About Wine Enthusiast Importer Connection
Wine Enthusiast Importer Connection is a program designed to make the connection between importers and
producers whose wines are not currently represented in
the United States easier. Producers who are not currently
represented in the United States are welcome to submit
their products for a fee to be reviewed by expert tasters at
our office in Mt. Kisco, NY.
Each review contains a score, the full name of the product, its suggested price tier as reflected by a price scale
of one to four dollar signs ($-$$$$), its abv as reported to
us by the submitter and a tasting note. If price tier or alcohol content cannot be confirmed, NA (not available) will
be printed. Prices are for 750-ml bottles unless otherwise
indicated.
Detailed contact information for producers will be available in the searchable Importer Connection database at
icguide.winemag.com. Importers who are interested in the
wine are welcome to contact the producers for more information and discuss potential business relationships.
About the Scores
Ratings reflect what our reviewers felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read
the accompanying tasting note to learn about a product’s
special characteristics.
Classic98–100: The pinnacle of quality.
Superb94–97: A great achievement.
Excellent90–93: Highly recommended.
Very Good87–89: Often good value; well recommended.
Good83–86: Suitable for everyday consumption;
often good value.
Acceptable80–82: Can be employed in casual, less-critical
circumstances.
Products deemed Unacceptable (receiving a rating below 80 points)
are not reviewed.
1 | May 2013
Symbol
FOB Winery
SRP (USD)
$
< 4 euros
< $10
$$ 4-10 euros$10-25
$$$10-20 euros$25-50
$$$$
>= 20 euros
> $50
Tasting Methodology and Goals
All tastings are performed blind. Typically, products are
tasted in peer-group flights of 4–8 samples. Pricing tier is
not a factor in assigning scores. When possible, products
considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.
Submitting Products for Review
Producers who are completely devoid of U.S. representation may submit products for review. Products submitted by producers that have any current U.S. representation will be deemed ineligible for tasting. Prior to shipping
wines for review, all submitters must complete an online application for participation at icguide.winemag.com.
There is a $370 per wine charge for submitting products.
Producers will be responsible for any international shipping costs to get the product to our office in addition to the
$370 program entry fee, which covers covers three (3)
main items: customs brokerage and taxes, Wine Enthusiast’s and American Spirit Exchange’s program & processing fees. Participants are paying each company for services rendered with this fee. Once cleared and received,
all products will be reviewed and published in a monthly newsletter as well as online in the searchable Importer
Connection review database. Submissions received without authorization and a completed online application will
not be reviewed. Additional inquiries should be addressed
to [email protected].
Find all Importer Connection reviews on our fully
searchable database at icguide.winemag.com.
icguide.winemag.com
PIEDMONT
RED WINES
BAROLO
Contact Company: Amalia Cascina in Langa
Contact Name: Boffa Paolo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.78.90.13
Contact Email: [email protected]
Amalia Cascina in Langa 2008 Barolo. A
bold wine in color and on the nose, this wine
is quite youthful. Tobacco, licorice and asphalt focus
the nose, followed by blackberry and black plum
notes. The palate adds licorice and slate. This is a
feisty bottling with rustic tannins, full body, balanced
alcohol, mouthwatering acidity and a lingering finish.
It’s a baby that needs time, and a good bit of it;
consider drinking 2015–2020, at the table with food.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$$
94
Contact Company: Anselma Giacomo
Contact Name: Maier Maria
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.61.31.70
Contact Email: [email protected]
Anselma 2007 Vigna Rionda Riserva
(Barolo). A medium-deep garnet color, this
leads with aromas of rhubarb, cranberry, strawberry
and lingonberry, but then transitions to scents of
tar, animale, soy and burning fireplace. The palate
is highly structured, with vibrant and refined tannins
accompanying mouthwatering acidity to focus the full
body and alcohol. Hold until 2015, then continue to
watch its progress through 2023.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $
94
Contact Company: Trediberri
Contact Name: Nicola Oberto
Contact Phone: 39.33.91.60.54.70
Contact Email: [email protected]
Trediberri 2009 Barolo. This wine is deeply
fruity and impressively ripe, with fig, prune and
date notes alongside accents of roses, tar and spices.
The flavors are very characteristically Nebbiolo and
Barolo. There’s a lovely freshness here despite the
exuberant ripeness and highly concentrated palate.
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The tannins are fine-grained and sophisticated and
the acidity is high yet subtly integrated. The finish
lingers. This is a very fine wine to drink from 2015–
2024.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$$
Contact Company: Anselma Giacomo
Contact Name: Maier Maria
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.61.31.70
Contact Email: [email protected]
Anselma 2008 Collaretto (Barolo). A deep
copper color with black core, this wine starts off
closed and tight, with underlying berry notes alongside
tar and slate. The palate transforms the experience
with incredibly ripe flavors of prune and black raisin
that linger through the long finish. The tannins are
structuring and refined but in need of protein, and the
acidity is well balanced, ready to provide refreshment
during a substantial meal. Drink now–2020.
abv: 15%
Price Tier: $
91
Contact Company: Francone s.a.s. di Francone Fabrizio e C.
Contact Name: Fabrizio Francone
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.67.068
Contact Email: [email protected]
Francone 2009 Barolo. Deep maroon color
with mahogany highlights and aromas of
fallen leaves, this wine is showing lovely evolution.
The layers of complexity begin with the nose and
finish with the lingering aftertaste. Mulberries and
quince paste lead the fruit-driven notes, while leather
and tobacco pull in behind. The palate is pleasantly
feisty with lightly tugging tannins and bright acidity.
Clean, typical and compelling, this is Barolo through
and through, though it is quite ripe.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$
90
Contact Company: Tenuta Biancospino
Contact Name: Massimo Sobrero
Contact Phone: 39.33.52.84.013
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta
Biancospino
2006
Riserva
(Barolo). This pours a deep red color with
black streaking at the core. The nose is restrained
and elegant, showing blackberries, black currant and
creosote. The palate verges into the brusque lane
with ponderous, drying tannins and only medium
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acidity—a surprising juxtaposition for the variety. Wait
until 2015 to see if the tannins resolve; could possibly
hold through 2020.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$$$
Contact Company: Tenuta Rocca
Contact Name: Gianni Ciravegna
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.78.412
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta Rocca 2009 Barolo. The nose is
forward and robust but not obviously Nebbiolo. The aromas show a pleasant Sherry-like note
alongside savory accents of charcoal, aged meat and
smoke. The fruits are still vibrant: ripe plums and figs.
This wine has seen plenty of new oak as there are forward notes of vanilla, chocolate and coffee; that said,
it is not unpleasant as it has the fruit to back it. Showing varietal typicity in structure, the tannins are drying
but pleasantly so, and the acidity is refreshing. Drink
now–2020.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
89
Barbaresco
Contact Company: Terrenostre
Contact Name: Felicino Bianco
Contact Phone: 39.14.18.81.37
Contact Email: [email protected]
Terrenostre 2006 Antré (Barbaresco). This
wine is a medium-deep scarlet color with Tuscan roof-tile-red streaking. The nose is moderately
fragrant, with notes of exotic spice and soy. These
fragrances are complimented by dried strawberries,
roasted red plums and baked rhubarb. The alcohol is
perceivable but balanced by the full body, brisk tannins and juicy acidity. An old-school style, with a medium-length finish, that merits a place at the table.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$
91
Contact Company: Bonifacio Società Agricola a R.L.
Contact Name: Sabino Iandiorio
Contact Phone: 39.34.57.53.80.10
Contact Email: [email protected]
Bonifacio 2008 Barbaresco. A deep crimson color with mahogany streaking in the
glass. The overt and well-advanced—for its age—
nose shows appealing ripe, if no longer primary, fruit.
That fruit is lightly baked but still very appealing, offering notes of roasted red plum, dried red currant and
baked wild berries. Pleasantly drying tannins coupled with fresh acidity make this a table-worthy bottle. Drink now–2015, though the wine may continue
to hold beyond then.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$$
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Grasso Fratelli
Contact Name: Elisa Mollo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.63.81.94
Contact Email: [email protected]
Grasso Fratelli 2004 Bricco Spessa (Bar­
baresco). The bouquet of this wine is deep
and complex with notes of dried red fruits, ripe figs
and grated nutmeg. Full-bodied with palate-filling density, the wine is well-framed by caressing tannins and
medium acidity. A Barbaresco that squarely sits the
fence between the old and new schools, showing well
into its lingering finish. This wine showing at its peak
now, but can hold a little longer; drink now–2018.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$
89
Contact Company: Luigi Giordano
Contact Name: Rocca Matteo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.63.51.42
Contact Email: [email protected]
Luigi Giordano 2009 Montestefano (Bar­
baresco). This is a pale, cranberry color, with
copper tones throughout the core and extending to
the rim. This particular bottle’s bouquet is shutdown,
but its palate shows an array of delicate flavors. Barbecue spices, dried roses, plums and slate carry into
a nice finish. The tannins are already resolving and
the acidity is modest. A traditional-style Barbaresco
that can still appeal to the typical American palate,
and that is drinking well now through 2017.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$
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90
3 | May 2013
icguide.winemag.com
Contact Company: Francone s.a.s. di Francone Fabrizio e C.
Contact Name: Fabrizio Francone
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.67.068
Contact Email: [email protected]
Francone 2008 Riserva (Barbaresco).
This wine’s color is a deep mahogany with
copper streaks throughout it. Moderately forward in
aromatics, the bouquet shows old leather, tobacco
and incense. This wine has fully moved into tertiary
flavors, even on the palate. The tannins are pleasantly
drying and the acidity is pronounced, showing all the
structural characteristics to be expected of Nebbiolo.
It’s exciting to see such a ready-to-drink wine on the
market—fully-developed and nicely complex. Drink
now–2016.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$
86
Contact Company: Cascina San Cristoforo
Contact Name: Davide Carniel
Contact Phone: 39.33.36.13.81.69
Contact Email: [email protected]
Sassi 2009 San Cristoforo (Barbaresco).
This wine’s deep crimson core displays a
pretty brick hue. The aromas are discreet, save for
some expected volatile acidity, evidencing little more
than barbecue spice notes and wild plums. The palate
is taut with structuring acidity and drying tannins. The
flavors come around to leave a modest finish with
strong tobacco leaf, dried leather and mineral notes
along with tart plum, dried strawberry and cinnamon
nuances. The fruit isn’t generous, making this a food
wine for certain. Drink now–2016.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$$
85
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Grasso Fratelli
Contact Name: Elisa Mollo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.63.81.94
Contact Email: [email protected]
Grasso Fratelli 2007
San Stunet
(Barbaresco). The deep maroon color gives
off crimson highlights, showing evidence of age.
The nose is fragrant and open, offering a potpourri
of fragrances. Dried plums, Rainier cherry and
loganberry cover the fruit aspects while musk, dried
leaves and roses carry the rest of the perfume. The
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tannins are firm but not astringent and the acidity is
refreshing. This is a food-deserving wine with good
finesse and tugging texture. Despite its merits, this is
over-ripe and becoming tired quickly; drink up now–
2016.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$$
Contact Company: Cascina San Cristoforo
Contact Name: Davide Carniel
Contact Phone: 39.33.36.13.81.69
Contact Email: [email protected]
Sassi 2006 Riserva San Cristoforo
(Barbaresco). This is a deep crimson color
with a lightly veiled appearance, presumably due
to no filtering. The nose works on the autumnal
spectrum, showing fall leaves, old cigar and leather.
Dried cranberry and tart cherry offer fruity relief on the
palate. This wine seems to be fading quickly, though it
still offers appeal for those who love old-school styles
of Barbaresco. Drying tannins and moderate acidity
offer focus, though more fruit is needed to last much
longer. Drink up.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$$$
80
NEBBIOLO D’ALBA
Contact Company: Drocco Luigi
Contact Name: Drocco Elisa
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.33.723
Contact Email: [email protected]
Luigi Drocco 2008 Nebbiolo d’Alba.
Exceedingly ripe with fleshiness on the palate,
and robust notes of roasted red plums, nutmeg, dried
meat, exotic and savory spices. Big, bold and broad
tannins abound, with some age evident on the palate
given the tobacco leaf and dry-aged steak flavors. Full
bodied, with balanced alcohol and a lengthy finish.
Lightly tugging tannins and bright acidity linger on the
finish. Drink now–2017.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
94
icguide.winemag.com
Contact Company: Ca’ de Lion Ghione Dal 1871
Contact Name: Silvio Ghione
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.82.30.94
Contact Email: [email protected]
Ghione 2011 Ca’ de Lion Monte Luna
(Nebbiolo d’Alba). The wine is deeply colored
with a young appearance. The nose is impressively
youthful, with exuberant, ripe-fruit aromas of black
plum and black raspberry alongside an underlying
tone of black pepper. The tannins are pleasantly raw
with faint astringency and elevated acidity. Full bodied
with high alcohol, this is a well-balanced wine with a
rugged youthfulness and medium-plus finish.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
92
Contact Company: Tenuta Ro cca
Contact Name: Gianni Ciravegna
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.78.412
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta Rocca 2009 Sorì Ornati (Nebbiolo
d’Alba). The first signs of age are coming
through on the rim of the deep ruby core. The nose
is open and still somewhat youthful, yet starting to
turn savory. There is a delicate balance of fleshy
fruit and aged characteristics that is quite appealing.
Pleasantly drying tannins and medium acidity reflect
the style, grape and region, and make for a typical
table wine. The finish lingers, suggesting good fruit
quality and concentration.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
89
BARBERA D’ALBA
Contact Company: Amalia Cascina in Langa
Contact Name: Boffa Paolo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.78.90.13
Contact Email: [email protected]
Amalia Cascina in Langa 2012 Barbera
d’Alba. Opaque with a black core and
mulberry rim. Youthful aromas of black cherries and
plums, bramble, briar and anise leap from the glass.
The palate follows with more of the same. The body
is full, smooth and supple, with pleasantly tart acidity
and rounded tannins. This is a vibrant and densely
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fruited Barbera with a big pop of youthful fruit and a
moderate finish. A crowd-pleaser that’s drinking well
now, but should hold well through 2017.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola La Torricella di
Pressenda Diego
Contact Name: Pressenda Oscar
Contact Phone: 39.33.34.81.42.63
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Torricella 2010 Ariota (Barbera d’Alba).
This wine’s core is saturated in black and
surrounded by a tiny magenta rim. A bit reticent on
the nose but full-flavored on the palate, this wine
shows no shortage of fruit—red and black plums,
açai, pomegranate—along with attractive woodsy
undertones. The attack is very ripe but definitively
dry. Full bodied with perceptible alcohol, the wine is
well-balanced by its vaguely drying tannins and fresh
acidity. It’s a chunky, strapping wine that is settling
down well in the bottle. It likely drinks best now
through 2016, though it has the structure to hold on a
bit longer.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
92
Contact Company: Drocco Luigi
Contact Name: Drocco Elisa
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.33.723
Contact Email: [email protected]
Luigi Drocco 2009 Barbera d’Alba
Superiore. This wine is a deep scarlet color
with a hazy core. The nose is exuberant with youthful
fruit aromas of blueberry, acai and black currant. The
palate adds a layer of complexity with forest floor,
soy and grilled meat. Broad-grained tannins and
refreshing acidity create nice tension on the palate
and guide the wine to a medium-length finish. Exotic
and enticing, this wine is best appreciated with food
early on, now to 2016, though it should hold longer.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Tenuta Biancospino
Contact Name: Massimo Sobrero
Contact Phone: 39.33.52.84.013
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta Biancospino 2010 Barbera d’Alba.
This wine’s scarlet color shows medium
intensity and a slightly hazy appearance. Attractively
smoky on the nose, this bottling also delivers aromas
of black cherry, black plum, licorice and gravel. On the
palate, this suave wine adds hints of dark chocolate,
fresh leather and fallen leaves. Its buoyant acidity is
softened by the streamlined but gentle tannins. Drink
now–2015, with no need to wait as the first notes of
evolution are creeping in.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
88
Contact Company: Tenuta Rocca
Contact Name: Gianni Ciravegna
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.78.412
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta Rocca 2010 Ròca Neira (Barbera
d’Alba Superiore). The intense maroon core
and light raspberry-colored rim suggest a young wine.
The aromatic intensity is moderate, but the palate is
densely flavored. However, the wine is not particularly
complex, giving most of its excitement right up front
and finishing short. It is a people-pleaser, and could
be a good by-the-glass pour for casual restaurants,
thanks to its full body, generous alcohol, soft tannins
and balanced acidity.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$
87
Contact Company: Trediberri
Contact Name: Nicola Oberto
Contact Phone: 39.33.91.60.54.70
Contact Email: [email protected]
Trediberri 2012 Barbera d’Alba. The deeply
flushed, garnet core betrays the first hints
of bricking at the rim. The appearance is slightly
hazy, suggesting an unfiltered wine. The aromas are
reserved, only hinting at berries and forest floor, but
the flavors are more forthcoming: vanilla and milk
chocolate envelope the black cherries and blueberries.
The palate is plump and soft, with restrained acidity
and caressing tannins. Made in a more modern style,
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this is drinking well now through 2015, and should
please palates preferring softer styles.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $
Contact Company: Terrenostre
Contact Name: Felicino Bianco
Contact Phone: 39.14.18.81.37
Contact Email: [email protected]
Terrenostre 2010 Aje’ (Barbera d’Alba). The
youthful, medium-deep cherry color is slightly
hazy. Perky acidity and medium-intense tannins frame
the medium body. The bright fruit flavors of cranberry,
lingonberry and rhubarb are joined by new leather, old
wood and tobacco, which all lead to a modest finish
that’s starting to show tertiary character. There’s no
need to wait on this wine; drink now–2015.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
86
Contact Company: Francone s.a.s. di Francone Fabrizio e C.
Contact Name: Fabrizio Francone
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.67.068
Contact Email: [email protected]
Francone 2011 I Patriarchi (Barbera d’Alba
Superiore). This wine boasts an impressively
opaque and black-laced core with a minute magenta
rim. The nose is extremely vibrant and primary,
smelling like a winery in mid-harvest season. Cassis,
sweetened blackberry, lilac and damp earth create an
enticing nose. Plump on the midpalate with generous
fruit, soft tannins and nice acidic tension, this is a wine
that drinks well alone or with food. The modest finish
suggests this is best now–2015.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
86
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Grasso Fratelli
Contact Name: Elisa Mollo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.63.81.94
Contact Email: [email protected]
Grasso Fratelli 2009 Matiné (Barbera
d’Alba). Showing a somewhat cloudy
appearance, this wine’s color is medium scarlet. The
nose is open and packed with red fruits that then
flow onto the palate. Raspberry coulis, strawberry
and cherry are all present and just slightly candied.
Anise, lavender and graphite notes add complexity.
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Plump on the palate and medium in body with lightly
structuring tannins and bright acidity, this is a crowdpleaser with a medium-length finish. Drink now–2015.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$
BARBERA D’ASTI
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Gianluca Poggio
Contact Name: Matteo Poggio
Contact Phone: 39.03.48.03.38.93.18
Contact Email: [email protected]
Gianluca Poggio 2011 Barbera d’Asti.
Black and magenta, this wine is opaque in
color. Its nose is primary and intense, offering notes
of tar, creosote, blackberry and black currant. The
palate offers more of the same along with savory,
gamey notes. Refined on the palate by its lightly
grainy tannins and supporting acidity, this mediumbodied wine is a class act that sports a medium finish.
Fit for the table, but enjoyable on its own, this wine
works well now–2016.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $
93
Contact Company: Tre Secoli S.c.a.
Contact Name: Elio Pescarmona
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.77.019
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tre Secoli 2009 Barbera d’Asti Superiore
Nizza. Opaque core with black undertones
and bright mulberry rim. Though restrained, the nose
shows chocolate notes suggestive of oak aging.
On the palate, the fruit is front-loaded with black
cherries, black plums and blueberries. Full-bodied
with generous but not excessive alcohol, this wine
is framed by silky tannins and moderate acidity.
The finish lingers, suggesting the wine can age well
through 2015 with some evolution to benefit.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
88
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Gianluca Poggio
Contact Name: Matteo Poggio
Contact Phone: 39.03.48.03.38.93.18
Contact Email: [email protected]
Gianluca Poggio 2009 Barbera d’Asti
Superiore. This wine is an immensely
dark color with ruby hues and very ripe aromas of
blackberries, black plums and tar. Though the nose is
primary, the palate shows secondary flavors of cigar
wrapper, worn leather and autumn leaves. Though
moving past its primary stages, this wine shows an
intriguing display of flavors and textures. The palate
possesses lightly drying tannins and good acidity,
making this an excellent table wine. Drinking now
through 2016, although it may hold interest longer.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Cascina Carlot di Mo Claudio
Contact Name: Mo Claudio
Contact Phone: 39.33.83.52.76.77
Contact Email: [email protected]
Cascina Carlot 2012 Claudio Mo (Barbera
d’Asti). Deep core with purple reflections and
a fuschia rim. Exuberant fruit on the nose—blueberry
and boysenberry—with the nuance of mocha and
sweet spice. On the palate the wine is generous and
soft, with melting tannins and moderate acidity. Clean
and mineral, this wine is a nicely modern version of
the style. The finish is quick, but that’s just fine. This
should be enjoyed with gusto in its youth, now–2015.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $
87
Contact Company: Tenuta la Fiammenga
Contact Name: Emanuela Caire
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.91.79.75
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Fiammenga 2010 Paion (Barbera d’Asti
Superiore). The nose of this deep-crimson
colored wine is massively fruity, with warm berries,
baking spice and sweet cream aromas upfront.
Pomegranate, dried cranberry and black cherry are
joined by clove, flint and smoke on the palate. The
pleasantly lazy tannins are lifted by supporting acidity
on this full-bodied wine with a short finish. Juicy and
easy, this is a great picnic wine; drink now–2014.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$
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Contact Company: Tenuta la Fiammenga
Contact Name: Emanuela Caire
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.91.79.75
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Fiammenga 2011 Barbera d’Asti. The
intense mulberry core shows a medium sized
ruby rim. The nose dances between the primary and
tertiary camps, offering tobacco leaf, mocha and
mulberry. The palate is creamy and voluptuous, with
modest acidity and easy tannins, which help explain
the highly ripe fig and quince-paste flavors. This is
sure to please many palates, though the wine is rather
atypical in its softness. The short finish suggests
drinking between now and early 2015.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
85
Contact Company: Macario Giovanna
Contact Name: Macario Giovanna
Contact Phone: 34.74.30.58.54
Contact Email: [email protected]
Macario Giovanna 2010 I Vigneti (Barbera
d’Asti Superiore). A deep crimson color with
brick nuances. The nose is rather volatile with Portlike aromas of overripe fruit and sweet spice. Warm
alcohol, flabby acidity and very light tannins require
this wine to be consumed early, now to mid-2014. The
modest finish suggests there is some underlying good
fruit that was pushed just a bit too far in ripeness.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $
84
Contact Company: Goggiano
Contact Name: Stefano Scassa
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.67.143
Contact Email: [email protected]
Goggiano 2008 Bricco Meli (Barbera d’Asti
Superiore). This wine has an opaque color
with evident copper inflections, suggesting a wine
several years old. The nose is currently very closed,
as is the palate. Moderately juicy, with light tannins
and food-worthy acidity, this wine’s flavors suggest
overripe fruit—fig and date in particular. The finish is
quick and shows some slightly warm alcohol. Drink
now–2013.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
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DOLCETTO D’ALBA
Contact Company: Terrenostre
Contact Name: Felicino Bianco
Contact Phone: 39.14.18.81.37
Contact Email: [email protected]
Terrenostre 2008 Picula Rusa (Dolcetto
d’Alba). Dark magenta in color with a forward
nose, this wine is very accessible. It is clean and
modern yet true to its variety. The flavors begin
with very ripe fig fruit and move into unctuous milk
chocolate flavors. Though only 13% abv, this is a
plump Dolcetto that is well-framed by lightly feisty
tannins and mediating acidity. The finish lingers and
offers up savory notes of tobacco and spice box that
show this wine is beginning to evolve from its primary
youthfulness.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Bonifacio Società Agricola a R.L.
Contact Name: Sabino Iandiorio
Contact Phone: 39.34.57.53.80.10
Contact Email: [email protected]
Deep in color with a big, rich and smooth
attack, this wine is sure to please many
American palates. The nose is toasty with smoky,
firewood aromas. The palate explodes with generous
ripe fruit flavors: black plum, prune and fig. With its
intensely juicy palate impression, moderate acidity,
full body and medium alcohol, this wine makes a big
splash on the palate. Good for early drinking and
casual dining.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Azienda Agricola La Torricella di Pressenda Diego
Contact Name: Pressenda Oscar
Contact Phone: 39.33.34.81.42.63
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Torricella 2009 Dolcetto d’Alba
Superiore. Saturated with black and magenta
color, this wine still looks impressively young. The
nose follows in step with good primary fruit intensity.
Cassis, blackberries, creosote and thyme combine to
create a moderately complex palate. The body is full
but the acidity is striking, creating a moderately lean
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structural profile that makes this a good food wine.
Drink now through mid-2015.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Cascina San Cristoforo
Contact Name: Davide Carniel
Contact Phone: 39.33.36.13.81.69
Contact Email: [email protected]
Sassi 2012 San Cristoforo (Dolcetto
d’Alba). Dense with primary color, this wine
also shows a light, youthful fizz. Bramble, blackberry
and loganberry cover the nose. The palate adds
rosemary and licorice. While the palate shows decent
concentration, the flavors are bigger in flash than in
finish; in the end, the wine is simple though fun. The
structure is medium all-around—from body to acidity
to tannin to finish. Tasty now but won’t age to benefit,
so drink up!
abv: 12.5%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: La Biòca
Contact Name: Bisso Atanassov
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.19.96.206
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Biòca 2012 Ricciaia (Dolcetto d’Alba).
This wine is true to its youth in its deep, blackflecked color. Its youth also shows up in the wine’s
vivid, untamed, rough-and-tumble tannins, which are
further emphasized by its perky acidity. There is no
evident new oak contributing to the equation, leaving
the fruit to fend for itself. Though there are the typical
Dolcetto notes of blackberry and spice, there is also
a distracting, unpleasant earthiness. While this is an
average Dolcetto, the usual drinkability of this variety
is lacking.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
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dogliani
Contact Company: Cantina del Dolcetto di Dogliani
Contact Name: Isoardi Paola
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.79.22.82
Contact Email: [email protected]
Cantina del Dolcetto di Dogliani 2011
Dogliani Superiore. The color is deep and
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inflected with black and purple tinges. The aromas are
primary and forward and not shy in showing non-fruit
flavors like vanilla and mocha alongside rich notes
of fig, dried cherry, blueberry and red raspberry. This
wine is juicy with full body and forward yet balanced
alcohol. The rather gentle tannins and supporting
acidity guide the wine into a long finish and should
allow the wine to age well over the 3–5 years.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Cantina del Dolcetto di Dogliani
Contact Name: Isoardi Paola
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.79.22.82
Contact Email: [email protected]
Cantina del Dolcetto di Dogliani 2011
Dolianum San Maté (Dogliani). From color
to palate to flavor, this wine is all Dogliani should be
expected to be. It is saturated in color, forward in fruit
and highly structured. The aromas and flavors range
from savory spice to black mission fig and prune—
very ripe but definitely bewitching. Though only 13%,
the body seems full, perhaps because the acidity is
only moderate. Structuring tannins keep the palate in
line and help carry the flavors into the lingering finish.
This is a good wine for American palates desiring a
bigger wine style.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $
90
LANGHE
Contact Company: Amalia Cascina in Langa
Contact Name: Boffa Paolo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.78.90.13
Contact Email: [email protected]
Amalia Cascina in Langa 2012 Nebbiolo
(Langhe). Youthful and deep in color with
purple inflections. The feisty, vibrant aromas entice
with leather, exotic spice, animale and savory notes.
The palate is broad—a bit surprising for a youthful
Nebbiolo that could be expected to be more taut—
with full body and light extract. The wine is medium
in tannin, smooth in mouthfeel, and boasts a lovely
harmony of texture with beautiful resolution now.
Fresh and youthful with energy, drink this up as there
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is no need to wait, though the wine should age well
through the next 4–5 years.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Bonifacio Società Agricola a R.L.
Contact Name: Sabino Iandiorio
Contact Phone: 39.34.57.53.80.10
Contact Email: [email protected]
Bonifacio 2011 Freisa (Langhe). Big and
purple in color, the wine seems to promise
youth from its appearance, and it delivers. The nose
shows roasted black plums, fresh mulberries and
handfuls of exotic spice along with floral top notes. The
body vaguely pops with bubbles (natural and residual
CO2 from the fermentation), which might surprise
unsuspecting consumers. For those expecting that
style, this is a delightfully typical Freisa. The finish
persists a bit with that exuberance of violets and
bramble that characterizes the variety. There’s no
need to wait—drink up over the next few years.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Tenuta Rocca
Contact Name: Gianni Ciravegna
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.78.412
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta Rocca 2009 Ornati Rosso (Langhe).
Deep, vibrant and opaque in color, this wine
offers big visual appeal. The body is supercharged
with generous and slightly warm alcohol, a meaty
body and loads of midpalate fruit. Though the tannins
are broad and a bit brusque, the solid core of fruit
carries the wine. The lingering finish shows there
is good provenance of fruit and adept winemaking.
Drink now–2016.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Cascina San Cristoforo
Contact Name: Davide Carniel
Contact Phone: 39.33.36.13.81.69
Contact Email: [email protected]
Sassi 2011 San Cristoforo Nebbiolo
(Langhe). This wine’s appearance looks
quite classic for a young Nebbiolo. It is medium-deep
crimson color with a light bricking throughout the glass.
The nose peels back layers of nuance: exotic spice,
old leather and drying tobacco leaves along with fruity
notes of cranberry and tart cherry. As to be expected,
the tannins are striking and the acidity is invigorating.
This wine is already entering that lovely, contrasting
point between youth and maturity. As it is only two
years old, that might be early, but its development is
becoming.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$$
Contact Company: Trediberri
Contact Name: Nicola Oberto
Contact Phone: 39.33.91.60.54.70
Contact Email: [email protected]
Trediberri 2012 Nebbiolo (Langhe). The
nose of this mulberry-colored wine is enticing,
with vibrant and pure red and black forest berries.
The wine focuses on the savory rather than the fruity.
The structure is defined by broad-grained tannins and
lifted by medium acidity, offering a beautiful balance
overall. There is a brilliant purity along with clarity of
variety and provenance, and it ends with a long finish.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Luigi Giordano
Contact Name: Rocca Matteo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.63.51.42
Contact Email: [email protected]
Luigi Giordano 2011 Nebbiolo (Langhe).
This bottling shows a rich color for Nebbiolo,
despite its youth. The perfume is entrancing, leading
with musk, game and exotic spice. The fruits are
dark and brooding—blackberry and ripe blueberry.
The textured palate and bustling acidity frame the
full body. No new oak makes its presence clear. The
finish lingers and is nicely layered for such a youthful
wine. Surprisingly for Nebbiolo, there is a juiciness
and easiness about this wine, so it’s sure to be a
people pleaser.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Drocco Luigi
Contact Name: Drocco Elisa
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.33.723
Contact Email: [email protected]
Luigi Drocco 2008 Vigiu Cascina
Pontepietra Rosso (Langhe). The wine’s
beautiful, deep color is rimmed with copper. The nose
is impressively fruity and massively ripe. In fact, it
veers into the overripe area of fig and prune, but the
flavors remain attractive rather than cumbersome.
The tannins are fairly round, but they provide some
appealing texture when combined with the marked
acidity. This is not an easily accessible wine, but it
is loaded with flavor and big in body with a medium
finish. It’s hard not to find a good place for it at the
table with rustic dishes. Drink up.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Tenuta Biancospino
Contact Name: Massimo Sobrero
Contact Phone: 39.33.52.84.013
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta Biancospino 2009 Furore Rosso
(Langhe). This wine carefully plays the line
between old and new world styles. The color is opaque
and laced with black. The fruit is generously ripe—
but not overripe—with roasted plum and baking spice
notes. On the attack, the palate is full and opulent,
but then the tugging tannins come in to rescue the
balance. Finally, the balanced acidity allows the finish
to linger a bit and should help the wine to develop
some to benefit over the next few years.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
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OTHER RED WINES
Contact Company: Goggiano
Contact Name: Stefano Scassa
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.67.143
Contact Email: [email protected]
Goggiano 2012 Fiurin (Ruché di Castag­
nole Monferrato). Nearly impenetrable
in color, this wine’s nose is juicy and vibrant with
blackberry and black currant aromas. The flavors burst
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across the palate with lovely purity. The finish is rather
short given the intensity of the aromas and flavors.
The exuberant aromatics can fool the enthusiastic
drinker, making the wine seem easier or lighter than
it is. In fact, it’s generous in alcohol, full in body and
modest in extract. Its bright acidity lends energy and
balance. Drink now–2016, though it may hold longer.
abv: 14.5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Ca’ de Lion Ghione Dal 1871
Contact Name: Silvio Ghione
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.82.30.94
Contact Email: [email protected]
Ghione 2012 Ca’ de Lion Vino Rosso (Vino
da Tavola). This wine is a vibrant cherry-red
color with massively youthful fragrances. Aromas
of summer-ripe blueberries, morello cherries, red
vermouth and exotic spice notes abound. The palate
offers moderate tannins and medium acidity. This is
clean, ripe and exuding soul, not to mention extremely
easy to drink, with exciting vibrancy and a mediumlength finish.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $
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Contact Company: Tenuta la Fiammenga
Contact Name: Emanuela Caire
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.91.79.75
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Fiammenga 2012 Grignolino d’Asti.
This starts out with pleasant, yet somewhat
straightforward, aromas of sour cherry, earthy
undertones and sprinkled floral notes. The fruit
turns brighter on the palate as the cherry and fresh
strawberry balance quite nicely with the lively acidity
and subtle peppery spice. For a lighter style wine, it
finishes with just a dash of tannins, yet maintains its
vibrancy to the very end.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Tenuta Biancospino
Contact Name: Massimo Sobrero
Contact Phone: 39.33.52.84.013
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tenuta Biancospino 2011 Conteso (Diano
d’Alba). Moderate color with a ruby-inflected
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black core. The nose shows a nice combination of
young veering into mature aromas. Roasted plum,
dried lavender and earth are the core components.
The medium body, reasonable alcohol, juicy palate
and restrained tannins make this an accessible wine.
As it is easy drinking, it’s a great by-the-glass option.
Nonetheless, it is best fit for the table. Drink now–
2015.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
PIEDMONT
white WINES
gavi di gavi
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Il Poggio
Contact Name: Francesca Poggio
Contact Phone: 39.33.83.97.05.90
Contact Email: [email protected]
Il Poggio 2012 Nero (Gavi di Gavi). Though
typical in its light yellow color, the rest of this
wine is pleasantly surprising. The fruit is tropical and
exotic with attractive floral and mineral top notes.
Though only moderate in alcohol, there is some
attractive viscosity and creamy midpalate texture.
The acidity structures the wine well, and the finish is
clean and lingers long enough to entice one back to
the glass. Tasty and fun, drink this wine now–2014.
abv: 12.5%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Morgassi Superiore
Contact Name: Marina Piacitelli
Contact Phone: 39.33.96.68.35.45
Contact Email: [email protected]
Morgassi Superiore 2012 Tuffo (Gavi
di Gavi). Pale lemon color with crystalline
reflections. This aromatic wine is quite special with
its serious minerality, generous wild flower aromas
and persistent grapefruit flavors. The acidity pops
on the palate, keeping the wine bright, and there is
a light tannic grip. Fresh, zesty and slightly tugging
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on the palate, this classically styled Gavi is beautifully
structured and drinking well now to early 2015.
abv: 12.5%
Price Tier: $
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Morgassi Superiore
Contact Name: Marina Piacitelli
Contact Phone: 39.33.96.68.35.45
Contact Email: [email protected]
Morgassi Superiore 2010 Volo (Gavi di
Gavi). Medium yellow in color, this is a serious
wine. The citrus-driven palate is well concentrated in
fruit and shows substantial leesy and nutty character,
making the wine seem quite evolved for its age. The
medium body seems heavier than it is given the
modest acidity, so it’s the lightly tannic finish that reins
in the wine. This is a rather forward expression for a
Gavi di Gavi.
abv: 12.5%
Price Tier: $
85
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Il Poggio
Contact Name: Francesca Poggio
Contact Phone: 39.33.83.97.05.90
Contact Email: [email protected]
Il Poggio 2008 Oro (Gavi di Gavi). On the
nose, this yellow-colored wine seems tired—its
fruit is fading and its leesy, yeasty notes are beginning
to dominate. Nonetheless, hay, wax, walnuts, melon
and pear all show through on the palate. The acidity is
overly lenient, but the wine manages not to feel flaccid
despite the mouth-coating viscosity thanks to the mild
tannins. Definitely a wine for food, and definitely a
wine to drink up now.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
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LANGHE
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola La Torricella di Pressenda Diego
Contact Name: Pressenda Oscar
Contact Phone: 39.33.34.81.42.63
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Torricella 2012 Chardonnay (Langhe).
This wine is a deep yellow color with
crystalline reflections. The aromas on this wine tend
to the exotic—pineapple, mango and quince. There’s
lots of body, good midpalate density, medium-plus
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alcohol and restrained acidity, along with a pleasant
sensation of tannin on the finish. It’s not as fresh as
might be expected for a 2012, but it is showing well
nonetheless. Delicious, but not for aging; drink within
the year.
abv: 13.5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Francone s.a.s. di Francone Fabrizio e C.
Contact Name: Fabrizio Francone
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.67.068
Contact Email: [email protected]
Francone 2011 I Patriarchi Chardonnay
(Langhe). Green-gold in color, this wine
should have broad appeal in the market. Its aromas
of nuts, vanilla, golden apples and pineapples will call
to those loving rich styles of Chardonnay. The palate
is bold in flavor, broad across the palate and full in
body with balancing acidity and light glycerol. While
there is youthful energy, there is little refinement and
only a short finish. Drink now–2014.
abv: 14%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: La Biòca
Contact Name: Bisso Atanassov
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.19.96.206
Contact Email: [email protected]
La Biòca 2012 My Favorite Rosalia Favorita
(Langhe). This is a fun, easy, supple wine
with no evident oak and a medium-yellow color. Its
aromas are exuberantly floral and packed with pears,
yellow apples and dried pineapple. Though medium
bodied, the alcohol is actually quite modest and the
lifted acidity keeps the palate feeling lean. The finish
is brief, but the wine offers fun for sipping with or
without food. Drink now–2014.
abv: 12.5%
Price Tier: $$
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OTHER WHITE wines
Contact Company: Tre Secoli S.c.a.
Contact Name: Elio Pescarmona
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.77.019
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tre Secoli 2011 Sangallo Sauvignon Blanc
(Piedmont). Deep yellow in color, this wine
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looks a bit older than it actually is. However, the other
elements of the wine remain youthful. The nose is
typical for Sauvignon Blanc, with massive amounts of
citrus fruits and lemon curd. Touches of fresh herbs
and blanched almonds also show through, and a hint
of marzipan adds richness to the palate. The lingering
finish is full of lemon zest. This is a tasty wine with
a pleasing, medium-weight palate, refreshing acidity
and nice complexity.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Ferrero di Fabrizio Ferrero
Contact Name: Giovanni Ferrero
Contact Phone: 39.33.82.60.38.29
Contact Email: [email protected]
Ferrero NV Treí Vino Bianco (Italy). This
nonvintage blend offers lots of appeal with
its perky, fresh fruit. Apricot and peach lead the way
and are supported by light herbal aromas and plentiful
minerality. Medium bodied with moderate alcohol,
excellent purity and fresh acidity, there is something
here for everyone. Don’t let the nonvintage aspect be
a negative, but the modest finish suggests this is a
wine for immediate consumption. Drink now through
mid-2014.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $
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Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Gianluca Poggio
Contact Name: Matteo Poggio
Contact Phone: 39.03.48.03.38.93.18
Contact Email: [email protected]
Gianluca Poggio 2011 Bateaux Chardonnay
(Piedmont). From the nose to the palate, this
wine feels unctuous, despite its moderate alcohol.
The nose is like apple pie: densely packed with
soft, baked apples, chewy with well-baked crust and
topped off with sprinkles of cinnamon. The palate is
velvety from the wine’s viscous texture. Though sure
to appeal to a number of palates, the acidity verges
into the flabby zone; the wine needs more support—
both for refreshment and to carry the wine more easily
into its medium finish.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$
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PIEDMONT
sparkling and
dessert WINES
MOSCATO D’ASTI
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Ferrero di Fabrizio Ferrero
Contact Name: Giovanni Ferrero
Contact Phone: 39.33.82.60.38.29
Contact Email: [email protected]
Ferrero 2012 Teresina (Moscato d’Asti).
Water-white in color with streams of tiny
bubbles, this is a vivacious and youthful Moscato.
Packed with aromas of field flowers, fresh apricots
and orange peel, Moscato d’Asti can’t be much more
pleasurable than this. The residual sugar is delicately
balanced by high acidity. While well-balanced, the
sweetness does seem a bit sumptuous for this wine.
The juicy fruit is vividly clean and lingers on for a
medium finish.
abv: 5%
Price Tier: $
90
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Cascina Carlot di Mo Claudio
Contact Name: Mo Claudio
Contact Phone: 39.33.83.52.76.77
Contact Email: [email protected]
Cascina Carlot 2012 Claudio Mo (Moscato
d’Asti). This Moscato is made closer to a still
wine in style with very little fizz to add just a touch of
texture. This gives the palate an expansive feel that
is balanced by supporting acidity. Apricot preserves,
verbena, orange blossom and honeysuckle create
aromatic appeal and lead to a medium-length finish.
Drink now through early 2014.
abv: 5%
Price Tier: $
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Contact Company: Tre Secoli S.c.a.
Contact Name: Elio Pescarmona
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.77.019
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tre Secoli 2012 Moscato d’Asti. This is a
typical Moscato d’Asti in its water-white color
with green inflections, effusive aromatics and light
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body. The fruit is clean and the wine is true to the
appellation’s style. Apricots, peach pith, chamomile
and acacia spread from the nose to the palate. The
residual sugar is smartly balanced by fresh acidity,
which carries the flavors into a medium finish.
abv: 5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Azienda Agricola Gianluca Poggio
Contact Name: Matteo Poggio
Contact Phone: 39.03.48.03.38.93.18
Contact Email: [email protected]
Gianluca Poggio 2012 Moscato d’Asti.
Pale yellow-green in color with medium-sized,
foam-like bubbles. The nose shows some matchstick
notes of sulphur, keeping the fruit notes restrained
while popping mineral top notes. Still, the fruit is
clean, and Moscato’s delightful floral and fruit-salad
notes come through loud and clear on the palate. The
mousse is distractingly foamy, the body is quite light
and the finish is decidedly short.
abv: 5.5%
Price Tier: $$
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Contact Company: Macario Giovanna
Contact Name: Macario Giovanna
Contact Phone: 34.74.30.58.54
Contact Email: [email protected]
Macario Giovanna 2012 I Vigneti (Moscato
d’Asti). A pale-yellow color with green
inflections, the nose is aromatic but slightly foxy and
just a touch herbal. The palate is lean though there
is medium fruit concentration. The sweetness almost
seems to take over the light body, just balanced by
the light alcohol and odd presence of tannins. There
is an interesting sweet-sour balance coming out of the
mix. The finish is very short, which might be fine for a
good value wine.
abv: 5%
Price Tier: $
84
Contact Company: Ca’ de Lion Ghione Dal 1871
Contact Name: Silvio Ghione
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.82.30.94
Contact Email: [email protected]
Ghione 2012 Ca’ de Lion (Moscato d’Asti).
Yellow in color with gleaming reflections,
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the nose of this wine is exuberantly floral and full of
apricot, white peach and yellow plum. There are also
some foxy undertones that and may develop more
with time. The palate is supple and surprisingly sweet,
just barely kept in check by the cheeky acidity. The
concentration is average, and the overall structure
could use a touch more finesse.
abv: 6%
Price Tier: $$
BRACHETTO D’ACQUI
Contact Company: Tre Secoli S.c.a.
Contact Name: Elio Pescarmona
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.77.019
Contact Email: [email protected]
Tre Secoli 2012 Brachetto d’Acqui. The
pretty pink color is visually enticing. Tart
raspberries and Bing cherries flavor the palate along
with a light, savory spice note. The bubbles are
delicate, creating a gauzy mouthfeel on this lightbodied wine. The residual sugar adds suppleness
and it’s well balanced by the marked acidity. This
suave palate leads to a lingering finish.
abv: 5.5%
Price Tier: $$
Contact Company: Luigi Giordano
Contact Name: Rocca Matteo
Contact Phone: 39.01.73.63.51.42
Contact Email: [email protected]
Luigi Giordano NV Brut Metodo Classico
Vino Spumante Nebbiolo (Italy). A pale
pink-salmon color, the savory nose of this sparkler
shows mineral, earth, herb and red cherry accents.
The wine displays a savory quality coupled with a hint
of development that shows this wine is past its primary
stage. The medium body is lifted by small bubbles,
faint tannins and brisk acidity. This bottle offers easy
drinking without much complexity.
abv: 13%
Price Tier: $$$
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OTHER SPARKLING WINES
Contact Company: Ca’ de Lion Ghione Dal 1871
Contact Name: Silvio Ghione
Contact Phone: 39.01.41.82.30.94
Contact Email: [email protected]
Ghione NV 360° Vino Frizzante Rosato
(Italy). This wine sports a surprising,
pronounced fuchsia color with blue undertones. It is
only faintly bubbly, adhering to its frizzante labeling.
The fruit flavors show nice ripeness and decent
concentration. Red cherries and red plums abound.
Medium-minus in body with juicy fruit structured
by mouthwatering acidity, the wine lingers briefly
on the palate. In sum, the wine makes a good first
impression, showing it is more serious than one might
expect given its unusual color.
abv: 12%
Price Tier: $
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