2017 Barbera d'Alba 'Vigna Vecchia' Scarrone Vietti

Piedmont is famous for its Nebbiolo-based wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, but we don't always want to (or can afford to!) drink these big wines on an everyday basis. When it comes to finding something approachable in its youth, but can age for a decade, I often turn to Barbera. Not only does the Barbera grape offer something different with unique aromatics and flavours, it's a style of wine that offers amazing value for money! We are therefore delighted to offer a parcel of the outstanding 2017 Barbera d'Alba 'Vigna Vecchia' Scarrone from the legendary Vietti estate.

'The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Vecchia Scarrone is positively gorgeous'

Antonio Galloni

The vineyard is located in the Scarrone area, from the oldest portion of the vineyard, facing the south-east. The yields are naturally low due to the age of the vines, and they are further reduced by a strict selection of the grapes. We recently tasted a bottle and it is an absolute gem of a wine that shows the potential and full expression of Barbera in the 'land of Barolo'.

The wine has huge concentration, ripe tannins and perfect balance - it will be even better with a few years in the cellar. There were only 4,298 bottles produced in 2017 and at just £29 per bottle, this falls into the 'must buy' category!

2017 Barbera d'Alba 'Vigna Vecchia' Scarrone Vietti

750ml @ £174 per 6

Made with precious old vines, some of which have reached the 100-year mark, the Vietti 2017 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Vecchia Scarrone is a deep, dark and luscious red wine. It tops the charts in terms of color intensity and fruit heft. The concentration and density of the wine is considerable; however, the mouthfeel never feels heavy or overdone. Yes, this is a dark and brooding Barbera, but that fresh acidity gives the wine a little skip and jump in its proverbial footsteps. That condensed fruit is followed by rusty nail, crushed stone and black licorice. This is the finest, most complete set of wines I have ever tasted from Vietti. Congratulations.

94+pt, Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

The 2017 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Vecchia Scarrone is positively gorgeous. Savory, nuanced and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2017 possesses tremendous complexity and character - the brutally hot year notwithstanding. It is also very different from the straight Scarrone Barbera, which has not always been the case of late. I would prefer to cellar the 2017 for at least a few years. Drink 2024-2056.

93+pt, Antonio Galloni

Ex UK - December

Subject to final confirmation

Comments

Michel Chapoutier 2020 Sélections Parcellaires

The charming and ebullient Michel Chapoutier, the legendary Rhône producer, has just released his 2020 Sélections Parcellaires , his single vineyard wines , and we were very privileged to attend a tasting with him in London this week. At the risk of sounding clichéd, both the reds and whites were amazing! Chapoutier is incredibly enthusiastic, and loves to talk in great depth about a great many things when it comes to his wines and wine making techniques. His opening gambit was that he doesn't try to make the best wine possible, but instead to reflect the best expression of his terroir! He moved on to say that 2020, a dry, warm vintage, had very similar conditions to those of 2003, a vintage which he freely admitted was pretty awful, with short, bitter wines. However, we were regaled with a lengthy and technical discourse on how his vines have adapted to the changing climate in the intervening years, due largely to the enormous efforts made in biodynamics and non-interventioni

The truly magical 2016 Château Cos d’Estournel

We are delighted to offer a parcel of the truly magical 2016 Château Cos d’Estournel. Château Cos d'Estournel is named after its 19th century owner, Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, and it was he who built the beautiful oriental edifice that is a landmark for any tourist in the Médoc. Today Cos d'Estournel is without doubt the leading estate in St-Estéphe. It is located in the south of the appellation on the border with Pauillac and its vineyards are superbly sited on a south-facing gravel ridge with a high clay content, just north of Lafite. ‘This is a monumental, benchmark Cos d’Estournel that will give not years but decades of pleasure’ Neal Martin

2018 Gaja Barbaresco

This week we had the opportunity to taste the extraordinary new release from Gaja - the 2018 Barbaresco - with Gaia Gaja at Maccelaio restaurant in London. The wine was absolutely stunning and this came as no surprise, as Gaja decided to include all of their famed single vineyard juice (from Sori San Lorenzo, Sori Tildin & Costa Russi) into their estate Barbaresco. Perfumed, complex and with such beautiful finesse and elegance, it was simply a joy to taste. 'The hallmark of the Gaja estate, the Barbaresco is sourced from 14 vineyards within Barbaresco and Treiso. For the 2018 vintage, there will be no single cru bottlings for Barbaresco' Jeb Dunnuck Gaja Barbaresco has an extraordinary track record and this is a wine that the family have been making since 1859. It is 100% Nebbiolo sourced from the families various vineyards located in the municipality of Barbaresco. The winery was founded in 1859 in Langhe, Piedmont by Giovanni Gaja and it is his great grandson, Ang

Grand Vin Wine Merchants UK | Blog

Search This Blog