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 2022 Barbera D'Alba Superioreis slightly deeper ruby red and has a pretty, floral perfume of violets, fresh blackberries, and sweet herbs. The palate has a ripe, yet refreshing and snappy feel, and while it was a hot vintage, this is certainly an example where Barbera can retain its acidity and thrive. It’s crispy and fresh and has a delicate note of oak spice that frames the wine, followed by a lasting perfume on the finish. Drink over the next 10 years.
A hint of earthiness gives way to rose, rose hip, black cherry and raspberry in this racy red. Bursting with energy and charming, leaving a long, mouthwatering aftertaste. Drink now through 2029. 290 cases made, 97 cases imported.
A deeper, more opaque hue, the 2021 Barbera D'Alba Superiore offers notes of graphite, lavender, and plum. It is medium to full-bodied but doesn't feel weighted and has fresh acidity and sweet tannins. Its notes of berries and fresh herbs last long on a clean finish. Drink over the next 5-8 years.
The 2020 Barbera D'Alba Superiore is transparent with a rich ruby and youthful luminescence and is fragrant with the sweet perfume of blackberry, candied violets, and sweet herbs. It is medium bodied with freshness throughout and has a bit more depth. Drink 2023-2030.
This has depth and suppleness to the cherry, blackberry and plum fruit flavors, with flashes of violet and almond underlined by vibrant acidity and a mineral vein. Shows fine balance and length. Drink now through 2027. 290 cases made, 50 cases imported.
High-pitched and racy, evoking floral, blackberry and white pepper flavors. Pure, elegant and balanced, leaving a chalky feel on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 290 cases made.
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.
Aromas of red fruit, dried herbs, cola, earth and a touch of licorice. Medium- to full-bodied with chewy but not overbearing tannins, neat fruit flavors and a subtly chewy finish. A very absorbing wine. Already approachable, but it will improve with a year of cellaring. Best from 2026.
This is a phenomenal wine that highlights the hard work and expertise of Chiara Boschis and her brother Giorgio. The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Cannubi is made with organic Nebbiolo clones of Michet and Lampia planted in a tiny 0.7-hectare plot at 300 meters above sea level on the powdery white limestone soils from the Miocene epoch that characterize this celebrated cru. The wine is refined and delicate with rose hip, violet and pure cherry essence. The aromas are stacked with soaring vertical intensity, and they give this wine an especially bright and lifted bouquet. The mouthfeel outperforms most of its peers thanks to its tight and silky essence and the clean powdery feel of its tannins. The Cannubi is showing very nicely now, but the Mosconi could benefit from more time in bottle. This is a limited release.
The 2021 Barolo Cannubi is a jeweled ruby color and is fragrant, floral, and complex with aromas of fresh flowers, black raspberries, cherries, fresh spice, and sweet orange citrus. Medium-bodied, the palate is highly elegant and graceful, with refined, even tannins, ripe acidity, and a long finish with a great feel throughout. This continues to be one of the top expressions coming out of Cannubi and offers both immediate pleasure and a wide window for enjoyment over the coming decades.
The 2021 Barolo Cannubi is pure sensuality. Creamy, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, mint, spice, blood orange and lavender. Everything here speaks to balance. Pretty floral top notes lift the eternal, saline finish. The 2021 is impeccably done. It’s a very pretty and complete Barolo from Chiara Boschis.
Nervy and complex nose with excellent depth. Oranges, nutmeg, steel, mineral and a touch of white pepper and oyster shell. Broad and expansive on the palate with very structured, chalky tannins that extend to a lengthy, mineral finish. Long and youthful. From organically grown grapes. Can drink now, but better from 2027.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Cannubi is a fine and delicate wine, although there is a little more grit and richness in this warm vintage. The quality of the fruit is exceptional, especially its crisp ripeness. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, rose blossom, pink pepper and white limestone add considerable high-toned notes. The freshness is great and the fruit stays juicy, fueling a long, elegant finish.
A well of pure cherry bubbles up in this red, complemented by rose, strawberry, mineral, wet pine and underbrush aromas and flavors. Though exuding finesse, this is layered with chalky tannins, yet still extends with a kaleidoscope of red fruit, mineral and savory notes on the long finish. Best from 2028 through 2046.
The talented Chiara Boschis has produced a gem from this cru in 2020. Fermented in stainless steel with multiple punchdowns per day (but no submerged cap), it's then racked off early and aged for 24 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Pure mint and liquorice scents with deep dried cherry, leather and blood orange notes. Very elegant with great persistence and a classic finish.
The 2020 Barolo Cannubi is elegant, silky and nuanced. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, cinnamon and orange peel lend notable aromatic presence to this mid-weight, understated Barolo. All the elements are nicely balanced throughout. The 2020 is a pretty wine, but this a lighter style, even for Cannubi. The lighter body makes the tannins feel a touch austere. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
A 'blessed' vintage for one of the family’s historic crus, wine of density and crunchy tension. Nose with notes of cranberry, with touches of blood orange and licorice root, with classic mentholated finish. At the palate brackish-sapid tannins and fruity-mentholated return.
The 2019 Barolo Cannubi is flat-out stunning. Rich and beautifully textured, the 2019 dazzles from start to finish. Freshly cut flowers, mint, crushed red berry fruit, orange peel, salt and dried herbs are some of the many notes that grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Barolo from Chiara Boschis. Sweet floral and spice overtones build into the finish. The precision here is unreal. Aging in cask works so well here. What a wine!
I had the chance to walk the Cannubi vineyard with Chiara Boschis this past fall. You really don't get a sense of how steep the inclines are and how powdery the soils are until you are there, struggling with each difficult step. She navigates the difficult terrain effortlessly. The 2019 Barolo Cannubi shows an etched or three-dimensional quality with sharp fruit flavors, blue flower and chalky stone. There were some weather extremes during the growing season, but everything balanced out in the end. Phenolic ripeness was easily achieved. Chiara Boschis describes 2019 as a cross between 2016 and 2017. In her portfolio, Via Nuova is the classic Barolo, Mosconi has the power and Cannubi shows the finesse of Nebbiolo. We fight with a bow and arrow, not with a nuclear bomb," says Chiara Boschis of her ongoing efforts to convert all the vintners in the Cannubi cru over to organics. She has almost succeeded in her goal, although a few holdouts remain. Her inspiring Cannubi Bio project is why E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis is a recipient of the Robert Parker Green Emblem award.
Bright, royal ruby red. On the nose, rich notes of black currant, liquorice, subtle notes of red cherries, jasmine, cedar. On the palate, polished, elegant, with juicy tannins, beautiful fruit, a harmonious interplay of textures and flavours, great length.
A very refined yet structured Cannubi with fine tannins that spread across the palate. Medium body with lovely succulent fruit of plums, berries and cedar. Persistent finish with citrus undertones inthe aftertaste. From organically grown grapes.
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.
Clear medium dense ruby with a pronounced garnet rim. Very appealing and intense nose of ripe, dark wild raspberries, prunes and also some rhubarb and cranberry. Grippy, spicy tannins, multi-layered, lots of ripe, vivid fruit, firm drive and fine texture on the finish.
Elegant and seamless for such a young red, exhibiting rose, cherry, mint, menthol and mineral flavors. Firm yet balanced and long, with echoes of cherry and menthol on the saline finish. Best from 2025 through 2042.
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.
This Barolo opens up with aromas of bright cherries, cedar and a touch of sliced mushrooms. Medium-bodied with incisive freshness. The tannins are restrained, almost timid. The wine is overall compact and solid. Very well constructed and cohesive. Needs three years to soften, but it’s really enjoyable to taste.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Mosconi is structured, linear and ultimately quite mineral in character compared to the Cannubi. Its firm underlying architecture is rendered light and fragrant thanks to aromas of blue flower, grilled herb (with both rosemary and aniseed) and pulverized stone. Fruit comes from a site in Monforte d'Alba at a cool 370 meters in elevation. I came back to this bottle 24 hours after my first tasting and remarked on the elegant, chalky nature of the tannins.
Selected from the estate’s oldest plot within Mosconi, this is the only one of Chiara Boschis’ Barolos still aged exclusively in barriques. The cool, fresh site sees significant diurnal temperature differences typically giving a powerful wine that needs tempering and, above all, time. The 2021 harnesses that vigor and potential masterfully. A marvelous mix of sweet spice, forest roots and stony minerals evoke a palpable sense of territory. Profound in its depths, it boasts juicy acidity with plush tannins you can sink your teeth into. Long, textural and enveloping with dark cherry, plum and hints of bitter cocoa, this is a complete and compelling package.
With a slightly deeper jeweled ruby hue, the 2021 Barolo Mosconi is more contemplative, offering layered notes of cedar, cherry cordial, Asian spices, sweet herbs, and pressed flowers. It reveals broader polished depth on the palate, with ripe, refined tannins, and a long, even-keeled finish with persistent mineral underpinnings. It is only going to improve as it leans into these more brooding tertiary layers of truffle and leather, and it will be worth waiting for. Drink 2026-2056.
The 2021 Barolo Mosconi is ample, creamy and resonant in the glass in its first impression. Dark red/blue fruits, leather, lavender, spice and menthol build with some coaxing. There's plenty of Mosconi substance, but Chiara Boschis has done a terrific job in taming the tannins here. This is one of the most refined wines I have ever tasted from the Mosconi cru. Time in the glass brings out the wine's structural presence, while floral overtones and insistent tannins support the driving finish.
Top 100 wines of Italy 2024 #62 - Dried oyster savoriness and intriguing wet stones with a touch of nice peppercorn funk to the cherries, hibiscus and plums. Broad and compact on the palate with a full body and plump morello cherries in the middle. Quite expansive and long, but transparent. Even more powerful than her exciting Cannubi from this vintage. From organically grown grapes. Drink from 2027.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Mosconi has some of the extra ripeness of the vintage with cherry cream syrup, grenadine, watermelon candy and a drop of Pastis. The wine ends on a powerful note with a balanced combination of fruit and fine oak tannins. The palate is very alive, and the fruit feels very vibrant at this young stage.
The 2020 Barolo Mosconi is a powerful, savory wine. Black cherry, gravel, incense, menthol and licorice all build in this virile, strapping Monforte Barolo. Ample and authoritative, the 2020 has a ton to offer. Savory herbs, earthiness and strong mineral notes infuse the substantial finish. Superb.
Though clearly focused on its cherry, raspberry and plum fruit flavors, this red also boasts savory elements of eucalyptus and woodsy underbrush. Well-endowed, with dense, dusty tannins that shape the compact finish. Best from 2028 through 2046.
The 2019 Barolo Mosconi is a bit deeper in color, with its jeweled appearance leading to floral, fresh, and spicy notes of ripe cherry, pink peppercorn, and fresh rosemary. It is medium to full-bodied, with great purity, and has ripe, sweet tannins that fill the palate alongside balanced fruit, hints of forest floor, and a bit of cedar. It is long on the palate and needs more time. Drink 2025-2045.
The 2019 Barolo Mosconi is the most potent of the three Barolos in the range. It exudes Monforte darkness and virile intensity from the very first taste. Black cherry, plum, mocha, sage, tar, lavender and spice infuse the 2019 with tons of character. This is one of the most elegant wines I have ever tasted from Mosconi, a site that does not naturally lend itself to finesse.
With fruit from Monforte d'Alba, the E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2019 Barolo Mosconi is the most powerful of the three wines presented here. We tasted it last. Bottled on the full August moon, the wine is impeccably balanced and bright with dark fruit, black cherry, spice and pencil shaving. The tannic structure of the wine is impressive, and you can count on Mosconi for long aging potential.
Bright, intense ruby with a delicately brightening edge. The nose smells of ripe wild berries, cedar and licorice, vaguely reminiscent of milk chocolate, candle wax, with an aftertaste of incense, cranberries and rosemary. Hearty entry on the palate, with grippy, tightly woven tannins and pinpoint acidity, as if from a single source, there is always a great length, very harmonious.
Lots of spices and earth with dark berries on the nose. Full-bodied with fine and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish wth blackberries and cinnamon. Racy and silky testure at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Best after 2026 but already a joy to taste.
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.
Sparkling, dark garnet with a light edge. Very fragrant nose of wild raspberries, dark cherries, plums, cloves and a little cinnamon. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, opens with lots of hearty, grippy tannins, nice melting core, hints of raspberry and tobacco, long finish.
This red puts it all together—macerated cherry and plum fruit, a silky texture, vibrant structure and elegance—without sacrificing power or harmony. Complex and long, with a haunting finish that provides rose, menthol, licorice and iron accents. Best from 2025 through 2043. 800 cases made, 175 cases imported.
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.
A lifted and energetic Barolo, the 2021 Barolo Via Nuovais boasts a jeweled ruby color and has a fantastic, balanced nose with notes of ripe peaches, sweet sandalwood, floral perfume, and wild strawberries. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and focused, with vibrant acidity, finely coiled tannins, and a long and linear finish. It has a bit more open feel at this stage, but it should have solid aging potential and improve over the next 20 or more years.
An intense Barolo with aromas of Parma violets, cinnamon, restrained blood oranges, cherries and licorice. Incredibly precise and defined. Full-bodied on the powerful and graceful palate, with velvety tannins and refreshing, lifted acidity. A lot of substance, with a crunchy style and balance. Long, licorice aftertaste. Best after 2027.
This wine represents a blend of fruit from various sites, and 15,000 bottles were created. Showing a classical profile, the E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Via Nuova delivers a firm sense of inner fiber and richness with dark blueberry and black fruit. These aromas are enhanced by ethereal tones of blue flower and aniseed. The tannins are slightly more approachable in this wine compared to the Mosconi, but the intensity and richness of the mouthfeel is about the same.
The 2021 Barolo Via Nuova is a gorgeous, poised wine . Bright and energetic, with tons of drive, the 2021 has so much to offer. Brisk acids and veins of tannin shape this dynamic mid-weight Barolo. Blood orange, plum, chalk and rose petal are some of the many notes that come alive with aeration. The Via Nuova is a gorgeous wine in the making, but it needs a few years to be at its most expressive.
Bright and complex nose showing excellent depth and complexity. Expect to find fresh strawberries, white pepper, stones, fine herbs, chalk and even a touch of mezcal. Broad and zesty on the palate with fine, chalky tannins driving it to a long and ample finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
The 2020 Barolo Via Nuova is stellar. It clearly benefits from a blend of several sites. Dark cherry, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice and dried herbs all build in this potent, structured Barolo. As always, the blend includes Paiagallo, Liste, Terlo, Gabutti, Baudana, Ravera di Monforte and Mosconi—an approach that works so well. This is a stellar showing from Chiara Boschis.
The E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2020 Barolo Via Nuova opens to a little more dark fruit and ripe berry in this vintage. The wine is buttoned up from all sides into a tight little package of aromas. You get orange peel, bright cherry and a fragrant springtime fruit blossom. There are hints of herb, tar, violet and chalky mineral. The tannins are finely polished and smooth.
A rich, ripe style, boasting cherry, raspberry, iron, tobacco, herb and spice flavors. This is dense, with aggressive tannins tipping the balance slightly in their favor, yet remains long and full of fruit to the end, with fine length. Best from 2028 through 2043.
The 2020 Barolo Via Nuova takes on a more introspective and serious tone, with more concentration and dark berry notes of black raspberry and cherry as well as dark earth and menthol. It is fresh on the palate, with significantly more concentration from the vintage, with cherry, tea leaf, and turned soil. (I love how each vintage is so transparent as a lens into the different nature of any given year’s climate and conditions.) This is the most muscular of the wines. Hold this one and drink 2026-2046.
An extremely interesting Barolo, velvety and elegant. The aroma has hints of sour cherry, undergrowth and slightly smoked, completed by balsamic touches and black pepper. The taste recalls fruity and smoky notes, with a balsamic-spicy finish.”
More citrus character emerges from the 2019 Barolo Via Nuova, which is lifted, elegant, and fresh with orange peel. On the palate, it has outstanding energy, with finely coiled tannins, more linear drive, and refreshing energy in its notes of pomegranate, raspberry, and crushed stones. I love this wine now, and it will be fantastic over the coming decades.
The 2019 Barolo Via Nuova is another gorgeous wine in this tasting. Soaring and broad in its aromatic intensity, the 2019 has it all. The blend of seven sites works so well. Readers will find a seamless, wonderfully complete Barolo. Dried flowers, herbs, mint, rose petal, kirsch and orange zest lend notable complexity throughout. The 2019 is deep and also quite rich, but not at all heavy. There is a touch of oak sweetness, but it just adds to the wine's exotic beauty.
The 2019 Barolo Via Nuova is a blend of fruit from various sites across multiple villages in the appellation. The wine is immediately open and beautiful, showing dark fruit, cherry, spice, blue flower and potting soils. The healthy fruit in this vintage shows an almost crunchy quality. With climate changes and weather patterns that are becoming increasingly tropical in nature, hail storms are a reoccurring threat. In recent times, they have been especially violent in the village of La Morra. Chiara Boschis installed hail nets in her vineyards seven years ago.
Bright, dark ruby garnet. The nose has fine peppermint, rich heart cherries, a clear hint of licorice, and the finish has fine earthy tones. Creamy and supple on the palate, then develops on iron-rich, fleshy tannins, very powerful, energetic, still a bit bulky in the aftertaste, still wants to age.
Shiny, brightening garnet red, light rim. The nose is extremely fragrant, with fresh roses, lots of raspberries and strawberries, and some cotton candy. Polished, fine-meshed tannin, red berry fruit, tobacco in the finish.
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.
A fragrant and elegant red, delivering tuberose, strawberry, cherry and grassy aromas and flavors. Taut and balanced, with bright floral and red fruit notes gracing the lingering finish. Best from 2024 through 2038. 375 cases made, 150 cases imported.
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.
Radiant, sparkling ruby red. On the nose there is a clear barrel note, light spicy tones, ripe strawberries, raspberries, and a hint of dried flowers in the aftertaste. Clear and radiant on the palate, opens with robust, grippy tannins, slightly consuming in the aftertaste.
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.
A bright ruby/magenta hue, the 2023 Dolcetto D'Alba is refreshing on the nose with pretty, pristine fruit aromas of fresh flowers, mixed berries, raspberries, and wet stones. It has a refined and very elegant texture, with fine tannins and a clean, refreshing feel throughout. A lovely Dolcetto with a clean, medium-bodied feel and a great finish, it’s a highly versatile wine to enjoy all year round. Drink now or over the next couple years to capture it at its peak.
The 2022 Dolcetto D'Alba is expressive with candied violets, black raspberry, and dark stones. Fresh and lifted in its style, it displays the vibrancy of this warm vintage. The tannins are polished and elegant, and the wine has a lovely, sweet bouquet that lifts throughout the finish.
Pure fruit flavors of black cherry and blackberry introduce this silky red. It's balanced and charming, with vibrant acidity driving the long mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2025. 370 cases made.
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 2022 Langhe Nebbiolo is a brilliant ruby hue and is highly charming on the nose, with aromas of ripe raspberries and floral, sweetly perfumed notes. The palate has ripe tannins and is medium-bodied, with a clean and approachable, pure feel throughout. It a lot of clarity and is a gorgeous wine that’s going to drink well any time over the next 6-7 years, but I love this for its freshness.
The 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo is fruit-forward with its aromas and is noted with ripe raspberry and a darker mineral profile. It also displays more richness in the palate as well as more structure, with comparatively broad shoulders, while retaining great purity. An outstanding red, it is deserving of holding and drinking 2024-2030.
This sleek red is both firm and balanced, showing aromas and flavors of rose, strawberry, cherry and wild herb and lingering with fruity, savory and minerally notes. Drink now through 2025.
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.
