April Wine of the Month: Beautiful Ten Year Old Northern Nebbiolo - Petterino 2004 Gattinara Following last week's offer on the Produttori di Carema Riserva and the NY Times article on the wines of the region, our love affair with northern Piedmont continues! I absolutely love the wines of this small traditional grower in Gattinara, and the fact that they hold back their wines for up to 10 years or more and charge so little for them makes them all that much more special! This is a beautiful northern Nebbiolo from the the foothills of the Alps, where the northern climate, mineral laden soils and rock sediments from Monte Rosa combine with traditional winemaking practices to create a wine with incredible character. And make no mistake about it, Petterino's Gattinaras are unflinchingly traditional - all about dried flowers and dried red fruits, and the stony minerality that lies underneath the wine's focused, pure and aromatic core. Hand crafted in a tiny winery that is barely more than a collection of large old casks by the fratelli Petterino, this is no nonsense, no frills winemaking. One of my reps said "these are the kind of guys I want making my Nebbiolo - you kind of get the impression that if caught wondering about in their vineyard you might find yourself on the wrong end of a shotgun with some explaining to do". Old school, slightly rustic with Nebbiolo aromatics, attitude and edge - absolutely intriguing, compelling wines that make you taste, think, and want another taste. The 2004 is an excellent year, with just a little bit extra in terms of kirschy, aromatic concentration that puts this at or near the top of all the vintages I have tasted from Petterino. Decant and drink now to let it open up and expand, but will also age and improve for another 5-7 years at least. Perfect with pasta with bolognese sauce, pork, wild boar or other hearty game, lamb, or veal valdostana, a double cut veal chop with sage, fontina and proscuitto. Cheers! Chris Petterino Gattinara 2004 - $32.50 on sale (reg $38) - $31.50 on six bottles or more. Wine Arrives Friday April 11th. To order click on the link below, reply to this email or call us at 908.953.0900. Region: Italy, Piedmont. Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo. Aging: 3 years in oak barrels, afterwards stainless steel tanks and a minimum 6 months in bottles. Farming: Practising Organic Soil: The land is light, rich in minerals due to the presence of the rock sediments of Monte Rossa (Granites, porphyries, quartzes and numerous ferrous minerals), with a strong acidic reaction caused by the lack of limestone and containing little calcium. |
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