When Produttori di Carema's Riserva hits its mark, the wine represents some of the best value to be had in Piedmont.
Carema is about an hour's drive from Barolo and amounts to its alpine cousin. It's one of the most riveting and most versatile wines around.
The 2016 Riserva is a stunning vintage of the wine. It's a definite equal to the 2013, which remains one of our most popular Piedmont offers.
 |
What's so exciting about 2016 is how the vintage produced cool-toned and elegant wines with plenty of concentration. It's pretty much a dream brew of well-defined aromatics, snap, and focus.
On the 2016 Riserva, Antonio Galloni writes: "Power and finesse come together so well in this textbook Carema." That serves as a very good summary.
There's a beautiful, radiant delicacy, but don't let its lacy gracefulness fool you. Caremas possess impressive aging potential. Whereas Barolos and Barbarescos rely on their tannins to age, these wines age on their acid structures and overall balance and harmony. The silky briskness of these wines also allows them to drink well young.
Because of its stunningly singular expression of Nebbiolo, the appellation has achieved a renown that belies its tiny size. Carema sits in the shadow of Mt. Blanc and totals a mere 16ha.
The growers of Carema tend to have very small holdings, often 0.5ha or even less. This is where the quality-oriented co-op Produttori di Carema comes in. They handle the vinification and aging, which would be difficult for the small growers. The Carema Riserva represents a painstaking selection of the very best botti, the large casks traditional to the region.
We've been really impressed with what's been happening at Produttori di Carema. The 2016 Riserva shows the Produttori in top form, and we're very happy to offer it.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
Special 6-Pack Price, for a limited time with code: carema16