AZIENDA AGRICOLA SORDO GIOVANNI Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG

When young, Fontanafredda Langhe Nebbiolo features a fragrance which is wonderfully spontaneous and full of surprise. In its bouquet, colour, and generous, velvety body this wine brings out all the typical qualities of the grape it is made from. Later in life, its colour becomes garnet-red with strong orange shades, and its nose deepens, with traces of withered flowers, such as rose and above-all geraniums. It's warm, soft, well-bodied flavour is velvety and well-balanced, lingering in the mouth.

An intense and embracing fragrance. Full-bodied but smooth tannic taste, with a long, spice-driven finish. Garnet red with a slight shade of amber. Nebbiolo Founded by Luigi Einaudi, during his time as Governor of Banca dItalia and President of Italy after the second world war, it is said he never missed a harvest! His son Roberto succeeded him, but it was Robertos daughter Paola, on her return from Milano to Dogliani at the end of the 1980s, who with tenacity, enthusiasm and significant investment, re-launched this historic brand and went about improving wine quality. Today it is her son, fourth generation Matteo Sardagna, who is at the helm. Long sojourns in the Langhe as a child with his grandfather and mother left Matteo with a deeply-rooted passion for the familys values and customs. Today the winery is equipped with unique cement egg-like fermenting tanks, and botti of varying sizes and age so that Matteo and his team can produce wines which reflect their terroir, and the traditional style of the region and the estate.

Nervi is a historic, benchmark Gattinara producer with 28.5ha of highly-prized Nebbiolo vineyards across the appellation, in the northern part of Piedmont. The modern Nervi was founded in 1906 by Luigi Nervi. Molsino is one of the estates two top named sites -- a historic cru with mentions in town records as far back as 1471. The Nervi family ran the estate until the 1990s, and in 2011 it was purchased by investors who brought in the leading Barolo figure Roberto Conterno as a consultant. Gattinara represents the purest expression of the northern [Piedmont] zones. Vino Italiano - David Lynch and Joe Bastianich In May 2018 Conterno purchased the estate. Gattinara was awarded DOC status in 1967, and upgraded to DOCG in 1990. Gravelly clay soils remnants of an ancient collapsed volcano -- are rich in granite and other minerals including iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese. The terroir gives the wines a distinct minerality which sets them apart from the neighbouring appellations. Molsino matures for at least four years in large oak vats.

An extremely pleasing and drinkable wine, and although it has a high alcohol grade this never overpowers its fruity character. Its red colour has Bordeaux reflections and the slow trickle from the edge of the glass confirms its optimal concentration and good body. The palate is caressed by a smooth tannin content typical of the Nebbiolo grape and by a warm and enveloping flavour.

This wine was made in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013. The 2014 Barolo Falletto (white label) is fascinating to taste right after the Barbaresco Riserva Asili from the same vintage. There is no doubting the extra muscle mass and power that is obtained in the Barolo appellation, and from the Serralunga dAlba township specifically. This dramatic Barolo delivers darkness and density. It shows a beautiful appearance with faint highlights of dark ruby that add a subtle sparkle. At this point in its drinking cycle, the wine shows all the characteristic traits of its youth. This means it is more closed and rigid at present. That nervous tightness needs to be factored in when assessing the cellar longevity of this vintage. Hints of the wines inner complexity, sheer determination and textural fortitude are already bubbling up from deep inside this firmly layered Nebbiolo. I wanted to mention the tightness of the tannins now. These will undoubtedly serve to carry this wine forward over the coming decades. *95 points*, The Wine Advocate Monica Larner

Michele Chiarlo was founded in 1956 by the sole and present owners, Michele and Giuseppina Chiarlo. Son of over seven generations of esteemed wine growers, Mr. Chiarlo is today one of the most respected producers of the fine wines of Piedmont and a leading figure in its viticultural industry.Barbaresco Reyna comes all along from the vineyards of Barbaresco and Treiso. Reyna has always been an exceptional and traditional Barbaresco, aged in large barrel. Its main features are the elegant tannins, the delicate spices and the silk sensation in the mouth.