"The prognosis is for a vintage similar in quality to the already legendary 2010s."
Jancis Robinson
The 2013s from Langhe are going to be wines that we all want in our cellars. Nebbiolo is called "the
pinot noir of Italy" for a reason. In great years, the wines are beautofully aromatic and truly some of the great wines of the world. In 2013, the stars aligned. The summers were hot with cool nights. While the harvest was late (because of a delayed growing cycle) the grapes achieved optimal ripeness with beautiful acidity and the wines are incredible. You are going to hear crazy hype about these wines... and it's justified. Today's producer, Rattalino is very small and most of you have never heard of it. Those who have tried the wines are clicking the reply "I'll take 4 button." A good number of you tried the first few offers and the reviews are coming in that the wines are stunning and ready to drink. The 2013s are already selling out in Italy so I need to offer this soon as production is very small.
As many of you know, I was turned on to this winery by one of the top US-based writers about Italian wine, Tom Hyland, who is a fan. This is another one of those wineries where in a couple of years, they will be discovered and prices will shoot up and we'll all be like "ack, I should have bought more."
I am only offering one wine today because when I offer 2 wines, many people order 2 and 2 and I really want you all to get at least 3-4 of this. If you love Barbaresco it is something you need to have. We are offering the 2013 Massimo Rattalino Barbaresco Quarantre (43) for $44.99 each on a 3 pack. This wine is simply incredible. The nose is gorgeous with stunning pretty cherry flowers and crazy fresh cherries. This is a wine that you really need to drink in a comfortable chair so that you can lean back and just relish in the experience and be glad to be alive. Think very good Volnay in terms of aromatic impact and balance.
The palate is gorgeous. Amazing cherry fruit and so well made. Perfectly balanced acidity. Cherry aromatics that just barely hover above the palate like a flute solo above an orchestra. The finish has lingering cherry fruit intertwined with a hint of spice and flowers. Please at least have a glass by itself so that you can truly appreciate it. It will change your mood if you had a bad day and enhance just about anything.
Massimo Rattalino purchased the estate and produced his first wines in 2002. When speaking to his employees, there is the combination of incredible respect and trepidation. This is a man who wants everything from the vineyard work to the vinification to the position of the labels to the temperature of the wine at tasting to be exactly what he wants. He has that attention to detail that is common at all of our great wineries. Rattalino is a new star in the Langhe and I am thrilled to be offering
these wines.
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