I’m trying to remember the first time I had a Travaligni wine, it may have been just before or around the time the grapes for this wine were grown. I recall what I tasted (I wasn’t such an obsessive about keeping/writing notes, I just enjoyed it back then – and that’s where it began and…
Category: Alto Piemonte
Az. Agr. Gilberto Boniperti – another rising star in Alto Piemonte
This is a really small winery, but they’re producing some big results. I have to ask myself, is the quality so good because there’s just 3Ha to farm (i.e. because it’s possible to give greater attention to the vines/land than if there were, say 20Ha), or, what might be possible if there were 6Ha, and…
Le Pianelle – another great gem from the Alto Piemonte
Recently, I had the chance to taste the wines of Le Pianelle. Since that time, I’ve had a chance to further investigate this project – what I’ve learned so far points in a few directions, consistently: it’s a story of quality, fortitude and vision. You can find plenty of good information on Le Pianelle HERE…
La Prevostura – four wines you need to know
I recently attended the first of what I genuinely hope becomes an annual event, TasteAltoPiemonte, 2017, in Novara, in the northern half of Piemonte. The setting was in the Castello di Novara,; once inside the tasting area, there are few vestiges of a ‘castle’, as the room is clean, bright and modern, i.e. the opposite…
2011 La Prevostura Lessona, classy, young
Still young, just getting started. Another very classy showing. This blend of 95% Nebbiolo and 5% Vespolina presents a lovely, bright garnet>garnet+ hue, it’s clear and fades ever so to the rim. The nose is soil driven for the first 2/3 of the bottle – which is just fine with me. Paired with braised rabbit…
Nebbiolo, you rascal you – 2010 Pietro Cassina Coste della Sesia Ca’ Daj Tass
There’s a certain amount of excitement that comes with tasting a wine for the first time; maybe there’s some trepidation, too. That said, what I’ve come to expect from the red wines of Alto Piemonte, and in particular, those that are 100% Nebbiolo, is to have my expectations exceeded. The degree to which things exceed,…
A surprise in my cellar – Tenute Sella Lessona Omaggio a Quintino Sella
Just about every night, around the same time, I make the trek into the basement, head over the the racking and look for a bottle(s) to go with dinner. Most times I’ll spend too long down there, aimlessly searching for a bottle that I feel is ready AND will make a nice complement to the…
Antonio Vallana e Figlio, Alto Piemonte, Part V
The drive from the center of the village of Borgomanero takes maybe 15 minutes. It’s twisty-turny, and mostly we’re climbing up in elevation to some local hills that look favorably (i.e the exposition) toward the town. And even though we’re still in the same local region, we’ve crossed the river, and we’re no longer in…
Antonio Vallana e Figlio, Alto Piemonte, Part IV
The first wine tasted is the 2012 Barbera Piemonte. 11 April, 2014. (tasted earlier in the week at VinItaly, then again while visiting the estate, consistent). Energetic, clean aromas of ripe plums, light spice and dusty soil. Acidity seems low-ish at first, but the back and mid-palates fill out quickly revealing some youthfully tannic bitterness and…
Antonio Vallana e Figlio, Alto Piemonte, Part III
Before his death, the incredibly talented Bernardo Vallana was able to pass on his knowledge to his daughter Giuseppina’s husband, Guy Fogarty, a British citizen by birth. Later, after Guy’s passing, we’ll find that Giuseppina also had her father’s gift – though she really didn’t have a choice, Guy passed, suddenly, and the grapes were…
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