Piedmont: New Releases

Valter has said, “I want to do a vintage like 2018 every year”, and when the most basic Barolo is this good it’s easy to see why. This is crunchy and elegant, with a really enchanting nose, and plenty of fine fruit. Utterly delicious.

From 70 to 80 year old vines, this is a blend of 60% lampia and 40% michet, and sees 40% whole bunch. The nose on this is spectacular, while the purity and density on the palate are utterly stunning. This is so long, and so fine. A truly special iteration of this wine.

This sees one year in old oak barrels, and shows incredible suppleness and lots of cherry fruit and orange blossom. The fruit is creamy, and that’s balanced with citrus fruit and juicy plum fruit. Sappy tannins make you reach for another glass.

Just 4,000 bottles are made from the 2ha at the historic heart of the Ravera cru. There’s lots of tension here: this will take time to unfurl, but when it does it will be a truly remarkable wine. There’s such minerality and talc-like tannins. Astonishingly beautiful.

From 2ha of vineyards just outside the Barolo zone, on sandier soil, this has pepper and morello cherries. 20% whole bunch fermentation has given this a savouriness and spice, while the tannins are beautifully balanced and last a long time.

A beautiful vintage, in the words of Valter, this smells great. There’s so much strawberry fruit, and a loverly energy: this is so fine-boned, with purity and focus. Stunning - this is a brilliant summer red.

From a vineyard in Neive, that Cogno first bottled in 2005. This is very pure with minty fruit and then just a hint of austerity. This shows the incredible potential of the 2019 vintage in Piedmont.

Almost Gruner Veltliner like: there’s pepper spice here, and lots of grippy freshness. Nascetta is a grape variety that almost disappeared: tasting this, we’re glad it didn’t. Creamy fruit and a long and fresh finish. Impressive. And will age very nicely.