Vanessa

9.2

This variety – Nosiola – is an ancient, regional specialty of Trentino-Alto Adige in Northern Italy, known for its distinctive hazelnut aromas that occur naturally, not from long-term oak or bottle aging (which can also contribute nuttiness in white wines). In Italian, “nocciola” means hazelnut, a clear etymological link.

After learning about this unique variety, we had to track down a wine made from it. When we discovered that Azienda Agricola Foradori makes a single variety expression, we were sold!!

This wine was made biodynamically, with ancient practices in the winery, including 8 months of skin contact in clay amphorae. The resulting wine is alive, awakening as it breathes, and evolving from sip to sip.

It first opened with notes of lemongrass, lemon verbena, fresh mint and basil, and delicate white pepper. As it evolved, it took on notes of geranium, white blossom, honeydew, grapefruit pith, elderberry, and wet stones. With even more time, I detected some of that hazelnut character, although, admittedly, it could have been the power of suggestion leading me there…

One thing is for certain: it’s delicious, layered, and like nothing we’ve tasted before. — 5 months ago

with Deked1

Turd Ferguson

9.2

Final of 4. Best of the bunch and getting better. Excellent purity. Tannins starting to resolve a bit and fruit showing up. Very nice. Biodynamic grapes, cement and amphorae. 14%. — 2 years ago

Russ W

9.3

Crazy good Grenache. — 3 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.1

150 days in amphorae. Passion fruit, bergamot, curry. — a year ago

Martinez

9.2

Excellent Priorat. Blend of Garnacha (60%) and Cariñena (40%) from the Les Planetes vineyard, a northeast-facing plot on slate/llicorella soils in Porrera. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 17 months in oak foudres and clay amphorae. Dark fruit, minerals (graphite) and smoke on the nose. Some floral notes. Full-bodied, round, structured. Good freshness — a year ago

Martinez

9.2

Blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from young vines on llicorella slate soils. Aged in a combination of used oak barrels, cement vats and clay amphorae. Red and dark fruit, earthy notes (graphite) on the nose. Hints of licorice. Full-bodied, quite juicy on the palate. Elegant, quite serious — 2 years ago

Charlie C

8.9

Very interesting. Menthol, allspice, floral. Chewy. I don’t know that I love it, but it’s got good complexity. — 3 years ago

John Tan

9.0

Rainy Saturday night at home listening to Lady Blackbird. Smoky, sultry, spellbinding. Fresh, with lots of finesse. Stewed fruits on the nose with hints of minerality. Some spice on the palate. Subtle hints of dried longan.

Blend of Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, Minustello, Carcaghjolu, and Moresconu. Northwest- and south-facing vineyards on a windswept clay-limestone terroir. The estate has been certified organic since 2002 and the vines have been farmed according to biodynamic principles since 2006. The yield for this cuvée was 25 hl/ha. After hand-harvesting and sorting, the grapes are 100% destemmed and vinified with indigenous yeasts in clay amphorae. The wine is neither fined nor filtered. No SO2 added.
** Note: This wine will benefit from some time to breathe prior to drinking. **
“A rich, intense nose with notes of ripe fruit and spices. The palate has great volume, finesse and freshness – a pure and balanced wine. The amphora, this ancient vessel of winemaking, has been mastered to perfection by Canarelli.” Cave Pur Jus — a year ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2017 Les Carmes Haut-Brion comprises 45% whole bunches and matured for two years in 80% new oak plus foudres and amphorae. Complex on the nose, this offers black olive and brine tinged black fruit, crushed stone and light minty aromas, quite intense in the context of the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit on the entry, quite Rhône-like in flavour profile, hints of fennel and thyme interwoven into the red fruit, persistent on the finish. Delicious and distinctive. Tasted at the Les Carmes Haut-Brion vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, October 2022)
— a year ago

Scott C

Founder / Co-director SR Wine imports

9.1

Lovely . Red fruits , floral . Elegant . Made in Amphorae. Really nice — 2 years ago