Produttori di Carema Riserva 2009 - Best buy ever from this little known region! Today the NY Times' wine critic Eric Asimov wrote a piece about the wines of what I unofficially refer to as "Alta Piedmont", an area in the far northern limits of the region in the steep and rugged foothills of the Alps that has several exciting sub-regions including Gattinara, Lessona and Carema. Here in the cool, northern climate the grapes struggle to ripen, and wine growers also struggle to work the often steep, rugged vineyards. Just last week I tasted the Produtorri di Carema Riserva 2009, a beautiful classic wine that truly captures the character of the region, and one of the best values in Nebbiolo I can remember. The article was perfect timing and inspired me to offer it this week! We have stocked the regular bottling of the Carema from this producer for several vintages (current vintage 2010, $20.99 on sale) it is always one of our best buys in Nebbiolo and it is mentioned in the article. But in 2009, the Riserva really steps it up, and for a few dollars more it is definitely worth the splurge! It is a selection of the very best barrels and is aged at least four years, of which a minimum of 30 months is in large slavonian oak casks. Pale ruby brick in color, aromatic nose of warm kirschy cherry tones, dried flowers, earth and spice both on the nose and palate. Moderate tannins, focused and nervy with a solid core of warm fruit. Traditional, old school in nature, but not too rustic, especially in the 2009 vintage. Perfect with anything from pasta with bolognese or other meat sauce, grilled or roasted chicken with rosemary, or pork with garlic and herbs, osso bucco, or even pizza, lasagna and more - Cheers! Chris Carema Riserva 2009, Produttori di Carema - $28 on sale, $25.99 on six or more (reg $31) To Order: Click on the links to order on our secure website, call us at 908.953.0900 or reply with payment details to this email. Wine arrives Friday. To read the NY Times article click here About Produttori di Carema - (Courtesy Polaner Selections) "Produttori di Carema is a producer of top quality Nebbiolo in Torino, located in the utmost northwestern region of Piedmont. Created in 1960, they are a small cooperative divided amongst 45 growers in this small, remote region. Each grower rarely owns more than 1 hectare, most having only ½ hectare. The D.O.C. Carema, established in 1967, sits on an incredibly mountainous swath of land bordering the Valle d’Aosta. The climate is cold and quite windy here, resulting in grapes that are slow to ripen, and wines that are light garnet in color. The vines are planted on steep stone terraces that reflect the sun and maintain the heat of the day during the night. The vines are trained on pergola-like cross beams locally named topie, onto which the vines are tied down firmly to keep them from being broken by the strong winds. These topie also allow for maximum exposure to the sun, helping to draw out the harvest for as long as possible, thereby taming the grapes’ high acids that would otherwise overwhelm the palate. The wines are 100% Nebbiolo from the local clones nebbiolo spanna, picutener, meaning “tender stem” and pugnet, meaning “fist-like,” a reference to the compact shape of the bunches. The minimum aging requirement for these wines is 4 years, of which two years have to pass in large oak or chestnut botti. Carema is a wine valued for its perfume and elegance, but have the structure and acidity to age for decades. Compared to their brethren further south and east in Barolo, the wines do not have the same power and density, but more than make up for it with their aromatic fireworks that only Nebbiolo grown in this unique terroir can show (tar, leather, damp leaves, roses)." |
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