La Ca' Nova
Vigne Bric Mentina Montefico Barbaresco Nebbiolo
Barbaresco, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
La Ca’Növa is now under fifth generation leadership; they used to sell all their fruit to Gaja. Super traditional methods with a twist; they used botti made of Austrian oak instead of Salvonian. Vigna Bric Mentina is a sub cru of the Montefico MGA where the soils are relatively sandy.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2015 “Vigna Bric Mentina” pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe Morello cherry, raspberry, strawberry, roses with freshly cut stems, cedar chest, dried herbs and gravelly earth and minerals. There’s also a kiss of VA, just in case you needed a reminder that this is a traditional Italian wine, lol! On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. This is absolutely baller. How did I sleep on this producer for so long? Oh yeah…I remember: access. I live in Omaha. Welp…now I have another producer to chase. Drink now with patience (enjoy the ride!) and through 2045.
La Ca’Növa is now under fifth generation leadership; they used to sell all their fruit to Gaja. Super traditional methods with a twist; they used botti made of Austrian oak instead of Salvonian. Vigna Bric Mentina is a sub cru of the Montefico MGA where the soils are relatively sandy.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2015 “Vigna Bric Mentina” pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe Morello cherry, raspberry, strawberry, roses with freshly cut stems, cedar chest, dried herbs and gravelly earth and minerals. There’s also a kiss of VA, just in case you needed a reminder that this is a traditional Italian wine, lol! On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. This is absolutely baller. How did I sleep on this producer for so long? Oh yeah…I remember: access. I live in Omaha. Welp…now I have another producer to chase. Drink now with patience (enjoy the ride!) and through 2045.
This has been in the decanter only an hour but it’s already amazing. Utterly classic nose of dried rose petals, musky spice, macerated cherry, loamy soil studded with crystallized shards of crushed stone. In the mouth the flavors have gone secondary and about to get some tertiary stuff: Rich mahogany furniture, dark cherry, leather, soil notes, underbrush. The 2014 tannins are there, but they’re not intrusive. Nice length.
This has been in the decanter only an hour but it’s already amazing. Utterly classic nose of dried rose petals, musky spice, macerated cherry, loamy soil studded with crystallized shards of crushed stone. In the mouth the flavors have gone secondary and about to get some tertiary stuff: Rich mahogany furniture, dark cherry, leather, soil notes, underbrush. The 2014 tannins are there, but they’re not intrusive. Nice length.
Apr 29th, 2023
Decanted and enjoyed. This is great out of the gate. Smooth red fruits with a medium finish. TBL
Decanted and enjoyed. This is great out of the gate. Smooth red fruits with a medium finish. TBL
Jul 28th, 2021The palate on this was rocking from the first minute in the decanter but the nose took some time to come around. Initially the nose was very balsamic and one dimensional but over the course of 90 minutes it developed scents of forest floor, dusty mahogany, and macerated cherry. Palate is amazing, with intense, sweet dark cherry fruit, moist humus, savory minerals, and old barrel notes. Great concentration counterbalanced with softness of texture and decent acids. Great length and purity. Superb.
The palate on this was rocking from the first minute in the decanter but the nose took some time to come around. Initially the nose was very balsamic and one dimensional but over the course of 90 minutes it developed scents of forest floor, dusty mahogany, and macerated cherry. Palate is amazing, with intense, sweet dark cherry fruit, moist humus, savory minerals, and old barrel notes. Great concentration counterbalanced with softness of texture and decent acids. Great length and purity. Superb.
Oct 10th, 2020
The 2016 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina is dark, dense, powerful and super expressive. Black cherry, mocha, leather, licorice and menthol are some of the many notes that take shape in a Barbaresco that is bursting with energy. Chalk, orange peel, dried flowers and mint add layers of nuance as the wine opens up in the glass. This brooding, potent Barbaresco needs time to be at its best, but it is clearly a great wine in the making. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2019)
The 2016 Barbaresco Montefico Vigna Bric Mentina is dark, dense, powerful and super expressive. Black cherry, mocha, leather, licorice and menthol are some of the many notes that take shape in a Barbaresco that is bursting with energy. Chalk, orange peel, dried flowers and mint add layers of nuance as the wine opens up in the glass. This brooding, potent Barbaresco needs time to be at its best, but it is clearly a great wine in the making. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2019)
Nov 7th, 2019
Never tasted this grower’s wines before, but now I’m a fan! To the dark, brooding side: camphor, tar, roasted plums. Savory. Tannic, but not tough.
Never tasted this grower’s wines before, but now I’m a fan! To the dark, brooding side: camphor, tar, roasted plums. Savory. Tannic, but not tough.
Sep 1st, 2019
Perfumed with dried violets, black tea and dried, savory blackcherry...tannins med +, acid high..long finish. Great wine for the price...
Perfumed with dried violets, black tea and dried, savory blackcherry...tannins med +, acid high..long finish. Great wine for the price...
Dec 15th, 2018
Delicious and heady stuff. Perfumed, floral and tangy.
Delicious and heady stuff. Perfumed, floral and tangy.
Apr 11th, 2017