Piedmont Wine

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Audrey Frick writes:  A deep purple/magenta color, the 2023 Barbera D'Alba offers loads of fresh lavender, fresh blackberries, red plum, and delicate, fresh herbs, and spice. (I love the nose on this vintage.) On the palate, the wine has a fantastically refreshing feel and a clean finish, with a lot of charm and versality. Drink 2024-2030.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92

Winemaker Notes

G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba comes from a wonderful range of estate vineyards. It is fermented for an average of 20 days and ages no less than twelve months, in respect of the rhythm of nature. This is a fine blend, a charming wine, rich yet forward.

Our Barbera d’Alba is a joyous wine, graced by the complexity that arises from blending different terroirs. The long and gentle maceration is followed by a delicate aging so as to express the varietal fragrance and perfumes. The 2023 Barbera exhibits a brilliant purple hue. On the nose, this wine is a celebration of freshness, bursting with aromas of red berry juice, roses, and fresh plums, each wave adding to its vibrant energy. The palate is both crisp and juicy, offering a delightful drinking experience. It layers flavors of sweet red and black cherries, spices, and fresh dark berries, culminating in a melange of aromatics that defines the 2023 vintage.

Winemaker Description

This wine's ripe, dark-skinned fruit, culinary spice and new leather scents lead the way, along with a menthol note. The firmly structured, chewy palate offers dried Morello cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and espresso flavors alongside fine-grained tannins. Pair with pasta and beans, risotto with porcini mushrooms, chicken chasseur. 

Expert Reviews - VIntage 2020

Walter Speller writes:  Just mid ruby. Pretty sour-cherry and damson nose. Elegant, suave, ripe red-fruit palate with beautifully handled polished tannins. Very long and with the tannins clinging to the fruit.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.  - Jancis Robinson 17++

Monica Larner writes:  Coming in hot off some truly excellent past releases, the Oddero 2020 Barolo has a pretty mineral content with pencil shaving, crushed stone and wet soil that meets forest berry and underbrush. The wine hits on all cylinders, and there is good aromatic balance. It delivers a punch of bright fruit and crushed rose that gives way to pulverized stone. For a base Barolo, this is one of your best buying options. Fruit is blended from Bricco Chiesa and Capalot in La Morra and Fiasco in Castiglione Falletto.  Drinking 2026 to 2039.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Barolo is a pretty powerful wine in this peer group. Accordingly, it is going to need a few years to come into its own. Macerated cherry, licorice, lavender, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco emerge gradually, but only with great reluctance. Hints of rose petal, mint and cinnamon linger.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous 91

James Suckling writes:  Well-rounded, juicy and fruit-forward with notes of sliced strawberries, raspberries, spiced cherries and herbs. Medium to full body with fine, firm tannins. Juicy on the palate with more strawberry character coming through. Lively and in control with a generous and charming finish. Try after 2026.  - James Suckling 93

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Vinous 88 Points | The 2022 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is a bold, juicy Barbera to drink now and over the next handful of years. Blackberry, chocolate, lavender, licorice and dried herbs are front and center. The 2022 is just a bit green, but it's hard to argue with quality at this price point

Winemaker Description 

Cà di Pian is a Barbera with an unmistakable character. There are intense aromas of blackberry and morello cherries. This wine is truly captivating, yet it remains fresh and extremely versatile. 

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator Bruce Sanderson writes | Bright and fruity, this sleek yet rich red offers fine balance and length, evoking cherry, raspberry and almond flavors, with a hint of tar. Succulent finish. Drink now.  

Wine Enthusiast Jeff Porter writes 90 Points | Maraia translates from the Piedmontese dialect to “little rascals” and this wine plays right into that moniker. Vibrant and playful aromas of sour cherry and raspberry dance with fresh flowers and wild herbs. The palate is zippy and pops with red currants and pomegranate that give way to savory flavors before finishing with crisp acidity.

Producer Description 

The last remaining example of appellation Vermouth di Torino to comply with all of the classical requirements, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino has been produced since 1891. Cocchi uses estate Moscato as the wine base, and vibrant, spicy botanicals such as cocoa, citrus, ginger, and rhubarb.

In contrast with other popular Italian vermouths, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino retains wines of Piedmont as the base and avoids a heavy sheen of vanilla or caramel that clashes with other cocktail ingredients. Delicious when poured on ice and a small lemon zest, but also an essential base for the creation of the most classic cocktails from Negroni to Manhattan. Cocchi has produced wine-based aperitifs and traditional Piemontese sparkling wines since 1891.

Giulio Cocchi was a young and creative pastry chef from Florence, where he worked in a popular bar located in Piazza del Duomo. In the late nineteenth century he moved to Asti, a small but lively town in northwest Italy, not far from Torino, and established himself as a distiller and winemaker.

Winemaker Description

A wonderfully food-friendly Barbera. Ruby red and medium bodied with light cherry fruit and great acidity. A wonderfully food-friendly Barbera from one of our favorite producers in Piedmont.  Ruby red and medium bodied with light cherry fruit and great acidity.

Winemaker Description 

This biodynamic wine is bright, pale yellow in the glass offering aromas of minerals, flowers and fresh stone fruits.

Excellent structure and balance creating a certain elegance of fruit, acidity, freshness and a lingering finish. 

Winemaker Description

Ruby red color with mineral and vanilla notes. his Barbera is very well balanced, with a good complexity and a red cherry finish.

Goes well with appetizers, rich salads, grilled seasonal vegetables, soups, stews, pasta, veal, pork, chicken with light sauces.

Winemaker Descripption

Classic Barbaresco color with scents of spices, pepper and black cherries. Powerful, firm, elegant and ethereal.

Pair with fresh pasta, meat dishes, particularly lamb and feathered game and mild cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Monica Lerner writes:  The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.  Drinking 2025 to 2045.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Barbaresco is a lovely, harmonious wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Forward fruit and soft curves are perhaps a bit uncharacteristic for young Barbaresco but that also make the wine very enjoyable. Juicy red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, spice, cedar, mint and tobacco all meld together in the glass. Classicists will probably prefer other vintages, but it's hard not to like the 2020 for its charming, effusive personality. At the same time, aeration brings out greater aromatic presence and a good deal of structure, too.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous 92

Aldo Fiordelli writes:  Still vinous, with youthful strawberry notes, rosebud, violet, liquorice and a whiff of cinnamon. Savoury and floral on the palate which is dominated by firm, crisp, long acidity and velvety ripe tannins of an amazing quality; perhaps just a bit stern on the aftertaste. Amazing Barbaresco. Here we have the cooperative of Barbaresco and one known as producing some of the best-priced quality wines in all of Langhe. This will not be released before October 2023.  Drinking 2023 to 2040.  - Decanter 94

Audrey Frick writes:  Ripe red in color, the 2020 Barbaresco boasts a nice balance of purity and ripeness, with lifted spice notes of dried cherries, peppercorn, pine, and anise. An impressive Barbaresco, it’s medium-bodied and offer sanguine richness and yet has a weightless feel. It’s propelled forward through the palate, with bright orange peel notes, vibrant acidity, fine tannins, and a long finish. It has more richness in this vintage as well as having a lot of finesse and elegance to offer. It’s an exceptional entry Barbaresco.  Drinking 2026 to 2040.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

Jancis Robinson writes:  Rich, sweet nose. Very slightly animal and soft tannins. Juicy!  Drinking 2023 to 2031.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5 

Winemaker Description 

Vermouth di Torino is a collective heritage of Piedmont, which sees in the royal Savoy court as first big promoter of a product which, mainly starting from the late XVIII century, generated a flourishing industry which led Piedmont to become the Kingdom of Vermouth. 

Notes of cocoa, rhubarb, dandelion, caramel, and orange peel deliver a rich and refined character.

Winemaker Description 

Dark ruby-red with crimson shades. The aroma is fresh and intense with clean scents of wild berries and spices. Clear but perfectly blended the wooden note. The flavor is warm and robust, pleasant, good body and harmonic.

This Barbera's sensory attributes make it an outstanding accompaniment for imposing first courses and main-course, meats boiled or roasted.

Winemaker Description 

The Pecchenino "San Luigi" Dogliani Superiore is a distinguished example of Dolcetto, known for its depth and rich flavor profile. It features a well-structured profile with vibrant acidity and a smooth, elegant finish. Produced by Pecchenino, a notable estate in the Dogliani region, the winery is celebrated for its dedication to quality and traditional winemaking techniques.

This Superiore, crafted from carefully selected Dolcetto grapes, offers a complex array of flavors including ripe dark fruit, subtle spice, and a hint of earthiness. It pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes such as pasta, grilled meats, and savory cheeses, making it a versatile choice for both everyday enjoyment and special occasions.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Vanilla and resin accents frame the core flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and plum in this firmly structured red. Flashes of violet and spices emerge as this fades gracefully on the long aftertaste.

James Suckling 91 Points | Pretty intense nose with crushed cherries, flowers and stones. Juicy and medium-bodied on the palate, with fresh tannins and a succulent finish drenched with sour cherries.

Winemaker Description 

Expressive floral tones of wild rose, fresh berries, and crushed mineral. The power and intensity of the bouquet is especially attractive and bold. The wine’s dark concentration within layers of blueberry and earth is perfectly balanced by those ethereal aromas.

Serve with pasta primavera, pizza margherita, and grilled or roasted white meats.

Winemaker Notes

G.D. Vajra Barolo Vino Spumante Neve Rose 750ml. 60% Nebbiolo 40% Pinot Noir Nostra Signora Della Neve is the most important vineyard in the blend of this Metodo Classico of Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir. It is located in Roddino, where the Barolo hills rise into the Alta Langa. With magnificent vines growing on steep sides, this vineyard is every year a beautiful challenge for our harvest crew.

Critic Notes

Billy Norris writes:  Vajra's NV Extra Brut Rosé N.S. Della Neve is incredibly characterful, sizzling out of the glass with leather, mesquite smoke, blackberry and white pepper. A blend of 50% Nebbiolo and 50% Pinot Noir, the structure of the former comes through loud and clear through bright acids and firm, powdery tannins. Sour berry fruit and mentholated herbs meet with salty stoniness in the mouth, elevated by a lively, fine mousse. It's not the most finessed sparkling wine you'll taste, but it's certainly charming.  Drinking 2024 - 2027.  - Vinous 91

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Luca Gardini writes 97 Points | Ambitious and of great gustatory-olfactory impact, assembled according to the old custom with the best parcels. Nose with notes of red currant, then peony and whipping of clementine peel. The sip has iodized tannins, with a return of nuances of small fruits. It closes with floral scents.

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Stitched with pure cherry and raspberry fruit, this red is supple and fragrant, showing lovely harmony. Mineral, tar and eucalyptus accents add detail. There's plenty of structure, with vibrant acidity and refined tannins focusing the finish.

James Suckling 93 Points | There is a rustic, iron-like, rugged quality to this full-bodied and firmly tannic wine that will mellow somewhat with time. But enjoy it for the balsam, tar and red cherry aromas that lead to a meaty, mineral palate. Best from 2027. 

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | This wine represents a blend of fruit from five MGA sites: Brunate, Liste, Cerequio, Cannubi and Raviole. The Damilano 2020 Barolo Lecinquevigne is a little too ripe in my opinion, with baked plum and cooked cherry. It starts off with moderate clarity, but it does take on more focus the longer the wine stays in the glass. You also get earthy tones of iris root and tea leaf. The wine is aged in large oak bottle. 

Winemaker Description

Ruby red in color with orange reflections. An intense bouquet, with tertiary notes of rose, leather, tobacco and emerging notes of violet and tar. The palate is ample and embracing, with prevailing impressions of a soft, persistent long finish.

Lecinquevigne is perfect for braised meat , game, mushrooms and aged cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 97 Points | Very primary fruit with beautiful aromas of peaches, strawberries, berries and flowers. It’s medium- to full-bodied, with bitter citrus, cedar, chocolate and coffee bean character. Tight at the end. From five villages, primarily Serralunga, Monforte, La Morra, Grinzane Cavour, and Novello. Needs two or three years to open and will age for a very long time.

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | This wine represents a blend of Nebbiolo from Serralunga d’Alba (Ornato, La Serra and Briccolina), Grinzane Cavour (Gustava and Garretti), La Morra (Roncaglie), Novello (Ravera) and, more recently, Monforte d'Alba (Mosconi). The Pio Cesare 2020 Barolo has an approachable style for sure, with classic Nebbiolo tones of berry fruit, orange peel and licorice. It reveals an integrated and silky personality and tannins that feel very inviting for near and medium-term drinking.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | A mix of cherry, strawberry, rose, tar and underbrush aromas and flavors highlight this elegant, solidly built red. Supple in texture until dusty tannins emerge on the finish. Shows fine balance overall, with a super long finish.

Winemaker Description 

A classic style Barolo. Excellent structure, harmony and elegance. Soft tannins and balanced fruit. Approachable, but with a very long ageing potential.

Winemaker Description

Elvio Cogno showcases the Nascetta grape, highlighting its revival in Piedmont. This wine presents a complex array of white flowers, citrus, and mineral notes, balancing vibrant acidity with rich texture.

It underscores Elvio Cogno’s commitment to promoting indigenous varietals, offering a structured, expressive white that reflects the unique Novello terroir and the varietal’s aging potential.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

91 Points James Suckling | A tangy and fresh Gavi full of sliced apples, lemon zest and stones. Medium-bodied and textured on the palate with fresh, vibrant acidity and a pure, pithy finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description 

Bright yellow color, delicate bouquet of dried pineapple and peach. Full and rich in flavor, yet mineral and refreshing. Fine aromatic flavor to the end. 

Winemaker Description

Barolo Berri comes from a vineyard at the extreme west border of the Barolo area, with an altitude between 370 and 430 mts asl (1200 -1400 ft). Our Barolo Berri doesn’t want to stand out for complexity or longevity, but for drinkability and immediacy, due to its inner fruit profile, sweet ripeness and freshness. Like any Barolo, it is certainly suitable for long ageing but, in our opinion, this wine can be consumed right after the release with extreme pleasure. 

Expert Reviews 

96 Points Vinous | Nicola and Stefania Oberto may very well put Berri on the map with their 2020 Barolo Berri. What a wine. Deep, soaring and wonderfully expressive, the 2020 is stunning in its beauty. Dark red/purplish fruit, orange peel, cinnamon, rose petal and lavender are all amplified in a vertical, soaring Barolo of magnificent intensity. Silky, polished tannins round things out in style. The 2020 is pure and sensual to the core - a total pleasure bomb. (2020).

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | There is already a wonderful balance in the 2020 Barolo Berri, with both vertical drive and rounded fruits, including red berries and spiced red plums. It has ripe tannins and a generous feel, with a spine of fresh acidity raising it to another level. Drink 2026-2040.

92 Points James Suckling | Fresh and brambly nose with red berries, white pepper, stones and hibiscus. Medium body on the palate with tight, chalky tannins and an elegant, firm finish. Drink or hold. (2020).

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Jeff Porter of the Wine Enthusiast writes 91 Points | Roasted cherries, warmed clove and star anise aromas waft from the glass as dried floral hints and wild thyme rise as the wine opens. Mouthfilling with loads of mixed wild berries fresh, dried and preserved all combined with oak spice finishing with subtle earth and superfine tannins. Drink now–2040. 

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 91 Points | A dense, compact red marked by plum, cherry, leather, forest floor and tar aromas and flavors. Well-balanced and lingers on the finish, where chalky tannins leave their impression. Best from 2027 through 2042. 

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Classic dark fruited Dolcetto made from 50 year old vines. The bouquet is full of earthy black cherry aromas that carry through the mid-palate. Light to medium bodied yet well structured with a good balance of refreshing acidity and lifted tannins. Round, juicy and succulent, a perfect wine for tomato based dishes, sharp cheeses and vegetarian inspired recipes.

Winemaker Description

The Dolcetto for this wine is sourced from both the Paje and Carso vineyards in Barbaresco, which is part of the Asili hill. Paje is particularly rich in calcareous marl soil with a high content of active limestone. Carso sits next to the fortresses of Barbaresco, facing East, with limestone clay soil and a significant presence of sand. Hand-harvested in September. The vines for this wine have a minimum age of 45 years. Fermented lasts for ten days in large french casks with a pied de cuvee made with indigenous yeasts. Submerged cap maceration then follows for 90-100 days. The wine then ages in neutral french oak botti for approximately one year.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 90 Points | This has aromas of sliced apples, fresh pears, lemons and melon. Creamy and fresh with a light to medium body and clean, refreshing finish. Drink now.

 Winemaker Description 

Pale straw yellow, with delicate greenish hues.Intense, long, continuous, persistent, from fruity to flowery depending on the stage of development. Broad, savory, hints of flint; almond and walnut in the finish with citrus notes (orange, lime).

Excellent as an aperitif or throughout the meal; in addition to the typical pairings for white wines (fish, shellfish, seafood, oysters, crab), it pairs well with white meats, noble poultry and light roasts. Ideal with Italian dishes and also with international cuisine. Winery notes

Winemaker Description 

Arneis produces a lightly styled white wine with beautiful straw yellow colour. Citrus edged orchard fruits, pear and apricot are attractive on the palate with slightly bitter floral note that can resemble almonds. L'azienda Brovia is a traditional Piemontese family wine growing estate in Castiglione Falletto, in the heart of Barolo country. The wine is appreciated for its refined elegance.

The sole white wine of the estate is produced in the Roero district from an 0.80 hectare plot in Vezza d’Alba. The soil is essentially sandy in composition and sits at 340 meters altitude on south-facing slopes. The vineyard was planted in 1980. Harvest (manual) normally occurs in mid-September.

The grapes are briefly macerated and the fermentation occurs at controlled temperatures (around 15 degrees Celsius) for two to three weeks. The wine rests in stainless steel until the early spring months of the following year and is usually released to the market, after several months of bottle aging, in late summer/early fall.

Approximately 4500 bottles are produced annually, 3,000 of which are shipped to the USA. 

Winemaker Description 

Intense aromas of blackberry and morello cherries. This wine is truly captivating, yet it remains fresh and extremely versatile.

Winemaker Description

This lightly effervescent wine has a moderate crimson reflection with delicate floral fragrance of honeysuckle and raspberry aromas.

Bottled by V.E.C.A.M. (Vecchia Cantina di Montepulciano).

The sweet palate of strawberries and melon make this a wonderful wine for desserts and fruits or simply for enjoying it on its own.

Aromatic sweet sparkling wine. Estate bottled. Product of Italy.