MALVIRÀ

This white sparkler is made from 100% Arneis, the Roero region’s most popular white grape variety. “Rive Gauche” is a clever reference to the Roero district’s position on the “left bank” of the Tanaro River in Piedmont. Fresh aromas of white peach and spring flowers, and a slightly herbal note, complement a savory and balanced palate and a pleasant, dry finish. This is a vibrant Spumante, perfect for an aperitif with friends or to refresh a warm Summer’s day.

Grapes for this Arneis come from four Estate vineyards in Canale, home to the Roero’s best vineyards for this variety. Traditional perfumes of orchard fruit, exotic white flowers, chamomile and tropical nuances pervade this particularly inviting and expressive Roero Arneis.

This single-vineyard Arneis is a stunning wine, laced with white orchard fruit, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper.  The Arneis grapes for this wine come from the bottom portion of the Vigna Trinità, an exceptional south/southwestern-facing hillside vineyard in the Roero.  This is an incredibly expressive Arneis with a sort of crystalline purity.

“Favorita” is how the Vermentino grape is known in Piedmont and is most widely planted on the left bank of the Tanaro Rivero, in the Roero district. Elegant and aromatic, the Malvira Langhe Favorita is a vibrant and complex white wine expressing notes of citrus, white flowers, melon, peaches and lemon. The Favorita is brimming with bright, balanced acidity and a pleasant slightly bitter finish.

The Rieslings (the Rhine variety) from Piedmont have become increasingly appreciated in recent years, representing interesting wines of indubitable quality. This is a pale yellow wine with pretty greenish tints, fruity and aromatic with mineral notes on the nose. On the palate, it is dry and elegant with a fresh, pleasant acidity.

The “Tre Uve” (3 Grapes in Italian) is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Arneis. The wine opens with rich aromas and flavors of fruit, hazelnuts and dairy, which develops into orange peel, apricot, candied fruit and honeyed notes, along with a good bit of French oak. With some age, this white takes on a distinctly exotic feel.

This Cru Barbara d’Alba spends 18-20 months in French oak, adding complexity and structure to a complex aromatic profile of mint, black cherry, spice and cassis. Sweet fruit flavors of prune, cherries and vanilla accompany a vibrant structure and gripping tannins for a long finish.

The grapes for the Barbera d’Alba Superiore also come from the San Michele vineyard, an ideal position and soil type for growing Barbera from its 80 year-old vines. The “Superiore” ages for nearly two years in barrel, resulting in a soft and supple wine with plummy, intense, dark fruit. Delicious and accessible now, this Barbera can also age for a few years.

San Guglielmo, a miniscule 3-hectare (7.4 acres) plot in the heart of the Roero, is the winery’s most historic vineyard and has always been planted to the three traditional red Piedmontese grapes that make up this Rosso blend: Barbera (70%), Nebbiolo (25%) and Bonarda Piemontese (5%). The wine is a dense ruby red in color with notes of blackberries, prunes and tobacco on the nose. Powerful, yet smooth and velvety, on the palate with hints of blackberry, vanilla and leather.

The Birbet is a sparkling red wine made from 100% Brachetto, the black-skinned variety best known for its sweet and frothy dessert wines. This is a fun and fruity, highly aromatic wine with classic perfumes of strawberry, raspberry and red roses. It is lovely paired with chocolate, fruit desserts and panna cotta, but can also accompany savory treats like light antipasti and cheeses.

This dessert wine is made from Botrytis grapes (predominantly Arneis with 10% other aromatic varieties) hand-harvested at the end of November and fermented and aged in oak barrels. Rich perfumes of honey, peach and apricot open to reveal a delicious mix of tropical fruits, candied grapefruit peel and caramel. Balanced and long, pairs perfectly with blue cheese, fruit tarts, nut-based desserts and chocolate.

This 100% Nebbiolo is an intense wine with serious depth and striking tannins that will mellow with some time in the cellar. Bright berry fruit (strawberries, raspberries, black currants) and spice appear first, followed by more savory hints of iron, leather smoke and tobacco. The Roero is a wine of significant character and complexity that will only continue to impress with age.

The Trinità is the most elegant and savory of the three Roero Riservas produced by Malvirà. Perfumes of dried rose, spice, black fruits and mint turn to smoke, iron, tobacco, grilled herbs and strawberry preserves on the palate. Firm, well-balanced tannins lend an indisputable energy and vibrancy to the wine, which will undoubtedly continue to evolve for many years to come.

This vineyard’s name, Renesio, is thought to be tied to the naming of the local white variety, Arneis. In fact, Malvirà produces both an Arneis and the Roero Riserva from grapes grown on this southeastern-facing hillside in Canale. The wine hits the palate with an explosion of dark cherries and blueberries, mixed with smoke, tobacco, liquorice and even a hint of chocolate. This is a more “masculine” showing of Roero, brooding and earthy with a long life ahead of it.

The Mombeltramo Roero Riserva comes from a single vineyard of the same name, known for producing particularly austere wines that soften over time, representing exceptional aging potential. This wine offers a captivating intertwining of aromas, flavors and textures, ranging from sweet red fruit and dried rose to tobacco, game, menthol and liquorice. Powerful and persistent tannins support a precise structure that suggests a long, intriguing evolution.

This rosé sparkler is made from 100% Nebbiolo, coming from the high, northern-facing portion (and a selection of other parcels) of the prestigious Trinità vineyard in Roero.  Nebbiolo is an ideal grape for a rosé sparkling wine as the variety ripens later, allowing the grapes to reach optimal levels of sugar and acidity for spumante wines.  Like its bubbly white cousin, “Rive Gauche” is a clever reference to the Roero district’s position on the “left bank” of the Tanaro River in Piedmont.  The first vintage (2019) of the wine was a particularly light pink, but experiments confirmed that even a bit more skin contact and pressing result in a beautifully-colored wine without imparting too much tannin, a typical characteristic of the Nebbiolo grape.  Elegant perfumes of small red fruits, white peach and hints of pomegranate entice the nose while the mouth is balanced and dry, fresh, but not tart, with a fine and persistent perlage.  The Rive Gauche Rosé is a vibrant yet versatile wine, perfect for an aperitif or in accompaniment to light, even slightly spicy, dishes.    

The Damonte family, synonymous with quality red and white wines in Roero, made its entry as “Barolisti” in 2007, with the acquisition of the Boiolo vineyard in La Morra.  The miniscule (0.2 acres) Barolo vineyard in La Morra, previously owned by Roberto and Massimo’s brother-in-law, was completely replanted with Nebbiolo.  Two additional vineyards were added to the production (Boiolo and Serra Denari) in 2018 for a total of a mere 1.2 acres, all of which will be productive with the 2021 harvest.  From these distinctive vineyards comes a supple and elegant wine, capable of expressing all the intensity typical of the Barolo wines from this area of La Morra and the balance characteristic of the Malvirà wines.  Bright ruby red with orange hues, the Boiolo Barolo is intensely perfumed, with an array of spices ranging from black fruits and mint to drunken cherries and cocoa.  This is an elegant and persistent Barolo with a tightly-woven tannic structure and savory finish.  A perfect accompaniment to an evening around the fireplace or braised and roasted meats and aged cheeses.