Of Piedmont’s three principal red grape varieties, Barbera is the most representative of the region, producing a medium-bodied wine that is enjoyable young, but can also age quite well for a few years. This Barbera d’Alba spends more than a year in oak barrels, granting it the “Superiore” designation and making for a more expressive wine. An intense ruby red with violet reflections, red fruits with a hint of spice come through on the nose. A full, round palate is supported by the marked acidity typical of this variety, imparting freshness and a harmonious finish.
The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Superiore is a heady, exotic wine, Inky and deep in the glass, the Superiore captures all of the natural richness of this dry, warm year in its dark flavor profile and concentrated fel. Althought not at all subtle, the 2017 packs a real puch. Inky fruit, chocolate, leather, spice and menthol are all amped up in this decidedly flamboyant Barbera.
Many vintners have affirmed that 2016 is not an ideal vintage for Barbera. Evidently, Chiara Boschis never got the memo. She has crafted a lovely expression that boasts varietal richness and softness. The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Superiore starts off with subtle and careful intensity. But as it takes on greater momentum in the glass, you begin to recognize dark fruit, etched mineral and black olive. The finish is polished and crisp. This Barbera reveals significant depth and lasting persistence.
The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Superiore is dense, voluptuous and full of appeal. A rush of black cherry, plum, lavender, menthol, licorice and spice build in a plush, explosive wine that shows just how compellingly delicious top-flight Barbera can be. I really love the balance here. And, of course, the 2016 is a pure pleasure to taste.
The 2015 Barbera d'Alba Superiore sees fruit sourced from various vineyard sites. Barbera is planted on the lower parts of the same vineyard parcels that produce the estate's best Nebbiolo. The wine undergoes a light and non-intrusive winemaking approach with one year of neutral oak. The results are extremely polished, clean and generous. Dark fruit, plum and spice appear on the finish.
Wonderful aromas of strawberry and lemon rind follow through to a full body with light tannins and a bright finish. Perfect now.
The soil composition (a perfectly amalgamated mix of Tortonian and Helvetian soils, particularly rich in sand) and an ideal southern-facing vineyard exposition allow Chiara to produce an extraordinarily harmonious wine from Cannubi, the most famous Cru vineyard in all of Barolo. This is a regal wine whose nose expresses a myriad of sweet perfumes of spice and ripe fruit accompanied by the typical balsamic (mint and eucalyptus) notes characteristic of this unique vineyard. On the palate, an impressive structure and decisive tannins are complimented by a long, elegant finish.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2018 Barolo Cannubi is a lovely wine with a classic playlist of true Nebbiolo aromas. This certified organic wine exhibits wild berry, rose, dried lilac and an earthy touch of white truffle. However, the floral aromas and the lifted fruit are the protagonists in this balanced expression. Chiara farms less than one hectare (just over 6,000 square meters) in the celebrated Cannubi MGA with ancient calcareous clay soils from the Miocene era. Production is limited to 3,594 bottles. This is one of the best wines of the vintage.
Deep and seductive on the nose and palate with crushed red berries and a soft mineral base. Full-bodied with very silky tannins that are already melded into the wine. More linear, drinkable quality to this in 2018. From organically grown grapes. Compact and delicious even now, but better with another year in bottle.
The 2018 Barolo Cannubi is soft, open-knit and gracious, as wines from this vintage tend to be. Silky contours and pliant fruit add to its appeal and overall immediacy. The 2018 is a real charmer. It's understated personality will be easy to appreciate upon release. Sweet red cherry, cinnamon, mint, cedar and dried rose petal linger nicely, with pretty sweet floral notes that continue to open over time.
Plums and ripe strawberries with some crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied and layered with round, rich tannins and an intensely fruity finish. But then, some fine tannins that are cashmere-like. A little tight at the end. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2024.
The Barolo Cannubi is absolutely gorgeous in 2017. Hot and brutally dry conditions notwithstanding, the Cannubi is creamy and sensual in the glass, with impeccable balance, soft, racy edges and tons of allure. It is easily one of the most sensual, compelling Barolos of the year. Ripe dark red/purplish fruit, spice, mint and cedar meld into the beautifully textured, resonant finish. I am so impressed with the wine's freshness. Perhaps the anti-hail netting helped keep some shade on the fruit. What a wine.
Chiara Boschis is a historic proponent of organic farming, and she lobbied to make the entire Cannubi cru a certified organic vineyard. Her 2017 Barolo Cannubi shows terrific balance and clean intensity in a vintage that presented quite a few challenges across the appellation due to the heat and drought, along with other issues such as an unexpected frost in April, but that caused the biggest damage to the lowest elevations. The Cannubi is less overtly fruity than the blended Via Nuova or the Mosconi. Instead, it has a more prominent saline imprint with mineral and crushed limestone. However, the quality of the tannins in this release is superior and silkier, and that added structure and focus give the Cannubi the longest drinking window in my opinion of these three new releases.
The E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Cannubi is a gorgeous wine that affirms the classic beauty of Nebbiolo. This wine is like a statue of a Grecian goddess with perfect proportions and feminine aesthetic appeal. The bouquet peels back to reveal many layers with bright fruit, white pepper, mint, orange peel and tangy licorice. The tannins are polished and fine with a touch of that distinctive limestone chalkiness that you sometimes taste in Cannubi. Vivid acidity seals the deal on this supremely elegant, fresh and graceful wine. This is a gorgeous set of new releases from one of the nicest and most determined women in Barolo, Chiara Boschis. I may have missed it last year, but I am happy to see that her name is now featured prominently on the front label. Like the woman who created them, these wines are full of energy, elegance and voice.
The 2016 Barolo Cannubi is beautifully perfumed and gracious. Sweet red berry, kirsch, mint, tobacco and dried flowers all lift from the glass. A wine of total finesse, the 2016 is just stunning in its beauty and arresting sensuality. Time in the glass brings out the wine's silkiness and captivating inner perfume. This is such a fabulous expression of Cannubi. What a wine!
Subtle aromas of flowers and strawberries with hints of cranberries. It really rises from the glass and fills the room. Full-bodied, yet so refined and beautiful with ultra refined tannins and ever so polished tannins that make the wine stealthy and focused. Great length. A fantastic encore to the 99-point 2015. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2023 and onwards.
Bright cherry and berry flavors hold the center in this stylish red, accented by underbrush, iron and spice. Firm and focused, leaving fruit, spice and mineral elements on the lingering finish. Best from 2023 through 2045. 800 cases made, 250 cases imported.
Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.
My sample bottle of 2015 Barolo Cannubi was allowed to breathe overnight, and I really got a glimpse of how the wine evolves, showing beautiful minty notes on the bouquet with time. This Barolo is more compact in terms of build than the others and more streamlined in the mouth, but it comes across as extremely delicate, light and elegant. There is a sweet spot on the close. This wine has a unique style that is both graceful and petite, and given ample time to breathe, it would put a smile on any Barolo lover's face.
A beam of rose, rasberry and kirsch notes highlights this aromatic, elegant red. Racy and structured, this focuses the fruit flavors, picking up leafy underbrush, mint, spice and tar elements, building to a firm finish. Best from 2022 through 2040. 333 cases made.
The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is silky, perfumed and gracious, all qualities that are remarkable in this vintage. Even so, the Cannubi remains a soloist more than an orchestra. Floral and spice notes add lift to this super-expressive, nuanced Barolo from Chiara Boschis. Overall, though, the 2015 is a touch slender and not quite as expressive as the two other Barolos in the range. The 2015 was aged 2/3rds in cask and 1/3rd in barrique.
Cherry, eucalyptus, spice and tar flavors mingle with lively tannins here, showing a nice balance between the core of sweet fruit and the firm structure. Overall, this red is elegant and long. Best from 2021 through 2035. 315 cases made, 100 cases imported. — BS
The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is silky, vibrant and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet floral notes, medl into a core of bright red cherry, mint, white pepper and white flowers. Aromatically precise and finely sculpted, the 2013 possesses superb balance. In 2013, the Cannubi is all class. This is one of the most refined and gracious of Chiara Boschis' 2013 Barolos and a very typical wine for the vintage. In a word: terrific!
The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is a fine and sculpted wine that has benefitted from the cool vintage conditions and the long growing season. The wine shows a very pretty nose with wild berry aromas followed by pressed rose, ash, wild mint, tea and earthy black truffle. It shows fine tannins that are slightly camouflaged by the generosity of the fruit. The Cannubi cru offers extreme elegance and finesse. Despite those svelte contours, this wine is built to last.
The 2012 Barolo Cannubi is super-finissed, open-knit and gracious, with striking aromatic lift and plenty of precision. Bright red stone fruit, chalk and white papper give the 2012 its distinctive aromatic signatures. Soft tannins and exceptional balance add to this wine's considerable appeal. The 2012 is a bit more buttoned up than it was last year, but every bit as beautiful. This is a gorgeous Barolo from Chiara Boschis.
The 2012 Barolo Cannubi shows dark fruit nuances, sweet flavors and slightly astringent tannins. The vintage holds back in terms of overall complexity compared to past editions that showed more depth, even at this young stage in their evolution. This is a common trait across the Cannubi cru in 2012. What the wine does offer, however, is a plump and upfront sense of dark fruit with pretty notes of rose petal and grilled herb.
The 2011 Barolo Cannubi is striking. Rose petals, hard candy, and sweet spices all meld together in a silky, super-expressive Barolo endowed with superb depth and persistence. A dolllop of sweetness form the new French oak is evident, but overall, the 2011 is a fairly classic-feeling Barolo. The seamless, plant finish gives the 2011 tons of near-term appeal, but there is also more than enough depth to allos the 2011 to develop beautifully in bottle for years to come.
(14.7% alcohol with 6.0 grams of acidity; bottled the week before my visit): Good full, dark red. Lovely floral perfume to the tangy red cherry aroma; I might have picked this as Burgundy from the nose. Juicy, intense and sharply delineated, with compelling inner-mouth pefume to the flavors of red cherry, raspberry and rose peatl. Finishes juicy and tight but seamless, with silky tannins and lovely lift. Very 2010 in its razor-sharp precision and penetrating length. Little obvious sign of oak here, which is all to the good.
Rose petal and berry aromas follow through to a medium to full body with integrated tannins and a fresh and clean finish. A refined and sexy Cannubi. Try in 2014.
Cherry, raspberry and tobacco flavors highlight this intense red, which is fresh and steely in structure, turning more elegant as it plays out on the finish. A licorice note wraps it up. Really builds form beginning to end. Best from 2016 through 2032. 327 cases made.
Cannubi is regarded as perhaps the finest vineyard cru in Barolo, delivering clean and elegant wines with power and determination on the finish. This expression stays true to the vineyard, with added touches of soft fruit and spice to the mix.
A new-oak sheen sorrounds this supple, delicate red, whose cherry and raspberry flavors take on a leafy tobacco edge. Ripe, yet ethereal in this category, playing out well on the fresh, crisp finish. Best from 2014 through 2025. 168 cases imported.
Bright and tonic, with vibrant fruit tones of cassis and dried raspberry followed by exotic spice and smoked bacon, this is an elegant and complex Barolo. After a while in the glass, you'll notice those fine mineral tones that characterize the Cannubi cru and that give this wine both backbone and personality.
Here is a beautifully extracted and voluptuos Barolo from the Cannubi cru that would pair with tender veal shank, slow cooked until falling off the bone. Black chery, spice, root beer and fragant earthy tones all appear on the nose and the wine closes with tight, firm structure. Cellar age ten years or more.
Vintner Chiara Boschis took over this historic estate after the dead of its founder Luigi Pira. She continue in a precise Barolo tradition that pays attention to quality of fruit and vineyard designations. The Cannubi cru, for example, is celebrated for the legant nature of its wine. Here you will encounter fine aromas of orange blossom, wild berries, white mineral and delicate floral notes.
Beguiling, concentrated and suave, this classically styled Barolo opens with lavender, cherry, almond and anise, which sliden in to blackberry brandy flavors on the palate. Long finish. Intense and delicious from start to finish; a real stunner. Drink now or cellar 5-7 years.
Beautifully silky and refined, with fantastic cherry, mineral and raspberry character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, amazing finish. Keeps going. Superfresh. Chiara Boschis took over the Pira winery in 1990 and this is her best wine to date. Best after 2010. 940 cases made, 350 cases imported.
The most recently acquired parcel, the famous Mosconi Cru in Monforte d’Alba was purchased in 2009. The vineyard’s particular heavy clay soil (in some areas calcium carbonate and iron give the soil a reddish-gray color) lends considerable structure to this wine, making it a Barolo ideal for aging. A garnet red color is complimented by open perfumes of flowers and mature fruit with some spicy notes. This is a long-lasting wine of power and concentration with firm, velvety tannins.
Chiara Boschis has recently purchased more vineyard in the Mosconi cru located at a cool 370 meters in elevation in Monforte d'Alba. From an organic 1.9-hectare parcel, the 2018 Barolo Mosconi is available in a slightly larger production of 9,000 bottles. This is terrific news for those who love the focus and precision that Chiara Boschis is known for. The Mosconi carries generous fruit weight and volume over a streamlined mouthfeel and tight tannins. The wine ends with fresh notes of blackberry, plum and wild rose.
Plenty of tense, wild-strawberry character to this with bright minerals, too. Medium-bodied with a punchy core of bright fruit, tight tannins and a tense, crystalline finish. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to even out. Best from 2024.
The 2018 Barolo Mosconi shows all the gravitas and natural darkness of this site, but in miniature. Black cherry, plum, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks and incense fill out the layers. There is plenty of Mosconi muscle, even if the volume of the best years isn't there.
Very fresh, sweet raspberries with some floral undertones follow through to a full body with fine, creamy tannins that flow long and linear through the middle of the palate. From organically grown grapes. Best after 2024.
The 2017 Barolo Mosconi is a powerful, brooding wine. Black cherry, gravel, dried herbs, scorched earth, spice and leather add to an impression of gravitas. This is an especially somber, potent Barolo that needs time to soften. Even so, it will always be a brute. The substantial finish is a thing of beauty. The Barolo Mosconi emerges from the estates oldest vines, which are 70-80 years old, and is aged in barrique.
Made with organically grown clones of Michel and Lampia, the E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2017 Barolo Mosconi softly presents bright berry aromas, raspberry, wild cherry, crushed limestone and delicate floral tones of lilacs and violets. Like other wines from this hot vintage, this expression from the Mosconi cru in Monforte d'Alba has that unique floral signature that is precious and unexpected. The wine shows great depth and balance with a pretty intensity that spreads over the palate. The tannins are dry with some dustiness, but the mouthfeel is spot-on in terms of length and polish.
The E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a little wider and richer compared to the Cannubi, with bigger fruit, more sweetness, spice, grilled oregano and a touch of crushed hazelnut. Despite the wide net of aromas offered on the bouquet, this wine shows a very sharp and focused approach with elegantly linear tannins and matching acidity. There is a lifted quality to both the nose and the mouthfeel that gives this wine beautiful momentum and length. Mosconi is one of the headline vineyards of Monforte d'Alba. This is a gorgeous set of new releases from one of the nicest and most determined women in Barolo, Chiara Boschis. I may have missed it last year, but I am happy to see that her name is now featured prominently on the front label. Like the woman who created them, these wines are full of energy, elegance and voice.
The 2016 Barolo Mosconi is a gorgeous wine made all the more remarkable given that Mosconi can't really be said to be a top-level site. Dark and imposing, the 2016 captures all the breadth and tannic clout that are such signatures of this site. This is an especially brooding, virile Barolo, but Chiara and Giorgio Boschis clearly brought out all the best the vineyard had to give.
A full-bodied, chewy 2016 with a solid structure of ripe fruit and intense tannins. Lots of plums, walnuts, hazelnuts and light chocolate. It’s very powerful. Very classic structure. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to resolve the powerful tannins. Try after 2022.
The vivacious Chiara Boschis has been a modernist producer for 25 years, although she now uses far less new oak than in the past. She is best known for her Cannubi, but the Mosconi, from 1ha within this Monforte vineyard, can be just as fine in some vintages. The colour is deep for Barolo, the cherry and blackberry nose generous and opulent. It's a plump, rich, full-bodied and very concentrated wine that's assertive and youthful now - but in balance. Darker-fruited than most Barolos, it's structured, taut and long. Drinking Window 2021 - 2038
Aromatic depth here, drawing you in with cascading layers of flowers and leaves, fresh-tilled earth laced with woody spices, white pepper and fresh red fruit. The palate carries a very sturdy frame of fine, dense tannins. This is placed in the top league of 2015 Barolo wines. Long and succulent build through the finish. Try from 2024.
All of the wines from Chiara Boschis are more vinous this year, more natural. They feel authentic, genuine and traditional. They show an extra degree of richness or texture, and the 2015 Barolo Mosconi is no exception. Its dark and spicy notes are very polished and graceful in this vintage but with considerable tightness to the tannins that will soften with time. This wine offers ample volume and girth, but it carries its weight with elegance. Once the bottle has reached maturity, it would be a great pairing match to rabbit.
The 2015 Barolo Mosconi is striking in this vintage. The natural richness of the year seems especially well suited to this Monforte site, where the wines tend to be born with a natural sense of textural breadth and volume. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather and menthol grow in the glass in a full-bodied, virile Barolo that speaks to power above all else.
The personable Chiara Boschis is based in the town of Barolo, but this wine comes from 1ha in Monforte. It's a fairly new addition to her range, and a very successful one albeit in a far from traditional style. The colour is deep and the nose voluptuous and smoky, with cherry-pie aromas. The palate is full-bodied, plump and suave, infused with dark fruits. Fortunately there is balancing acidity to cut through the richness. Harmonious, with a long, piquant finish. Drinking Window 2021 - 2038
Plenty of dried berries and herbs. Some meat, woody spices and a wealth of fresh red and pink roses, making this very fragrant. The palate has assertive acid cut and impressive depth. The elegant yet firm tannins hold the red-plum finish long. A great result with real tension. Try from 2023.
A wine of power and breadth, the 2014 Barolo Mosconi has all of the textural depth that is typical of this Monforte site. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice and incense are some of the many notes that fill out the wine's generous frame. It will be intersting to see if the 2014 comes together a bit more fully with time in bottle. Today, it is decidedly virile and a touch monolithic.
A mix of cherry, eucalyptus, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors are gripped by dense, dusty tannins. On the darker side, with a kernel of sweet fruit on the finish. Fine intensity. Best from 2023 through 2038. 330 cases made, 110 cases imported.
The 2014 Barolo Mosconi is the most robust and structured of the three Barolos. Chiara Boschis believes in making her single-vineyard wines even in a difficult vintage such as this. She rejects the idea of blending all her fruit together to make a single wine. Indeed, her cru wines are very distint. Each shows its individual characteristics with greater precision, I would argue, in this slender and more ethereal vintage. The 2014 vintage is a natural spring board for highlighting vineyard personality. This is a cool vintage, but Mosconi surprises the sense for the plump ripeness of its dark fruit flavors.
The 2013 Barolo Mosconi shows thicker textural fiber and greated overall power. The Mosconi site is characterized by heavy clay soils that act like sponge and keep the moisture locked deep within even during the warmest months. The wine opens to coffee and dark fruit with more cherr, spice, tobacco and black truffle at the back. The mouthfeel is generous and wide in appeal, showing tannic frimness that coats the palate. The wine's layering is rich and lasting in intensity. This wine shows excellent possibility for further cellar evolution.
Dark, ample and inviting, the 2013 Barolo Mosconi shows the pure power and breadth that is so typical of this site. Black cherry, plum, mocha, smoke, tobacco and licorice are all fused together. The Mosconi presents an especialy virile, baritone expression of nebbiolo, with less finesse than is found in the estate's other Barolo. That said, there is quite a bit of polish to play off the natural richness of Mosconi. The 2013 is an especially refined, layered wine for this site.
The 2012 Barolo Mosconi comes across as a bit powerful and monolithic. There is no shortage of intensity, but the wine is one dimensional, which is typical of most wines from this site. Muscular, dense tannins and intense dark fruit are among the signatures. It will be interesting to see if the 2012 develops finesse.
A dark, brooding wine, the 2011 Barolo Mosconi captures the sense of this Monforte site in its intense flavors and broad, ample frame. Black cherries, savory herbs, mint, tobacco, smoke and incense all flesh out in the glass as this opulent, virile Barolo shows off its personality. While the Cannubi is purely silk and sensuality, the Mosconi is all muscle. It will therefore hold more appeal to readers who like massive, powerful Barolos.
The 2011 Barolo Mosconi shows thick lines and dark density with well-defined notes of dried cherry, balsam herb, licorice and dark chocolate. Its consistency is plush and soft, although that characteristic tannic backbone does much to keep the wine tightly stitched together. Barolo Mosconi delivers warm vintage traits on the nose and the textural firmness of a cooler year. The results are unique and compelling. This Barolo ages in oak for two years.
Via Nuova (New Road) was the name of a small vineyard on the edge of the historical center of Barolo, the name coming from its proximity to the road (new at that time!) connecting Barolo to Novello. All that remains today of the road is a small walking path through the vineyards. The wine was produced as a single-vineyard Barolo for many years until, in 2010, this small Cru was incorporated into the larger Terlo subzone. And so, as a sort of homage to tradition, Barolo Via Nuova is now produced as a blend of 6 different vineyards: Terlo and Liste in Barolo, Ravera e Mosconi in Monforte d’Alba and Gabutti and Baudana in Serralunga d’Alba. This classic Barolo blend combines structure with elegance and complexity, emphasizing the particularities of each vineyard site. Though a bit timid when first opened, some time in the glass (or decanter) will reveal Via Nuova’s alluring ethereal floral and fruit perfumes.
Fascinating aromatic complexity that keeps your nose hovering over the glass. Raspberries with ginger biscuits, flowers and a twist of basil. There’s a deeper layer of crushed goji berries and talc-like minerals, too. Full, intense, silky and dainty with well-integrated tannins that even add a chocolatey touch. From organically grown grapes. So tempting to drink now, but better from 2024.
This is an organic blend of fruit from six MGA sites: Terlo and Liste (in Barolo), Ravera di Monforte and Mosconi (in Monforte d’Alba) and Gabutti and Baudana (in Serralunga d’Alba). The 2018 Barolo Via Nuova is fermented in steel and aged in oak according to time-tested local tradition. This mid-weight blended Barolo has a more prominent herbal or balsam signature at the back of red and purple fruits, licorice and pressed violet.
The 2018 Barolo Via Nuova is marked by palpable brightness and tension that lend energy. Like all of these wines, the 2018 is restrained in feel, but all the elements are so well balanced. Freshly cut flowers, mint, crushed rocks, chalk and white pepper give the Via Nuova notable energy. Intense veins of supporting tannin and minerality provide the backbone.
Gorgeous aromas of dried flowers and strawberries with some cherries and hints of iron. Full-bodied. Chewy and creamy-textured at the same time. Attractive berry and walnut aftertaste. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2025.
The 2017 Barolo Via Nuova is stellar. In 2017, the Via Nuova is a bit nervous, the sign of a Barolo that is going to need a number of years to unwind. Bright red-toned fruit, chalk, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper add pretty aromatic top notes. As always, the Via Nuova is the most taut Barolo in the range. Via Nuova is a blend of seven vineyard sites; Terlo, Paiagallo and Liste (in Barolo); Ravera and Mosconi (in Monforte); and Gabutti and Baudana (in Serralunga).
This classic wine represents a traditional blend of sites including Barolo (Terlo and Liste), Monforte d'Alba (Ravera and Mosconi) and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti and Baudana). The organic E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2017 Barolo Via Nuova reveals ripe cherry and raspberry that greet you with a bright, fruit-forward bouquet. I feel the hot-vintage fruit ripeness more in this release than I did in the smaller releases of Mosconi or Cannubi. The wine is slender and elegant in terms of mouthfeel, with a good, polished feel and some subtle bite from the tannins on the close. There are some grassy notes and a spicy point of crushed black pepper as well.
In my opinion, the 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is the single greatest Barolo Chiara Boschis has made in her storied career. A monumental, thrilling wine, the Via Nuova captures all the best the vintage had to give. Explosive in the glass, with stunning aromatic depth, the 2016 is drop-dead gorgeous from the very first taste. Dark macerated cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and rose petal are kicked up a few notches from underlying veins of acidity and tannin that give the wine its energy and drive. The 2016 is a wine of extraordinary harmony, purity and finesse with an eternal finish. The 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of seven plots: Terlo, Liste, Paiagallo, Ravera di Monforte, Mosconi, Gabutti and Baudana.
A blend of fruit from seven crus spread across Barolo, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba, the E Pira-Chiara Boschis 2016 Barolo Via Nuova is a polished and elegant wine that reflects all the classic characteristics of textbook Barolo. There are brambly aromas of woody red fruit, like pomegranate, followed by toasted hazelnut, licorice and grassy earth. The delineated tannins and the freshness of the acidity add to the depth and important layering of the wine. Following the best of Nebbiolo, the wine is weightless and powerful at the same time. This is a gorgeous set of new releases from one of the nicest and most determined women in Barolo, Chiara Boschis. I may have missed it last year, but I am happy to see that her name is now featured prominently on the front label. Like the woman who created them, these wines are full of energy, elegance and voice.
Extremely perfumed and beautiful with crushed-strawberry, hazelnut and sandalwood aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy with polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Pretty craftsmanship and structure. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2022 and onwards.
This delivers a fresh and vibrant impression on the nose with ripe red cherries and a deep-set, rose perfume. The palate has impressive power and focus with chiseled, driving tannins that cut a straight line of pure, red and black-cherry flavor. Long and assertive in 2015. Try this from 2023.
Once again, the 2015 Barolo Via Nuova shows why the blending of several sites was the approach favored by Barolo producers until the 1960s, when the fascination for single-vineyard wines started to take off. Maybe the old-times knew something after all. Silky and fragrant, with exceptional balance, the 2015 is positively striking. Medium in body and layered, the 2015 has a very bright future. What a gorgeous wine it is. The Via Nuova was aged in equal parts cask and barrique.
The 2015 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of fruit from Barolo, Monforte d'Alba and Serralunga d'Alba, and each site adds elegance, power and structure, respectively. The wine's taste profile in 2015 emerges as very minty and balsamic on first nose. Delicate notes of forest berry and wild cherry are followed by cooling medicinal herb. This warm vintage also adds a touch of cured meat or leather at the very back that hints at the heat of the vintage. Overall, this is the most accessible and near-term of Chiara Boschis's three Barolos reviewed this year.
This is the mid- weight wine that exists on a continuum between the ethereal elegance of Cannubi and the muscular power of Mosconi. The 2014 Barolo Via Nuova represents a traditional assembly fo fruit form various sites, including Barolo (Terlo and Liste), Monforte d'Alba (Ravera and Mosconi) and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti and Baudana). This beautiful wine offers volume and grit with beautiful mineral tones that stand proud above the dark fruit, cassis and wild rose. There is a note of mineral saltiness on the close that I really love.
The 2013 Barolo Via Nuova is a more accessible wine with ripe and round fruit flavors that lift gracefully from the glass. The bouquet is immediately open and articulate. Fruit is sourced from six vineyards spread across three townships: Barolo (Terlo and Liste), Monforte d'Alba (Ravera and Mosconi) and Serralunga d'Alba (Gabutti and Baudana) . Each one, averaging only half a hecare in size, adds a little piece of the puzzle. IN the future, the idea is to increase the percentage of Mosconi fruit to bring total bottle production form 4,000 to around 6,000. The wine is ample and generous in terms of its aromatic intensity with bold fruit, spice and balsam herb. The finish is dry and marked by distant mineral flavors.
Aromas of toasted oak, mocha and whiff of coconut oak lead the nose while the firm palate offers dark cherry, espresso, dried sage and a hint of anise. The tightly wound tannins still pack youthful sharpness and need a few more years to soften up. Drink after 2021.
Aromas of toast, sutle oak, rich fruit, dried roses, clove and white pepper lead the nose on this structured but polished wine. The succulent palate doles out ripe wild cherry accent with licorice, black pepper, and red-hot cinnamon. It's balanced with firm, bracing tannins and freshness.
The modest tannins and elegant structure typical of this grape variety make Dolcetto d’Alba an ideal “everyday wine,” enjoyable without being overwhelming. Ruby red in color with bright violet reflections, this wine is bursting with fresh fruit like Marasca cherries, wild strawberries and small red fruit on the nose. It’s particularly enjoyable slightly chilled on a warm summer day.
This is a fruity, dark and exuberant expression of one of Piedmont's most food-friendly grapes. The 2017 Dolcetto d'Alba opens to soft richness and fruity succulence, with dried blackberry aromas
The 2016 Dolcetto d'Alba is a tasty, straightforward wine with good varietal character. Plum, black cherry, lavender and spice all flesh out in this succulent, mid-weight Dolcetto.
Though rich and concentrated, this red is sleek, courtesy of the vivid acidity. Black cherry, blackberry and cocoa flavors prevail. Firm tannins provide grip. This should pair well with salumi and antipasti. Drink now though 2022. 1,500 cases made.
The 2012 Dolcetto d'Alba is impeccable. Mid-weight, gracious and beautiful perfumed, the 2012 impresses for its silky texture and exceptional overall balance. Hints of violet, cloves and mint add complexity to the dark fruit in this super-classic drop- dead gorgeous Dolcetto from Chiara Boschis.
This wine is a youthful expression of Nebbiolo, the same grape variety that makes up the region’s most famous wine, Barolo. Some of the younger vines from the Ravera vineyard in Monforte d’Alba are used to produce this Nebbiolo d’Alba. The unique characteristics of this particular parcel of vineyard and terroir are best expressed when the wine is aged in small oak barrels, resulting in a kinder, more delicate wine – a perfect balance between elegance and structure. Elegant perfumes of red fruit on the nose give way to dry, velvety tannins on the palate.
The 2016 Langhe Nebbiolo is a very serious wine in its peer group. Aromatically expressive and deep on the palate, with terrific supporting structure, the 2016 has so much to offer. Crushed raspberry, tobacco, dried herbs and mint all grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Langhe Nebbiolo from Chiara Boschis. There is so much character here.
A more delicate style, boasting red fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry, with a touch of flowers. The structure here is softer and the finish long. Drink now thorugh 2024. 600 cases made, 350 cases imported.
Bright strawberries in a fragrant mode, as well as some cedary oak punch. There's a wealth of punchy cherries on offer. Good concentration and balanced fruit for the ample structure, too. Drink or hold.
The 2015 Langhe Nebbiolo is a food-friendly wine with an easy-drinking personality. Some 30% of this Nebbiolo blend is made with the Rose clone that is so light in color, the clusters look pink when they reach full maturity. In fact, the wine's color is impacted here. It boasts a light garnet or ruby shine. The wine is polished and clean with some drying tannins on the finish. The mouthfeel is compact and streamlined, but the wine ends with a pretty offering of wild berry and blue fower.
Freshly cut flowers and generous sweet red berry fruit give the Langhe Nebbiolo much of its sensuality and overall appeal. Medium in body and nicely lifted, the 2015 is a terrific choice for readers who want to drink a top-notch, artisan wine without spending a fortune. The 2015 is a especially fine edition of this wine. Don't miss it.
The entry-level 2013 Langhe Nebbiolo offers tonic, bright fruit in a simple context. The wine offers linear tones of cherry, wild berry and pressed blackberry with light accents of spice and tobacco at the back. It ages in neutral oak and the fruit integrity is very intact as a result. In the mouth, this easy Nebbiolo shows tight lines and refreshing acidity. The 2013 vintage is a promising one for this varietal.
