GAJA - Piedmont - Possibly Italy's greatest estate

Angelo Gaja and long-time oenologist Guido Rivella produced some of the most monumental wines of their long, storied partnership in 2004. Although I admire Gaja’s wines, especially for their consistency, I rarely find them this emotionally moving and utterly profound. The stable weather and cool, tempering evenings towards the end of the growing season allowed Gaja and Rivella to harvest fairly late in 2004. I remember passing by Gaja’s Barbaresco vineyards in October of that year and seeing fruit still waiting to be picked long after most producers had already brought the fruit in. Gaja’s 2004s from Barbaresco are especially breathtaking for their clarity and precision. The wines also seem less internationally-styled than in the past. Readers fortunate enough to possess the means to acquire these wines won’t want to miss them! The 2003s from the Barolo zones of La Morra and Serralunga are also strong efforts considering the vintage. “Historically in Piedmont there has been an inverse relationship between quality and quantity. Great vintages like 1961 and 1989 were characterized by low yields,” says Gaja. “2004 is one of those rare vintages like 1964 and 1990 where quality is high even though yields were generous as well. I think 2004 is a very elegant vintage. It is much easier to achieve opulence in the wines, but finesse is always much more elusive.”  - WINE ADVOCATE

Domenico Clerico - Piedmont

A modern Piedmont legend. "One of the most gifted winemakers in Piedmont...these are wines of extraordinary richness, amazing aromatics, and sensual personalities that satiate both the hedonistic and the intellectual senses." -Robert Parker.

In 1977 Domenico Clerico decided to leave his job as a salesman in order to work full time in his family’s estate. After several experiments in the cellar, Domenico’s friends persuaded him to make wine on a permanent basis. Vineyards were purchased in some of the most interesting crus of Monteforte: Ginestra in 1983, Pajana in 1989 and the last, Mosconi, in 1985. Domenico is now one of the region’s great legends and characters, advocating the modern Barolo winemaking philosophy of short maceration and ageing in barriques. His wines display polish, structure and most importantly balance. Arte, a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet is a prime example of this.

Corino - Piedmont

The Corino brothers are the rising stars of Piedmont: “Readers looking for up-front, sexy Barolos made with a Pomerol-like lushness should check out those from this La Morra producer" -Robert Parker, Jr.

Their wines are beautiful examples of La Morra Barolos. Perfumed, subtle and elegant with the balancing acidity and fine tannin that make them so complete.  Renato Corino emphasises: “Barolo doesn’t have to just be about power.’’

Marengo - Piedmont

Always our # 1 choice in Piedmont. The young Marco of the 100 year old estate is an Elio Altare protégé, making amongst the most stylish & characterful wines in Piedmont and arguably one of the greatest Barolo crus Le Brunate.  It is one of the great cru in Barolo and the quintessential La Morra style Barolo with its ethereal perfume and finesse. Marco owns two parcels of vines ranging from 15 to 70 years old. After fermentation the wine stays in contact with the skins for up to a week before ageing in his miniscule cellars in Burgundian barriques.

Tenute Silvio Nardi - Brunello di Montalcino

'I want to express the essence of every vineyard in the unique are of Tuscany known as Montalcino' Emilia Nardi. The Nardi wines are a beautiful marriage of new world opulence with the old world feel and winemaking. The Turan was the BEST value wine I tasted in Italy during VinItaly 2009. Its a blend of Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Colorino. Its plush and juicy with the elegance and tannins of Tuscany. Tùran is the name of an Etruscan divinity, the equivalent of Aphrodite, who controls and regulates the transformation of grapes into wine and presides over every form of generation including the magical creation of wine from grapes. The Manachiara vineyard lies in the East of Montalcino made from 40 year old vines.

Like the other reds, it matures for 12 months in French oak barriques (Allier), followed by 18 months in large oak barrels from Slavonia. Expect the 5-Star 2004s to age brilliantly for a decade or more!

Tenuta Terre Nere - Sicily

The estate is located on the northern slopes of the Etna Volcano. Wine is produced from vineyards standing in three crus: Guardiola, Calderara and Feudo di Mezzo. The very particular soil and climate conditions together with high altitude (up to 1000m) make these wines akin to Burgundy or Barolo. Starting from the 2004 vintage the estate is self sufficient and the grapes produced were vinified in the new cellars. The Prephylloxera is a Nerello Mascalese vinyard planed in 1870 and only 3500 bottles are produced each year. Marc de Grazia, who started the project, believes the 2007s are their best wines to date. The 2006s were rated up to 95/100 by the Wine Advocate. These are some of the most exciting wines we have ever imported! Due to the small allocation, these are now all sold out

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