Wine: Langhe Chardonnay
Producer: Marchesi di Gresy
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2011
Eye: Bright straw yellow
Nose: apple, pineapple, citrus, sweet
Mouth: oaky yet mineral, some citrus
Price Point: $30
Available at Vinmonopolet: no
Available at Systembolaget: no
Margheria is located in Serralunga d’Alba. It has south exposure and a clayey soil. Azelia’s vines are aged about 50 years and the grapes are put in large casks (not small botti) after harvest. All of these excellent traits and make for a very good wine. You can check out Azelia’s wines on their website.
Wine: Barolo Margheria
Producer: Azelia
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2004
Eye: deep garnet color
Nose: black fruits, licorice, earthy tones, mineral
Mouth: fruity, mineral, good structure,
Price Point: $60
Available at Vinmonopolet: yes
Available at Systembolaget: yes
Bruno Giacosa, tucked away in Neive, is a producer that is appearing more and more frequently at Piemontegirl’s table. I tend to stay within the borders of Barolo, but sometimes it’s nice to venture outside into Barbaresco (hehe). Bruno Giacosa makes 15 different bottles of wine, including a few bottles in Barolo. You see, he has two wineries: one in Barolo and one in Barbaresco. You can check him out here.
Wine: Langhe Nebbiolo
Producer: Bruno Giacosa
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2015
Eye: garnet red
Nose: floral
Mouth: dry, good tannins
Price Point: $24
Available at Vinmonopolet: no
Available at Systembolaget: no
Wine: Barbera d’alba
Producer: Elio Altare
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Barbera
Vintage: 2011
Eye: ruby red, violet reflections
Nose: violets, black cherry
Mouth: dark red fruits, full bodied, good acidity
Price Point: $15
Available at Vinmonopolet: Yes
Available at Systembolaget: nei
I love dolcetto. Always have. It’s easy to drink, refreshing, doesn’t need to be accompanied by food and has little to no tannins. Vietti’s is no exception; a world class wine! Not that their other wines are not good either, I mean all their wines are top notch. Vietti even has a soft spot for Barbera. But I digress.
Why Dolcetto is often forgotten, put aside and left behind I will never know. I understand that Barolo is the big gun in Piemonte, and I can see that dolcetto would be “plain” in comparison. But who says wine always have to be big and expensive? There is no need to open a $50 bottle of wine on a regular Tuesday evening. I usually save my Barolo’s for guests or special occasions, and pick the “smaller” wines on “regular” days.
Wine: Tre Vigne
Producer: Vietti
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Dolcetto
Vintage: 2014
Eye: Purple red
Nose: black cherry, raspberry, blueberry, minerals
Mouth: red berries, soft tannins, moderate acidity, well balanced
Price Point: $20
Available at Vinmonopolet: yes
Available at Systembolaget: yes
Andrea Oberto, my newest friend in Barolo, makes a wonderful Barbera Giada. Some may like to call it a Barbera Superiore, which means that it’s made from the barber grapes but vinified differently, most likely either in oak or longer in oak (compared to the classic barbera). Those who understand Norwegian can read SMAK’s tasting notes onAndrea Oberto’s Giada here.
Wine: Barbera Giada
Producer: Andrea Oberto
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Barbera
Vintage: 2015
Eye: deep purple ruby
Nose: plums, berries,
Mouth: tobacco, coffee, balanced, long finish
Price Point: $40
Available at Vinmonopolet: yes
Available at Systembolaget: no
Brunate is one of my favorite crus, and the fact that Marengo produces it just makes it even better. The vineyards is composed of sandy soils with southern exposure, located in the zones of Barolo and La Morra. Last year I had the 1988, and let me just say that the 2010 can be stored away for about 30 more years! Not saying that the 2010 isn’t good now, just way too young!
Wine: Barolo Brunate
Producer: Marengo
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2010
Eye: deep red
Nose: red berries, herbs, some tobacco, floral
Mouth: well balanced. herbal, good acidity, smooth tannins
Price Point: $62
Available at Vinmonopolet: maybe
Available at Systembolaget: no
It’s always a pleasure to drink the wines of Alessandro Veglio, as you can pretty much taste the hard work and genuine effort he puts into his “grape juice”! Dolcetto is a very “basic” wine, but it’s one of my favorites. The one Alessandro Veglio makes is no exception. Balanced, well rounded, fresh, easy to drink: just as a good dolcetto should be! Alessandro started making wine fairly recently, and in my opinion his wines are getting better and better. Not that they were not good before. I opened a 2008 Barolo Gattera and it was absolutely fantastic! Way to go Ale!
Wine: Dolcetto
Producer: Alessandro Veglio
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Dolcetto
Vintage: 2015
Eye: deep red color (typical of dolcetto)
Nose: cherries, dark fruits (plum), light, fresh,
Mouth: fruity, hit of chocolate, some licorice
Price Point: $15
Available at Vinmonopolet: Yes
Available at Systembolaget: No
Merete Bø has also reviewed the wine, check out her notes here.
Andrea Oberto has become a new staple at Cantina Granveien, and hopefully I’ll bring some home after I visit them in October. As of now I do not know very much about the winery or the wines, but I will visit them in October and learn more about them! In the meantime you can check out Andrea Oberto’s wines here.
Wine: Barbera San Giuseppe
Producer: Andrea Oberto
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Barbera
Vintage: 2015
Eye: bright ruby red
Nose: dark fruits, cherry, some spices
Mouth: dark berries, long finish, round tannins
Price Point: $16
Available at Vinmonopolet: Yes
Available at Systembolaget: No
One of my new favorite winemakers in Nicola at Trediberri. You’ll have to look hard to find a more energetic, eager to learn, interesting young winemaker. The winery is located below La Morra in the middle of the vineyards. He is a relatively new winemaker, but his wines are well balanced and fresh. Definitely worth a try if you can get a hold of a bottle (or a glass).
This wine has the characteristics of a typical nebbiolo: fruity, floral, cherries. As it is a nebbiolo, it might need to breathe a little to open up, but it’s a fresh wine, easy to drink.
Wine: Langhe Nebbiolo
Producer: Trediberri
Region/Appellation: Piemonte, Italy
Grape varieties: Nebbiolo
Vintage: 2016
Eye: ruby red
Nose: earthy, cherries, dark fruits, floral, some spices
Mouth: fruity and fresh, solid tannins, well balanced
Price Point: $18
Available at Vinmonopolet: yes
Available at Systembolaget:
PIEMONTEGIRL 