Shop Arrivals
This week, we are entirely within Piemonte, exploring Barbaresco, Barbera Superiore, two native whites varietals and the Ferrari of red vermouth.
Its a tragedy I have yet to visit Carlo Giacosa, a wrong I intend to right on my next trip to Piemonte. Their wines are underrated and quite accessible in their youth. His 2021 Barbaresco is intense, spicy and powerfully fragrant, showcasing the backbone and fleshy character of the vintage. It has more overt cherry fruit and reveals its oak more than my Cantina del Pino 2021, a great contrast for two classico bottlings.
Luigi Oddero is the lesser known half of one of Barolo's historic families. After a fraternal split, Luigi's family developed their own winery and produce wines of elegance and longevity. Their fist-in-a-vevet-glove approach shines bright in this 2020 Barbera d'Alba Superiore. This was among the favorites in a recent class, showing elegant cherry and plum, dried roses and fine-grained tannins.
Now, two whites from the Langhe. Giovanni Almondo is a regular at the shop and the 2024 Sparse is among Roero's high-toned and crisp style of Arneis. Marine-origin soils and a hands-off approach in the winery, produces a very vibrant and versatile white for the table. To contrast, I take you to the outskirts of the Langhe for this 2024 Nascetta, one of Barolo's reclaimed treasures. Braida first contracted these vines in the 1980's and produces a juicy and fuller style, perhaps a little modern, with yellow fruit, honeysuckle and a hint of chamomile on the finish. I feel it retains Nascetta's personality, just maybe adds a red dress and Manolo's.
To finish, Bordiga Vermouth Rosso, my favorite vermouth on the market. They make refined vermouth that are light, softly sweet, never spicy and have a rich bouquet of exotic spice. I visited Riccardo (managing director) several years ago and their work is exceptional. Serve neat or on a cube with artisanal soda and orange peel for an aperitivo. Good in cocktails, but can be overwhelmed by strong spirits like Rye.
SHOP WINES
