2017 Azienda Agricola Valfaccenda, Roero Rosso (RT92) A relatively recent bottling, the first vintage for this wine was 2010. Crafted from grapes grown in the Canale and Santo Stefano Roero municipalities from vines of varying ages. Here the soils tend to be sandy with some interspersed clay and the vineyards are relatively steep. This wine is aged for 6 months in barrel followed by one year in bottle consistent with Roero regulations. Takes on a deep red cherry, cranberry and mentholated pomegranate bouquet showing deep, ripe fruit. With time in the glass mineral notes emerge. The mouth coating fruit lends way to extended freshness with tasty acidity and soft, sweet tannins. While this is a bit one dimensional, the sweet, ripe fruit more than makes up for it. Drink now-2027+ Approximately $50 in the US market.
2013 Gostolai, Oliena, Nepente di Oliena Classico (RT93) A decidedly serious expression of Cannonau di Sardegna (Garnacha), this wine uses only natural yeasts and is aged in tonneaux for one year followed by two years in neutral Slavonian oak botti. The bouquet shows dried raspberry, maraschino cherry liqueur, saddle leather and a splash of eucalyptus and a punctuation mark of rosemary. The mouthfeel is lush, succulent and reveals just a hint of sweetness, with fresh zip and ripe tannins. A revisit exposes its mouthcoating sweetness. This is an excellent, top quality Cannonau that reveals the greatness of the variety and the winery! Drink now-2028+ Approximately $45 in the US market. Â
