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Cantine Umberto Bortolotti Piai Alto Valdobbiadene Rive Di Rolle 2016

Cantine Umberto Bortolotti Piai Alto Valdobbiadene Rive Di Rolle 2016

From a single 2.65 ha parcel on the steep slopes of the Rive DOCG, the 2016 Umberto Bortolotti Piai Alto Valdobbiadene Rive Di Rolle is awash with delicate, tender aromas of acacia flowers, acacia honey, that swirl ’round white peach and Asian pear. It’s round and creamy upfront, with a delicate honeyed character that can […]

Vietti Moscato d’Asti Cascinetta 2015

Vietti Moscato d'Asti Cascinetta 2015

An affordable holiday bubbly—Vietti’s 2015 Moscato d’Asti Cascinetta has a classic profile for the varietal. Lovely notes of baked apple and poached pear lie well beneath granulated honey, star gazer lilly and chamomile. At 5% ABV, it’s quaffable and charming. — August 11, 2017 I have a weakness for Vietti’s Moscato d’Asti Cascinetta, the 2015 […]

Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin 2011

Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin 2011

Served blind at a recent lunch in Vancouver with fellow Cascadia Fine Wines colleagues, JoJo captured the tone of this outstanding Barolo when he described the 2011s as “charming” wines. Charming, indeed. A deliciously perfumed nose of rose petals, aged leather, fresh pie cherries, dried mint and spice. It’s nimble on the palate, gossamer and […]

Castello Banfi Brachetto d’Acqui Rosa Regale 2016

Castello Banfi Brachetto d'Acqui Rosa Regale 2016

I wager that Banfi sent me this coquettish Brachetto d’Acqui in the hopes that I’d review it in time for Valentines day. Vivid magenta with a translucent rim, a fine mousse—which I appreciate—and considerable olfactive charm. Ripe, ripe black cherries, crushed raspberries, pungent decaying rose petals, earth, and an alluring pinch of spice. There is […]

Comm. G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga 2014

Comm. G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga 2014

Pelaverga is a rare, indigenous variety, found in the village of Verduno in Italy’s Piedmont. As it opens, a sort of mounting energy in the glass, a melange of white pepper and flowers along with brambly fruit, but in this case it’s the spice and floral character that dominates. The nose is, however, far different […]

Gaja Barbaresco 2012

Gaja Barbaresco 2012

Sampled at a trade tasting, the distributor told me that in the 2012 vintage the winery did not bottle their single-vineyard Barbaresco wines, rather this is a blend of all three sites. It’s elegant as Gaja wines are wont to be, with caressing notes of tart pie cherries, red forest berries, lilting spice and feminine […]

Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Le Brunate 2006

Francesco Rinaldi Barolo Le Brunate 2006

Still in its infancy, the 2006 Rinaldi Barolo Le Brunate is stunning and impeccable even at this stage, though it is advisable to decant should you be tempted to open it sooner rather than later. Soaring notes of juicy black plum and black cherry enclosed in freshly picked sweet tobacco and mint. Voluptuous on entry, […]

Martini & Rossi Spumante Rosé NV

Martini & Rossi Spumante Rosé NV

A fun, festive porch wine, this charming rosé was the first in a lineup of Bubbly Pinks at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. The Martini & Rossi Rosé NV opens with a lively and classic Muscat-ish nose of honey and chamomile flowers. The mousse is fine, yet spirited and there is enough acidity to give lift […]

Elio Grasso Barolo Riserva Rüncot 2007

Elio Grasso Barolo Riserva Rüncot 2007

This legendary Barolo was one of the knock-out wines at our holiday table. The Elio Grasso Riserva Rüncot Barolo 2007 blossoms in the glass with heady, provocative scents of violets, forest underbrush, dusty earth, star anise, incense, and smoke. On the palate, fine, tightly-wound tannins weave in and out of glints of cherries, rose hips […]

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio 2007

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio 2007

Roberto Voerzio’s Barolo Cerequio 2007 is pure seduction. Perfumed, there is a heady outpouring of rose petals, Madagascar vanilla, black cherries, Italian plum, tar, black tea leaves, and tobacco. The attack is forceful, though not without composure, boasting stunning power and a graceful, masculine energy. Taught, fine-grained tannins, and a structured core signifies long aging […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com