Piedmont: New Releases

A charming, elegant wine from a brilliant producer in Valtellina, this is a wonderful wine. There are notes of wild thyme and plenty of strawberry fruit, and a long, defined finish. A charming bottling.

A curiosity of this corner of Northern Italy, this is the best Sforzato we’ve tried. It’s made like Amarone in Valpolicella: here, Nebbiolo grapes are dried on mats before being fermented dry, bringing an intensity and power, with notes of dried cranberries, and dried herbs. This is so perfectly balanced: it’s a really fascinating wine.

There’s a lot of excitement about Lara and Luisa, and tasting this, we can see why. There’s a purity and fragrance to this that would not look out of place at the greatest estate. Fine-boned tannins, and then a remarkable sense of energy on the finish. A real charmer.

A really charming expression of Barbera, this shows black fruits and then spice, and there’s just a hint of dried herbs, too. The tannins are fine, and there’s a juiciness here, too. Very nice indeed.

Mineral, fine, and remarkably complex, this 2018 is a really lovely wine. The palate has cherry fruit with some rose petals, and then lifted notes of seville oranges, and just a hint of spice. There’s a quinine-like minerality that comes through on the finish, making the finish of the wine very long, and making you reach for another glass.

As with all of the wines at Giacosa, this is a lovely expression of the grape variety. Lots of cherry yoghurt here, with plenty of spice, too. Serve slightly chilled for a delicious red for summer.

Bruno Giacosa put lots of emphasis on his Roero Arneis, and this is one of the best examples as a result. There’s lovely drive, with pithy pears, and a slightly savoury, floral character, too.

Silky, supple, and charming, the 2018 Barbaresco from Giacosa is a wonderful example of what makes Barbaresco so alluring. Rose petals and some citrus fruit, too, and there’s also a real energy on the palate. This is very fine-boned, and there’s an almost Pinot-Noir like clarity to the finish.

Asili is a great vineyard in Barbaresco, and 2019 is a brilliant vintage. The result is a wine that dazzles with its intensity and finesse, and also with its nobility. The tannins are grippy but fine-boned, and the fruit is perfectly ripe. This lasts an age.

Bottled in July 2020. Beautiful pale colour. Lovely nose, with impressive depth and purity. This has powdery tannins, slightly dark fruit, with excellent tannic structure and purity. Very finely judged, and lots of energy here. Really lovely, classically styled, and so delicious already. With a year or two in the bottle it will be even better.

4ha in the higher part of the cru. More floral, with a lovely fruit character. More sandy soil, south facing, and first to ripen. There’s almost an amphitheatre here that creates a microclimate. The fruit is slightly darker. It’s almost opulent on the nose, but there’s such energy and vibrancy on the palate. This feels like a step up, with lovely salinity and depth.

Much more backward in style, quite dark but also slightly reduced. Quite balsamic on the nose, with lots of darker fruit. There’s a sweetness and softness here. Nice tannins here, and this is very saline, too. Lovely depth and purity. Very well balanced.

Slightly darker in character. More deep fruit here, and then a balsamic note, too. Very different from the Albesani. A wildness here, a hedgerow character, with lots of tannins that build. The fruit character is almost Pinot Noir in character, it’s so elegant. The structure builds on the palate, and it’s incredibly fine on the long finish. Saline and long. Outstanding.

Is there a more delicious wine than this? Low in alcohol, high in residual sugar, but still with incredible palate, when you try this, you’ll be hooked. Notes of wild flowers, honey, and so much pure peach and grape juice. There’s a long and mineral finish, which keeps it all clean. Remarkable: and it ages brilliantly, too.

Just 4,000 bottles are made of this delicious, vibrant, mouthwatering fizz from Gianmario. Notes of orange blossom and citrus peel on the nose, on the palate there's a hint of peaches, too. The palate has verve and vibrancy, and so much precision on the finish, too. This is brilliantly balanced, and oh-so-delicious. Make sure you grab a case or two.

From Albesani, San Cristofono, Messoirano, Gallina. Very soft and silky, nice depth and purity here, and good perfume. It’s very nicely lifted and simple, but nice cool Neive style. Excellent length, from a great vintage.

From a historic vineyard for Dolcetto, but now lots of people have made it as a Barbaresco. Very pure and fine, juicy, lovely soft fruit: Italo’s father bought it in 1930, and he would go and pick grapes to eat. South, steep, windy, ideal for Dolcetto. Very pure this, lovely energy and good tannins. This is excellent.

Really nice fruit, almost citrus and red berries. Good concentration, nice hint of reduction, and there’s lots of tannic structure here. This is very finely judged and good length, Slightly herbal in character, quite mineral on the finish.

Selection of grapes, of barrels - quantity can change from year to year. Quite balsamic in character, really nice energy, this have coiled energy on the palate. Very nice texture, this is quite backward, but with time it will be outstanding. From a truly great vintage, don’t miss this.

The straight Rabaja is fermented in barrel, Rabaja Bas in stainless steel. Very pure and fine, this opens up in the glass. Very saline on the palate, and lots of texture and intensity. More powerful than Rabaja Bas, with lovely weight and energy here. Very good length, really mineral on the finish.

Quite deep and intense on the nose, with wonderful purity, too. This is very spicy, and there’s a floral element, too, with lovely texture. Powdery tannins, and intense, dark fruit. Sight negroni bitterness on the finish, but there’s a lot of saline length here. Has maintained freshness despite the vintage. The vines had enough water. Vines from the 1970s.

All vineyards in Verduno. Boscatto - next to La Morra, more clay. Campasso, near Monvigliero, and Rodasca, and some from Monvigliero. Lovely delicate colour. Very floral and silky, lovely texture here. Needs some coaxing, but there’s a very pure strawberry fruit character, plenty of tension and nice length. This is very elegant: very Verduno in style.

A historical grape variety of Piedmont, a few producers are bringing back the indigenous grape variety, Pelaverga. This is peppery, fresh, and delicious: serve slightly chilled to see the best of it.

Smallest single vineyard in Barbaresco - almost a monopole. Very old vines: planted in 1942 one parcel. Very small production. This is aromatic on the nose, with orange peel and plenty of juiciness, and there’s nice elegant tannins, and plenty of salinity on the finish.

2019 is a great Barbaresco vintage, and this has cool fruit and plenty of acidity. There’s a tension here, and lots of rippling energy, with flavours that develop on the palate. Very impressive indeed.

From a vineyard planted in 1978. Wow. What a nose. So detailed and floral, and there’s notes of clove and liquorice, and a balsamic character, too. The palate is silky and mineral, with lots of salinity, and powdery, fine-grained tannins that grow. Really nice texture here, with plenty of focus. Very long indeed. This is intense and powerful, yet such a baby. Outstanding. And there’s a hint of nice bitterness on the finish, which keeps the mouth watering.

The 2018 Barolo Bricco Boschis is really elegant, detailed, complex and fine on the nose. This has delicate, ripe fruit and lots of floral lift: it opens up into a fine-boned palate with amazing complexity and length. This is a Nebbiolo for lovers of elegant, ethereal wines: the truest expression of the grape. It’s incredibly well balanced: this is a stunning Bricco Boschis, that’s so ethereal and pure.

The forgotten grape of Piemonte, Cavallotto's Freisa is a real joy. So much fresh fruit and pure energy, and there's a slight crunchiness here too. Notes of fresh thyme and plenty of grip of the finish complete the picture. This is a delicious red from one of the region's greatest names.

Very intense, mineral nose. So much explosive energy on the palate. There is so much tannin here, but the tannins are so refined and fine-boned. There’s a lot of saline minerality on the finish, and tension that lasts an age. Rippling with energy, this is a baby - give it lots of time.

This is beautfiul, elegant, and fine boned. There’s such precision here: this is a great vintage for Clerico’s new style. Such salinity and finesse, and lifted fruit. Just a hint of that herbal, pine oil, Monforte character, but also such delicacy on the finish. Very fine - this will age well.

A blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera, this shows just the right amount of grip, with savoury tannins, pure fruit, and a nicely balanced, fragrant finish. This will age beautifully, if you can keep your hands off it.

A juicy, easygoing Barbera, for those who love the more elegant expression of this grape variety. There’s a fragrance and juiciness here, that’s really rather endearing.

From the Ginestra cru, there’s a salinity here, with beautiful tannins that are powdery and refined. There’s brilliant elegance here, but also a coolness and a sense of balance. A hint of bitterness on the finish makes it savoury, mouth watering, and moreish.

From a vineyard in Serralunga, this shows incredible poise and lift in 2018. There’s notes of blood orange and a floral lift, alongside plenty of cool fruit, and an incredible density on the finish. This is such a charming, juicy, energetic wine.

Slightly reduction on the nose. Exactly what they were looking for in 18 - Oscar’s favourite wine. Floral and some spearmint on the nose, and the palate has a tension and texture. Very finely judged, with plenty of salinity here, but lovely tannins and a very fine thread of acidity.

A hark back to the older style of Clerico, this has impressive density and coolness to the fruit. There’s a lovely grip to the palate, with just a hint of raisining on the finish. A lovely clean, savoury, saline finish completes the picture.

72 year old vines. Lovely freshness here, dark fruit, tension, power, salinity and nervous energy. This is intense and powerful, with loads of salinity: so mineral, but also lots of burnt orange peel, and some almond kernal. It’s so complex and very well balanced: an astonishing Barolo from a real magician.

Cabutti & Baudana from Serralunga, Mosconi x 3 vineyards, Ravera di Monforte, Liste, Terlo, Paiagallo. This smells amazing: so much perfume and delicacy, there’s wild berries, hedgerow fruit, and lots of freshness on the palate. This is so complex, with amazing length and finesse. And a hint of pepper on the finish completes the picture.

3,600 bottles. So elegant on the nose, so silky, with notes of rose hip, and so much purity of tannins, with fine-boned tannins. This has lots of energy, with amazing salinity and raspberry fruit, mouth watering tannins on the finish: very fine and long.

Wonderfully pure on the nose, with plenty of rosehip character. This is incredibly floral and perfumed. The palate has notes of mint, with plenty of red berry fruit, and then also a hint of fresh pine needle. Blood orange, too, and other citrus. Very elegant, with such suave tannins, and a beautifully fine finish.

More dark and structured than the Chiniera, with much more present tannins. But on the nose there’s a wildness, an almost Pinot Noir type fruit. This balances elegance and incredible depth: there’s such pure fruit, and such length, and it demonstrates its Ginestra origins - with structure and minerality - with aplomb. This is a remarkable, beguiling wine from Gianluca Grasso.

Something of a cross between Gamay and Syrah, this Fumin is such a lovely wine. Peppery on the nose, with plenty of red berries, and then also a fine thread of acidity, this is perfect to enjoy now, slightly chilled. But don’t underestimate its ageing potential.

This is such a brilliant white from one of our favourite producers. There’s notes of peach and a subtle floral character, but what is particularly striking is the level of minerality here. This has incredible salinity, and a finish that lasts for ages. This will age well too: you should bury a few bottles in the cellar.

From a single vineyard, first produced in 2016, this is the pinnacle of Ottin’s production. It’s spicy, with notes of cinnamon and clove, and then also a core of dark fruit, with real purity and freshness. This would not look out of place in Burgundy.

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.

30% La Morra Rive, 30% Scarrone in Castiglione Falletto, 20% Baudana, 20% Brolio - Serralunga. 24 months, ageing is separately, then they blend. This is very elegant on the nose, very finely balanced with lots of pure fruit. With lots of silky tannins, lovely nervy acidity, and a hint of herby fruit, with plenty of fragrance, too. Delicious.

Only 1,000 bottles made. From 45 year old vineyard. This is very pure and mineral on the nose. There’s dark fruit, and there’s a core of wild herbs and lot of minerality. There’s also an almost citrus, pomegranate character. This is nicely complex and very finely judged.

Vajra’s ode to the wines of the past, this is a blend of vineyards. There’s a softness and easiness here: a freshness and lift alongside the easygoing character of the vintage. A simply delicious, easy to try Barolo.

The newest wine in the Vajra portfolio, this has cool fruit and plenty of fresh and fragrant fruit. There’s an energy and delicacy here, with notes of rose petal, pomegranate, and then raspberry fruit. Stunning.

The wine for which Vajra are best known, and one of the highest spots in the Barolo zone, this balances intensity and power of fruit with incredible fine tannins, and a mineral lift. There’s incredible complexity here, but it remains fresh, cool, and incredibly well-balanced. Utterly beguiling.

Almost alpine in its flavour profile, this has wild strawberries and then hints of fresh mint, and wonderfully fine-boned tannins. There’s a complexity and purity here: this is very long, elegant, and mineral: it shows why Ravera is such a revered vineyard.

Now Almondo just use the free run juice for the Vigne Sparse: they sell all the wine that comes from the press, and that's lifted the quality even further. This smells excellent. Lovely green pineapple character, and then lots of bright acidity, too. Very fresh and focussed. Lovely energy here, and there’s really salinity and purity on the long, vibrant finish. This is delicious: a great vintage for this wine.

A lovely, elegant nose here. Very finely judged, lots of rose petal and sweet fruit, and then there’s a pomegranate lift, too. This is very impressively balanced: the palate is cool and fresh, but with volume. Incredible length, powdery tannins that grow, and a mineral finish. Outstanding.

Lovely creamy fruit here: this has lovely purity to the dark berry fruit, blackberries and cherries. And there’s refinement of tannins, lovely acidity, and just a hint of ripe beef tomatoes. Lovely perfume here, too. This is a very good Barbera.

From a small parcel in the Gramolere vineyard, named after the small house (the Bricat house). This is a real charmer in 2018. There are talc-like tannins, and then loads of dark berry fruit. There’s a freshness and energy here, with incredible purity on the finish. This is beautifully balanced, and very long indeed.

A cool, suave, delicious wine from Mauro and his family. There’s a coolness and freshness here, with incredible purity. Red berries and just a hint of minty complexity, there’s an energy and finesse here: delicious.

Really pure fruit, feel the sweetness here, but it’s so well balanced, with amazing tannic purity. There’s amazing length here, with strawberry fruit and then also that salinity on the finish, and then lots of grip. With time this will be outtsanding.

This is the best iteration of this wine we've tried, from a great vintage. Notes of blood orange and ripe cherries, with a structured palate and a juicy finish. This is so delicious today, but will age well, too.

Very pure. From the Lazzarito cru. This is so elegant and refined, with incredible purity and texture. Very fine tannins, there’s a citrus lift, red berries, it’s utterly beguiling, mineral, and long. Bravo. Planted in 1975 or 1980s.

At the start of the Lazarito cru. Smells good, very juicy on the nose, lots of purity here. Hint of reduction, lots of cherry fruit, silky tannins, and good acidity. Real juiciness, but a seriousness, too. This has lovely length, and a cherry yoghurt creaminess.

In the heart of the Cru - in the historic part of the vineyard - but they planted it in 2011. Much deeper and darker. Purity on the nose, balsamic element to this, too. Plenty of exotic spice. The palate is weightless but builds, and there’s an almost Grand Cru Burgundy level of effortless concentration. The tannins then build, more and more, and so saline and long.

A beautifully balanced Nebbiolo from Manuel. There’s blood orange and strawberry fruit on the nose, with brilliant complexity and a lovely, fine thread of acidity. This is vibrant, with lovely salinity on the finish. Very long and fine-boned: a real charmer.

From a vineyard on the shoulder of the hill, that gets the morning light, this is a really lovely Dolcetto: one of the best we’ve tried. There’s amazing freshness here, and then a finish that lasts beautifully, too. Just just a joy.

One of the most celebrated Barolos historically, Pio Cesare are on a rich run of form. This has beautiful perfume, energy, and there’s an elegance here. Approachable in its youth, don’t underestimate the potential for ageing.

From a single vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, this shows talc-like tannins, amazing purity, and lots of lifted citrus fruit, alongside dark berry fruit, and an incredible amount of energy. Beautifully balanced.