Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2018 “Il Rosso delle Donne” pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart, mostly red fruits: Morello cherry, raspberries, strawberry, roses, a whiff of horse blanket, red rope licorice, dried green herbs, and dry gravel. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is a slightly wild but positively gorgeous example of a Nebbiolo-based blend from Alto Piemonte. There’s an old school feel about this that completely charms the heart. Too bad there is so little of it: the entire Boca DOC has less than 50 acres planted to vine. Castello Conti only made 3912 bottles of this gem. Drink now through 2048+. — 5 months ago
Enjoyed this with steak at dinner. Very good wine. — 6 months ago
Superiore lives up to it… — 2 months ago
bit shy, needed some time in the decanter - translucent ruby colored, lots of violets and spice, sour cherry and bing cherry, rhubarb, tar, sweet soil, really complex on nose, med weight w/firm tannic grip, flavors from nose on mid palate, nice finish. paired with smoked ribs and it really worked - Father's day treat. i have another of these, believe this is in the pocket right now. *more Barbaresco than Brunello — 4 months ago
Dusty cherry, strawberry, leather, and tobacco on the finish. Still zippy acid after 19 years! — 5 months ago
dry and full bodied deep and juicy — 7 months ago
Just a half step behind the 2021, my favorite vintage of this wine! A Barolo all but in name! — 4 months ago
Cren Dell’Ape Cortese Blanc 2023
Piemonte, Italy 🇮🇹
Overview
A crisp, approachable white made from 100% Cortese, an indigenous Piedmontese grape best known for Gavi wines. Cren Dell’Ape highlights Cortese’s refreshing, fruit-driven personality while keeping a casual and fun-drinking style.
Aromas & Flavors
Fresh aromas of white flowers, yellow peach, and stone fruits lead into a lively palate. Flavors of tropical fruit, peach, and citrus zest carry through with balance, offering a vibrant and fruity medley that feels like a “cornucopia of yellow fruit.”
Mouthfeel
Light-bodied and refreshing, with bright acidity that makes it crisp but not sharp. Clean and smooth finish that invites another sip.
Winemaking Notes
Fermented in stainless steel to emphasize fruit purity and freshness. Made to be enjoyed young for maximum vibrancy.
Food Pairing
Perfect alongside seafood, pasta with vegetables, light cheeses, or as an aperitif. A versatile, crowd-pleasing white that works in almost any casual setting.
Verdict
A fun, fruity, and highly drinkable Cortese. Hard to stop at just one glass—this wine is pure Piedmontese charm in a bottle. — 4 months ago
A fantastic bottle of Brunello we had in Florence. Deep red and full bodied. Great depths of flavor, cherry, vanilla, tobacco, and lightly floral. — 5 months ago
Marta Jackowska
A real treat. Bigger (more fruit forward) than most Bunello’s we’ve tried, particularly given how young the wine is. Red currants, cinnamon, leathery. Solid wine. — 2 months ago