Thursday 24 October 2019

A Couple Of Days in Piedmont - Visits To Roccheviberti & Monchiero


Notes from my last two visits for this Piedmont trip. Longing for the next one!

Roccheviberti
The Viberti family make their fabolous wines from 4,5 ha in Castiglione Falletto, since 2002. A truly great visit.

2018 Dolcetto d´Alba Vigna Melera
Earthy and structured, this is a broad shouldered Dolcetto. And no wonder, the grapes comes from 80 year old vines in Bricco Boschis. Lots of dark fruit, licorice, violets and gravel. Very deep.
The taste is dense and rich with notes of ripe blueberries, band aid, coffee and asphalt. Very long and very fine.
91p   (tasted 2019/08)



2017 Barbera d´Alba Superiore Vigna Lunga
Also from Bricco Boschis and almost as old vines, 75 years, this Barbera sports an open, direct nose with a mix of raspberrries and blueberries with additional notes of sun warm earth, tiles and fresh herbs. Very, very good.
The taste is concentrated and rich with notes of sweet minerals, juicy raspberries and salt licorice. A very fine acidity. Very long.
91p   (tasted 2019/08)

2017 Langhe Nebbiolo
A delicate nose with notes of ripening cherries, rosehips, earth and herbs. A very fine underlying sweetness to the fruit. Focused.
The taste is earthy and refined with notes of red cherries, dry licorice, rosehips and paint. Crisp tannins. Graceful. Very fine.
92p   (tasted 2019/08)

2014 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione
The Baroli from Roccheviberti are real gems. The 14 Rocche di Castiglione, from 2 ha, jumps from the glass with a high, precious nose with notes of roses, red currants, dry tobacco and paint. Sleek and very, very fine.
The taste is low keyed and refined with notes of red currants, gravel, muhsrooms and furniture polish. The finish is balanced, elegant and just wonderful. 4+ years.
94p   (tasted 2019/08)


2014 Barolo Bricco Boschis
From 1 ha in the vineyard made famous by the Cavallotto family, this stunner displays a tight, complex nose with notes of dark cherries, asphalt, violets and moist forest floor. High and refined.
The taste unfolds on the palate with power, grace and elegance. Gorgeous notes of hard cherry candy, violets, balsa wood and undergrowth. Very, very long. 6+ years. These two 14´s are among the best wines from this vintage I have tasted.
94p   (tasted 2019/08)

2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione
The 15´s is even better than the 14´s, with the Rocche di Castiglione sporting a gorgeous, deep, cool nose with ripe strawberries, ceps, violets and very fine tobacco. Very deep and beautiful.
The taste is an epitome of future perfection with all components - fruit, acidity, tannins - in balance. So young and so, so fine. 8+ years.
96p   (tasted 2019/08)

2015 Barolo Bricco Boschis
What to say about the Bricco Boschis other than this is a spine tingling wine. As with the 14´s this is a bit darker and more structured than the Castiglione. Everything in place for the future. A truly great wine. 10+ years.
97p   (tasted 2019/08)



Monchiero
The Monchiero family have been on their wine journey since the 50`s. They first sold their grapes but eventually started to bottle their own wines. Vittorio Monchiero is the current owner and his and his wife Daniela´s son Luca welcomed me and poured these fine wines.


2018 Roero Arneis
A nice, upfront nose with notes of lemon ice cream, grass and spices. Light and fine.
The taste is fresh and forward with notes of pears, lemons, grass and gravel. A good acidity.
87p   (tasted 2019/08)


2018 Vino Rosato Vignola
100% Nebbiolo. A fine, fruity nose with notes of strawberries, earth and violets. Very good.
The taste is light and refreshing with a nice structure and dryness. Notes of wild strawberries, herbs and earth.
87p   (tasted 2019/08)

2017 Barbera d´Alba Superiore
An open, broad nose with notes of Finnish licorice, ripe raspberries and bonfire smoke. Very, very good.
The taste is big ans steady with ripe raspberry fruit, a fine acidity and a long finish with grip and warmth.
89p   (tasted 2019/08)


2017 Langhe Nebbiolo
A deep, fine nose with notes of red beets, flowers, warm tiles and rosehips. A fine fruity character.
The taste is sandy and structured with polished tannins and sweet red fruit. Long and fine.
89p   (tasted 2019/08)



2016 Nebbiolo d´Alba
A cool refined nose with notes of forest floor, red cherries, violets and licorice. Classy and fine.
The taste is tight yet silky and balanced with notes of violets, cherry licorice and sun warm earth. Very long. Really fine.
92p   (tasted 2019/08)

2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione
The 15 Rocche shows a deep, dark nose with a meaty character and notes of candle grease, ripe black cherries and charcoal. Deep and intense.
The taste is tight and focused with notes of tobacco, ripe cherries, violets and earth. Fine, taut tannins. Very, very good.
93p   (tasted 2019/08)

2014 Barolo Roere di Santa Maria
A very elegant, poised nose with notes of spices, dried cherries and strawberries and forest floor. Delicate.
The taste is refined and silky with soft tannins and a lovely strawberry fruit intermingled with spices and rosehips. Very, very good.
93p   (tasted 2019/08)



2013 Barolo Riserva Montanello
The Montanello is a stunner. A deep, old school nose with tar, dried red fruits, elegant flowery aromas and furniture polish. Deep and complex. Lovely.
The taste is pure, intense and focused with all components for something really great in place, just wait 8+ years. Great wine!
96p   (tasted 2019/08)



Arrivederci Piedmont, see you soon!

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