I met Matteo, one of the partners involved with this extreme project, on the alternative nebbiolo wine tour in 2020. The reclamation of heroic steep vineyards—they look like Roman ruins—was... read more →
I don’t think Ferdinando Principiano can ever disappoint me. I suppose if the price doubled, that could do it, but meanwhile he gives an elegant, expressive, delicious Barolo at a... read more →
When in Valtellina in 2019 I met a man named Marco Ferrari at Ar.Pe.Pe. He had worked with Franck Balthazar in Cornas and was looking forward to making wine on... read more →
Nebbiolo acts like a different animal in the heavier clay hills of Monferrato; farming is a little more complicated, and there is certainly more wildness. But wildness and finesse live... read more →
If you’re headed northeast from Alba, Bramaterra is on the way to the Milan airport in the Alto Piemonte. From younger vines than the DOC Bramaterra, this is partially aged... read more →
Would I love to see this cheaper? Yes. Would it taste better at $25? Yes. But still this is a gorgeous example of mountain nebbiolo. Coming from silly steep slopes... read more →
I visited this property back in 2002, at that time it was one of the few organic properties in Barbaresco. The family is old-fashioned and that’s the way the wines... read more →
Stella Retica ages in large wood barrels for 24 months, 24 additional months of in-bottle aging and is only made in those vintages when the Rocce Rosse is not released,... read more →
The past event coordinator for Slow Foods brought this to dinner when I was in Emilia. He also brought a big, fat, stinky, gorgeous truffle. So I suppose I was... read more →
Lovers of traditional Piedmontese wines, rejoice. Since 2004, Ferdinando has eliminated the chemicals in the vineyard and in the winery. This was lovely. From vineyards in Monforte and Serralunga, I... read more →