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Barbaresco Barolo

The Wines of Piemonte

Wines of PiemonteNebbiolo is the source of Piemonte’s most complex, distinguished, and famous wines, Barolo and Barbaresco. Nebbiolo possesses almost exclusive affinity with Piemonte, as its performance outside this heralded zone is serviceable at best. Despite its marked rapport with Piemonte, Nebbiolo still proves to be a difficult partner, a fact directly implied by its provision of less than 3% of the area’s production. A demanding one, it requires significant exposure to the summer sun and ripens very late in the season.

While Barbaresco is considered to be softer than Barolo, given the appellation’s primary soil type (calcareous), many examples defy this convenient point of difference. In general, however, it tends to be slightly finer, less tannic, and more elegant than Barolo, and typically offers greater approachability. A significant dimension of a wine’s character is influenced by the medium selected for aging as well as the represented site. In traditional practice, Barolos and Barbarescos are fermented in large wooden botti and the maceration process may extend over a two-month period. In modern methodology, which began to evolve in the 1960s, both maceration and fermentation periods were reduced. A hallmark of the movement was the introduction of new French oak barrels, which is widely attributed to Angelo Gaja.
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Villa Sparina Montej Bianco 2005, 750ml De Forville Barbera d'Asti Vigneto Cascina Buc 2007, 750ml
Our Price: $14.39
Our Price: $16.50
Villa Sparina Montej Bianco 2005 De Forville Barbera d'Asti Vigneto Cascina Buc 2007
Green apples, citrus and honeysuckle on the nose. Medium to full bodied, with refreshing and vibrant acidity. While Barbera is Piemonte’s most extensively planted grape—constituting over 50 percent of DOC production—it achieves its greatest expression in the Barbera d’Alba, Barbera d’Asti, and Monferrato DOCs. Those derived from Barbera d’Asti are regarded as realizing the most transparent expressions, given their profound articulation of Barbera’s hallmark acidity. DeForville’s traditional orientation privileges a lithe, rustic character.
Domenico Clerico Dolcetto Langhe Visadi 2008, 750ml Hilberg Barbera d'Alba Per Alessandra 2008, 750ml
Our Price: $18.81
Our Price: $19.80
Domenico Clerico Dolcetto Langhe Visadi 2008 Hilberg Barbera d'Alba Per Alessandra 2008
Overall, vines in Piemonte were plentiful in 2008, so careful vineyard management was necessary to avoid any rot or other disease from the humidity. Heavy rains eventually transitioned into months of dry weather during harvest, leaving the grapes in perfect form. Made of 100 percent Dolcetto grown on vines planted more than 50 years ago, Clerico’s Langhe Visadi cru is macerated for four to five days; the wine then ages in barrique for six to eight months before revealing a dark, purple-red color with layered perfumes of black fruits and toast. Made of 100 percent Barbera from the Priocca zone in Piemonte, it is the sand and white clay marl soils and the zone's elevation, 780 meters above sea level that help produce some of the most perfectly-ripened fruit. Once harvested, the wine ferments for five days in stainless steel tanks. Thereafter, it ages in stainless steel for 12 months and then in bottle for two additional months before release. Limited to only 400 cases, this wine denotes raspberries and strawberries with lively acidity and is great with pizza.
A & GN Fantino Barbera d'Alba Vigna dei Dardi 2005, 750ml Ca dei Mandorli Brachetto d'Acqui Donne Dei Boschi 2009, 750ml
Our Price: $19.94
Our Price: $22.00
A & GN Fantino Barbera d'Alba Vigna dei Dardi 2005 Ca dei Mandorli Brachetto d'Acqui Donne Dei Boschi 2009
Barbera, the approachable Piemontese wine, has a reputation for being a food-friendly wine, and A & GN Fantino's Barbera proves how well earned that reputation is. It's an aromatic Barbera whose floral nose and palate of red fruit and spice will complement a wide swath of lunches and dinners. A happy acidity and a touch of candied lavender make this Barbera a go-to wine when dining al fresco. Drink 2007-2011. Ca' dei Mandorli of Alto Monferrato have been producing wine for over two centuries. Father and son today work in synergy in order to find modern and innovative solutions, typical of the new generations, while strongly maintaining the roots and the tradition that characterize this historical winery. Light and fizzy, slightly sweet with flavors of wild strawberries and roses.
Stella Grignolino d'Asti 2009, 750ml La Querciola Chicchivello Langhe Rosso 2006, 750ml
Our Price: $22.00
Our Price: $22.00
Stella Grignolino d'Asti 2009 La Querciola Chicchivello Langhe Rosso 2006
Grown almost exclusively in Piemonte, the late-ripening Grignolino is usually harvested during the last week of September or first week of October. The grape exhibits naturally high acid and soft tannins. Stella’s version is a typical rosé color, light-bodied and dry with an intensely floral and fruity nose. One of the four vineyards of the La Querciola estate, Chicchivello, is where the grapes are produced for their red of the same name, a structured wine of depth and lean tannins. Made of 40 percent each of Dolcetto and Barbera and 20 percent Merlot, this Langhe Rosso-classified wine is dark ruby red with a rich bouquet of black cherries and plum. Fermented in stainless steel for 8 to 10 days then aged stainless steel for one year before bottling for six months. The Dolcetto and Barbera give the wine its structure while the Merlot is added to soften the rustic blend-a perfect pairing with hors d'oeuvres and meat dishes.
Ca dei Mandorli Pian de Ronchi Gavi 2008, 750ml De Forville Nebbiolo d'Alba San Rocco 2007, 750ml
Our Price: $22.00
Our Price: $22.28
Ca dei Mandorli Pian dei Ronchi Gavi 2008 De Forville Nebbiolo d'Alba San Rocco 2007
Fine, with hints of roses and a pleasant, light sparkle, this wine is captivating with a lingering finish. Although the estate has holdings in two of Barbaresco's most highly regarded crus, Rabajà and Loreto, they also make a simpler and more approachable wine, the plum colored and full-bodied, DeForville Nebbiolo d'Alba. While it shows tar and rose petal, the calling cards of Nebbiolo, it is also marked by cherry and dark red fruit flavors and a much more approachable style.
Vietti Roero Arneis 2008, 750ml Stella Freisa d'Asti 2008, 750ml
Our Price: $23.04
Our Price: $24.75
Vietti Roero Arneis 2008 Stella Freisa d'Asti 2008
Highly resistant to unfavorable weather conditions and disease, this variety adapts well to diverse soils. Naturally full of bitter tannins, Stella’s Freisa reveals its softer side with lighter tannins. This perfumey wine has delicate aromas of roses, raspberries and other red fruits on the palate and isperfect with any fish or light appetizers.
Stella Freisa d'Asti 2009, 750ml Massolino Moscato d'Asti 2009, 750ml
Our Price: $24.75
Our Price: $25.00
Massolino Moscato d'Asti 2009
Highly resistant to unfavorable weather conditions and disease, this variety adapts well to diverse soils. Naturally full of bitter tannins, Stella's Freisa reveals its softer side with lighter tannins. This perfumey wine has delicate aromas of roses, raspberries and other red fruits on the palate and is perfect with any fish or light appetizers.
The estate's basic Barolo, created from grapes grown in all of the Massolino vineyards, has been in production since 1911 and is still consistent in its excellent quality, even in difficult vintages. The single-vineyard Barolo Margheria and Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva were both produced for the first time in the 1980's. The Margheria cru imparts woodland notes that are accentuated by traditional vinification methods, while the unique terroir of the Vigna Rionda enables the production of wines with a potential rarely found elsewhere.
Villa Sparina Brut NV, 750ml Domenico Clerico Barbera d'Alba Trevigne 2006, 750ml
Our Price: $29.94
Our Price: $32.50
Villa Sparina Brut NV Domenico Clerico Barbera d'Alba Trevigne 2006
Beppe Caviola leads the wayat Villa Sparina, exploring the full potential of the Cortese grape in his Gavi wines. This sparkling version of Gavi is made from the native white grape Cortese, a vigorous vine that thrives in southeastern Piemonte's Monferrato Hills, producing fresh wines with subtle flavors of apple, citrus, and honeysuckle. First released in 1979, Clerico’s single cru Barbera is matured in 70-percent new barrique for 12 to 16 months. Intense raspberry and currant on the nose lead into a rich, persistent palate. This Barbera complements cured meats and pasta dishes well
Scarzello Nebbiolo 2007, 750ml Cantalupo Ghemme 2004, 750ml
Our Price: $32.99
Our Price: $39.99
Scarzello Nebbiolo 2007 Cantalupo Ghemme 2004
Dry and concise with firm tannins, floral notes and flavors of forest berry fruit and a lingering spice in the background. The Arluno family's Cantalupo estate produces four bottlings under the Ghemme DOC, three of which are single-vineyard efforts. As aforementioned, blending is a typical and oftentimes necessary practice in this region, yet all Spanna productions in the Cantalupo catalogue are pure varietal expressions. At Cantalupo everything is done by hand. Aged 3 years in oak its a wine that has velvety tannins, violets flavors and at the same time a classic rustic acidity.
Domenico Clerico Arte Langhe 2006, 750ml Forteto della Luja Loazzolo Passito 2004
Our Price: $44.27
Our Price: $49.50
Domenico Clerico Arte Langhe 2006 Forteto della Luja Loazzolo Passito 2004
A true work of “Arte,” this wine is the only one in Clerico’s collection that is aged exclusively in 100 percent new barrique. Crafted with 90 percent Nebbiolo from the Ginestra, Pajanà, Bussia, Mosconi and Manzoni vineyards and 10 percent Barbera, the blend is aged for 16 to 18 months. Despite a mix of torrential downpours and torrid temperatures in the beginning of the season, the 2006 season balanced out in the end, leaving a full-bodied, complex wine with hints of plums and licorice, velvety tannins and a long, inviting finish. A rare find, this bottling offers a more serious take on Moscato, delivering a sublime lush and honeyed expression. Wines derived from the passito method—in which the grapes are allowed to dry on mats or in a hanging position—may be made in a sweet style (Vin Santo and Recioto della Valpolicella) or vinified dry (Amarone), retaining a suggestion of sweetness from the concentrated fruit.
   
 
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