barolo & barbaresco SELECTION

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

We just love this family! They are hard working with a great passion for what they do. This is the first vintage that the Bordini wines were made in the traditional oak “tinos” (fermenting conical oak barrels) rather than small casks. This single vineyard cru is called Bordini. It is uncommon because only 1 other notable winery labels it as a single vineyard. The wines from this area are known for being austere and powerful. The vintage is a collector’s item so I would suggest keeping this wine in the cellar for a few years.

TASTING NOTES

Nose of underbrush, balsamic minty notes, new leather and roses. Tight and assertive, the linear, full-bodied palate offers dried cherry, licorice and espresso framed in firm acidity and youthfully austere, close-grained tannins that leave a tight, rather austere finish. Give this time to fully unwind and open up (Kerin O’keefe). A wine of great structure, with an open nose of dried Alpine flowers, pears, honey. On the palate it is delicate and savory with a nutty finish.

PAIRING WITH

Matteo says his family usually drinks this wine with fresh ravioli pasta with meat filling or when they do a barbeque.

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 500 cases

VINEYARDS LOCATION: Bordini Cru – Neive

ALTITUDE: 300 m 

AGE OF VINES: 30 years old

WINEMAKING: Fermentation in conical oak “tinos” and 15 months of oak aging (BIG and Small)

DRINKING WINDOW: Hold

AWARDS: 94 Points Veronelli | 93+ Robert Parker

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

We tasted this unknown wine in the Cantina Comunale with clients and preferred it hands down when compared to other 2014 Barolos that we sampled. As you may know, it was a tough vintage. This proved that the “newcomer on the scene” Cristian Boffa, together with his father, had some talent! We were interested! After visiting this shy and humble young winemaker, I found out that he was bottling a single vineyard cru Barolo called Capalot. Capalot was made famous by the La Morra legend, Roberto Voerzio for his Vecchie Viti Barolo. Otherwise not historically considered a “grand cru”, young up and coming producers are realizing the potential of this vineyard site and are no longer just selling their grapes, but making their own wonderful wines! We love supporting the underdogs, especially when the product is high quality. Boffa doesn’t even have a website yet and this is his first vintage with a single cru. It represents pure, traditional and fresh fruit and floral style of La Morra. You are one of the few in the world to taste it!

TASTING NOTES

Intense yet delicate nose with aromas of blackberries, plums, wild strawberries and vanilla. On the palate, structured with delicate tannins, red and black berries and vanilla with long finish.

PAIRING WITH

Cristian loves opening this bottle when his mom makes roasted rabbit!

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 72 cases

VINEYARDS LOCATION: Capalot Cru – La Morra

ALTITUDE: 320 – 330 m

AGE OF VINES: 15 – 20 years old

WINEMAKING: 15-20 days macerat ion in s t a i n l e s s – s t e e l, ma n u a l pumpovers, selected yeasts. Aged in big Slavonian oak barrels for 20-24 months Full cluster fermentation and aging in big barrels and cement.

DRINKING WINDOW: Drink now or hold

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

Claudio and his wife run this extremely small winery. The only wine they make is Barolo! Boggione is undeniably under the radar but Barolo lovers “in the know” and specialized importers have had their eye on him for years. His one and only Barolo comes from the single vineyard Brunate, considered a “grand cru”. Most people think of La Morra village when they read Brunate but there is a tiny part that extends down the hill just into the Barolo village. This is where Claudio has his land. The obvious choice for us to buy would have been the 2013 or 2015 but we trusted our palates and chose the 2014, despite being a criticized year. It stands out for its drinkability with earthier characteristics that speak of the wet and damp weather in that vintage. In fact, Boggione won the Silver Medal from Decanter Magazine for this wine. When you are awarded as a standout in a difficult vintage, it signifies so much more and shows the talent of the winemaker. We hope you like it too!

TASTING NOTES

On the nose, ripe red fruits, roses, violets and licorice with a touch of earth and forest floor. On the palate, smooth tannins, dry and full bodied.

PAIRING WITH

A cheesy or mushroom risotto.

GRAPE VARIETAL: 100% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 500 cases

VINEYARD LOCATION: Brunate Cru – Barolo

AGE OF VINES: 10 to 60 years old

WINEMAKING: Traditional fermentation with spontaneous yeasts in big oak barrels for approx. 25 days. Moves to stainless steel for pump-overs and then back in oak for 3 years. Unfiltered

DRINKING WINDOW: Great Now!

AWARDS: Silver Award – Decanter

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

These Nebbiolo vines were planted in 1936! Unfortunately in 2011 their life cycle had finally come to an end. The beauty of wine though, is that the fruit, will forever live in the bottle! For the first and only time, the Nada family decided to take the grapes from the old vineyard on its last vintage and vinify them separately, releasing a one of a kind Riserva 2011 called “Mai Piu” (never again). The romance of this story got me right away and I didn’t hesitate to purchase this rare bottle for myself even when I was out on a tour. When I opened it at home, it was an epiphany! A true classic Barbaresco that kept changing minute after minute. I am so happy to share this limited bottle production with you! Sparkling wines have been exploding in Piemonte for the last few years. Pietro Colla (b.1894) from Poderi Colla was one of the first to experiment with sparkling wine after studying the French methods and working with the Pinot Noir grape (unusual for the Langhe area). The Colla family has some of the oldest Pinot vines in the area. This unique passion has been passed on to the following generations of the family!

TASTING NOTES

Forest floor, graphite and eucalyptus while on the palate dried cherries and cranberries with exotic spices and gaminess. Firm and structured that need some decanting.

PAIRING WITH

Rabbit in Barbaresco sauce (but not this Barbaresco!!!!)

GRAPE VARIETAL: 100% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 107 cases

VINEYARD LOCATION: Marcarini Cru – Treiso

ALTITUDE: 320 – 360 m

AGE OF VINES:  90 years old!

WINEMAKING: 10 weeks maceration on the skins in stainless steel, 4 years of aging in an oak barrel of 1000 liters.

DRINKING WINDOW: Drink or hold

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

Those who love Barolo, love the wines from Serralunga d’Alba village! They are the quintessence of power and finesse and we believe the Ettore Germano Lazzarito wine very well represents this. I remember there was a period when my palate was becoming a bit desensitized to Barolos during peak season. All it took was one sip of this exact wine to finally make me say WOW! Lazzarito cru is always one of my personal favorites since there are many other well known wineries with parcels in this grand cru. Lazzarito is named after an old hospice which used to be located on that hill. Sergio Germano, owner & winemaker, is a big robust and straight to the point kind of guy. We feel this wine reflects both the man and the terroir it comes from. Because it is a Riserva , it needs 5+ years of both barrel and bottle aging making it ready upon release so you don’t have to wait!

TASTING NOTES

On the nose, small red berries with hints of violets, sweet spices, pepper and licorice. On the palate wine is full bodied, smooth and elegant with a sweet yet persistence on the finish.

PAIRING WITH

Green peppercorn veal filet.

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 375 cases

VINEYARD LOCATION: Lazzarito Cru, Serralunga d’Alba.

ALTITUDE: 320 – 360 m

AGE OF VINES: Mixed with some up to 90 years old!

WINEMAKING: 50- 60 day maceration in stainless-steel tanks, aged in large casks for 36 months. Stainless Steel

DRINKING WINDOW: Drink now

AWARDS: 

• 96 Points Wine Enthusiast
• 5/5 Grappoli – Bibenda
• 3/3 Bicchieri – Gambero Rosso

WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE

I have always loved Chiara Boschis’ wines and her energetic spirit which are reflected in them. Chiara was one of the Barolo Boys squad members and the only girl. She left her traditional family winery in Barolo to do her own thing when she was just 29 years old and blazed the trail for the more modern style. Her brother Giorgio joined the team in 2010 and had a more traditional influence, decreasing the new oak barrels to only 30%. Her wines are all organically certified and she has worked hard to nearly convert all the winemakers in the Cannubi cru to become a complete Bio-district. Our doughter was born in 2016 so I was on the lookout for a woman winemaker’s Barolo to collect in this epic vintage. Well this is it! The Mosconi vineyard cru may not be as famous as her Cannubi, but I personally prefer the muscles from this site in Monforte d’Alba. You will also get to be one of the first to have access to this new release!

TASTING NOTES

Aromatic perfumy nose with ripe red fruit. On the palate balanced with integrated tannins. “The 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a gorgeous wine made all the more remarkable given that Mosconi can’t really be said to be a top-level site. “Dark and imposing, the 2016 captures all the breadth and tannic clout that are such signatures of this site. This is an especially brooding, virile Barolo, but Chiara and Giorgio Boschis clearly brought out all the best the vineyard had to give.” – Antonio Galloni.

PAIRING WITH

Wild boar or meat stew.

GRAPE VARIETALS: 100% Nebbiolo

BOTTLES PRODUCED: 660 cases

VINEYARDS LOCATION: Mosconi Cru – Monforte d’Alba

ALTITUDE: 370 m

AGE OF VINES: 60 years old

WINEMAKING: Short fermentation in stainless steel rotofermenters with 2 yearsin light toast French Oak barrels (botti) and 1 year in bottle

DRINKING WINDOW: Hold

AWARDS: 96 Pts – Vinous by A. Galloni