Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova DOCG
€ 134,00 NO VAT (private collection)
Paolo Scavino Barolo Ravera DOCG
€ 100,00 NO VAT (private collection)
€ 133,00 NO VAT (private collection)
The 2016 Barolo Bussia is explosive, vibrant and full of energy. Bright saline notes give the Barolo Bussia great tension and sheer drive. Deceptively medium in body the Bussia is also incredibly distinctive. Its rich, vivid flavors are so finely sculpted. In this range, the Bussia is distinguished by its mid-palate sweetness and that creaminess that is so common in the best Bussia Barolos. I love the vibrancy here.
3 in stock
Alessandro Ceretto’s 2016 Barolos have turned out beautifully. Gracious and elegant wines, the 2016s capture the personality of the year and of each site. Ceretto describes 2016 as a year with very even weather and a regular ripening pattern. The approach remains as it has been for the last few years. Sustainable farming, spontaneous fermentations and two years in wood are the norm for wines that are now much more translucent and classic in feel than they were some years ago.
| Vintage | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Begin consume | 2024 |
| End Consume | 2036 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Variety | Nebbiolo |
| Closure | Cork |
| Alcohol % vol. | 14 to 15% |
| Category | Dry |
| Producer | Ceretto |
| Designation | Unknown |
| Vineyard | Bussia |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piedmont |
| Sub-Region | Langhe |
| Appellation | Barolo |
| Typification | Private (Wine from a private collection – invoice without VAT) |
| SKU | 3622718 |
| Categories | Private, Red Wine |
The 2016 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata is done in a much more nervy, taut style than Scavino fans have come to expect over the years. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but there is no question the 2016 represents a pretty significant stylistic shift from the past for this bottling. Whether that is unique to the 2016 or an approach that will carry through in coming vintages remains to be seen. Objectively the 2016 feels a bit clenched and lacking the inner sweetness the Riserva has shown in the past. Crushed flowers, mint, rose petal, sweet red cherry and orange zest lend nuance to this taut, classically austere young Barolo from Scavino.
The 2021 Sassicaia is one of the best young Sassicaias I can remember tasting, certainly on par with anything in recent memory. The preference here is picking on the earlier side relative to many neighboring properties, which is one of the reasons Sassicaia is always a wine of refinement more than opulence. At the same time, Sassicaia can be light. Not in 2021. All the elements came together during a long growing season to produce a rich, deep wine that marries textural intensity with classicism. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and spice all race across the palate. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural intensity and sheer power. The 2021 is one of the most concentrated Sassicaias on record. That allowed for long macerations, as long as 20 days for some Cabernets. Aging was 25 months in French oak barrels (95% French, 5% a mix of Hungarian and Slavonian wood), 40% new, 40% once-used barrels and 20% in twice-used barrels. One of the recent developments here is some bâtonnage in aging, which is used to build texture. That approach worked well in 2021. In a word: magnificent.
The 2017 Sassicaia shows the natural richness and intensity of the year while retaining its mid-weight sense of balance and overall poise. A burst of super-ripe red cherry/plum fruit makes a strong opening statement. Mocha, cinnamon, leather and dried herbs appear later, adding aromatic lift. The 2017 is a fairly immediate Sassicaia. Even so, it has enough energy to drink well for a number of years. Production is down 35%, a combination of naturally low yields, dehydration on the vine and then selection in the cellar. Most of the fruit comes from the estate’ hillside vineyards, older parcels that resisted the conditions better.
The 2015 Sassicaia is incredibly elegant, perfumed and light on its feet. It has become even more wonderfully refined since I last tasted it. Sweet floral and spiced notes lead into a core of sweet red and purplish berry fruit. When it was younger, the 2015 was quite potent. Today, my impression is that, while the 2015 has gained some finesse, it is also starting to shut down in bottle. Wine is always a journey; the 2015 Sassicaia is a great example of that.
