Le Piane Maggiorina 2020 r1 *
Regular price
$19.00
Piemonte, Italy
40% Nebbiolo, 40% Croatina, 5% Vespolina, 15% 9 other old grape varieties (including white grapes)
Winemaking:
Fermentation with the skins in stainless steel tanks with overpumping for 4-5 days. After pressing ripening in stainless steel tanks for one year.
Christophe Kunzli, inspired by the delicious wines, old vines and disappearing, but significant, heritage of the Boca region, has been a driving force behind the re-emergence of Alto Piemonte's lesser-known regions. A hundred years ago, Boca was carpeted in thousands of hectares of vines, while today about a dozen hectares qualify for the DOC. Christophe makes one Boca every year, but he also makes a few blends from grapes grown within the region that do not conform to the standards of the denominazione. His wine called 'Maggiorina' comes from 25 small plots planted mostly to Nebbiolo, but also to Croatina and Vespolina, as well as several native grapes that have no official names, including some white varieties. Some of these vineyards are very old, from 80 years to over 100 years. The old vineyards utilize la maggiorina, an ancient but practical training system that encourages vascular health, no doubt contributing to the long productive life of these vines. Christophe has continued to care for these unique old vines and has planted some young vines along the same lines.
2020
Wild on the nose: black plum, cherries, raspberry, chamomile, mint, thyme, white pepper, licorice.... juicy, incisive, a little grippy, full of energy on the palate. Long on herbal, floral and crunchy fruit notes. This will get more interesting over the next few years, might be worth saving a decade. This wine seems to get better and better every year
2019
A blend, mostly Nebbiolo, but with a dozen or so other local varieties, some of which are so obscure that they are not officially recognized by the Italian wine bureaucracy. The 2019 is the best vintage yet, and if you like fresh zippy reds, you need to try it. Spicy, herbal and floral, with notes of pepper, cedar, fennel, and rosehips on the nose. Lots of fruit aromas as well: cherry, strawberry, blood orange. On the palate it is elegant and punchy at once, firmly dry and a little on the tangy side, but fresh juiciness keeps it friendly. The finish has a lot say: flowers, honey, citrus and berries, anise, sweet almonds, exotic spice.... how is this under $20?
2018
A wild wonder to behold, with ethereal aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, fennel, mint, woodsy Madagascar peppercorns, cacao and rosehips. Fresh and open-knit on the palate, it is tense and a little nervy, but it is also effusively juicy. This is hands down one of the most delicious wines we've ever tasted at under $20.
2017
The "little" wine of Le Piane packs quite the punch. This is a blend of at least 12 grape varieties (mostly Nebbiolo and Croatina, but also some white cultivars) and it is a fresh, tart and lively style. Red fruits, myriad herbs and flowers inform the nose, while the palate is vivacious, lithe and full of fresh crunchy berry flavors.
40% Nebbiolo, 40% Croatina, 5% Vespolina, 15% 9 other old grape varieties (including white grapes)
Winemaking:
Fermentation with the skins in stainless steel tanks with overpumping for 4-5 days. After pressing ripening in stainless steel tanks for one year.
Christophe Kunzli, inspired by the delicious wines, old vines and disappearing, but significant, heritage of the Boca region, has been a driving force behind the re-emergence of Alto Piemonte's lesser-known regions. A hundred years ago, Boca was carpeted in thousands of hectares of vines, while today about a dozen hectares qualify for the DOC. Christophe makes one Boca every year, but he also makes a few blends from grapes grown within the region that do not conform to the standards of the denominazione. His wine called 'Maggiorina' comes from 25 small plots planted mostly to Nebbiolo, but also to Croatina and Vespolina, as well as several native grapes that have no official names, including some white varieties. Some of these vineyards are very old, from 80 years to over 100 years. The old vineyards utilize la maggiorina, an ancient but practical training system that encourages vascular health, no doubt contributing to the long productive life of these vines. Christophe has continued to care for these unique old vines and has planted some young vines along the same lines.
2020
Wild on the nose: black plum, cherries, raspberry, chamomile, mint, thyme, white pepper, licorice.... juicy, incisive, a little grippy, full of energy on the palate. Long on herbal, floral and crunchy fruit notes. This will get more interesting over the next few years, might be worth saving a decade. This wine seems to get better and better every year
2019
A blend, mostly Nebbiolo, but with a dozen or so other local varieties, some of which are so obscure that they are not officially recognized by the Italian wine bureaucracy. The 2019 is the best vintage yet, and if you like fresh zippy reds, you need to try it. Spicy, herbal and floral, with notes of pepper, cedar, fennel, and rosehips on the nose. Lots of fruit aromas as well: cherry, strawberry, blood orange. On the palate it is elegant and punchy at once, firmly dry and a little on the tangy side, but fresh juiciness keeps it friendly. The finish has a lot say: flowers, honey, citrus and berries, anise, sweet almonds, exotic spice.... how is this under $20?
2018
A wild wonder to behold, with ethereal aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, raspberry, fennel, mint, woodsy Madagascar peppercorns, cacao and rosehips. Fresh and open-knit on the palate, it is tense and a little nervy, but it is also effusively juicy. This is hands down one of the most delicious wines we've ever tasted at under $20.
2017
The "little" wine of Le Piane packs quite the punch. This is a blend of at least 12 grape varieties (mostly Nebbiolo and Croatina, but also some white cultivars) and it is a fresh, tart and lively style. Red fruits, myriad herbs and flowers inform the nose, while the palate is vivacious, lithe and full of fresh crunchy berry flavors.