso. — 10 years ago
Elio Grasso
Gavarini Chiniera Barolo Nebbiolo 2012
The stalwart maker in Monforte d'Alba, and for very good reason. Elio cultivates a small number of closely held, prize crus and knows the terroir literally like the back of his hand. If ever in Barolo, this tenuta is not to be missed.
We had an early taste of the 2012 single cru from Gavarini Chiniera and it was glorious. Loads of promise that speak in favor of a futures purchase when it comes available, if you can find it. — 10 years ago
Cantina del Pino
Ovello Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2011
So, being in Piemonte during wine and truffle harvest, everything is better. The slow food, the truffles and of course the nebulous Nebbiolo. This expression of Barbaresco makes one wonder if you can ever really enjoy another wine. — 10 years ago
Andrew Spingler
Poetry, en magnum — 2 years ago