Giorgio Rivetti from La Spinetta at Wine Watch

Thoughts on the matter: “I like all paintings. I always look at the paintings, good or bad, in barbershops, furniture stores, provincial hotels. I’m like a drinker who needs wine. As long as it is wine, it doesn’t matter which wine.”

Pablo Picasso
Painter

These next two weeks feature an incredible line-up of tastings, we have five events the next two weeks in a row!!  Giving you our “Wine Drinking People” ample opportunity to come out and drink with us.

This week has a strong focus on Burgundy, starting with Beaujolise at Cafe Maxx on Wednesday, then on the more serious stuff our "Once in a Lifetime" vintage white Burgundy tasting on Friday night with a battle of the greatest Grand Crus for white wines; Le Montrachet along with the muscular Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru, we have these two rare whites going all the way back to the 1994 vintage!!

To finish off this week Saturday night we have one of our best friends from Burgundy, Alex Gambal here at the store to showcase his newly released 2012 vintage.  This evening we will go through everything that we have in the store from this exciting vintage, including his Batard Montrachet from estate grown vines- Alex is the first American ever to own Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy!!

Speaking of one of our best friends in the wine business… next week starts out with a Visit from Giorgio Rivetti from La Spinetta!!

La Spinetta is one of our favorite wineries in the Piedmont and tonight we have a special tasting with our good friend Giorgio Rivetti.  Wine Watch Catering’s Toni Lampasone will be making a few tasty treats to accompany the tasting wines and we have room for at least 50 people this evening as this will be a walk around tasting in the courtyard here at Progresso Plaza.  The fee for this tasting is $75 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Many of you know that this is the home of the Wine Watch but it is also Giorgio’s home office for his US import company Indigenous Selections, they moved in a few years ago so we are now neighbors! 

La Spinetta Tasting at Wine Watch with Special Guest Giorgio Rivetti
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
7:00 PM

Tasting Line-Up:

Contratto Millesimato Extra Brut 2009
Price: $30.00       Sale $26.40          Case $306

This is the Rivetti's newest project, Giorgio has always been a big fan if great Champagne and sparkling wine and there is great potential for Sparkling wine in the Piedmont, Contratto was founded in 1867 by Giuseppe Contratto and the winery is known as the oldest producer of sparkling wine in Italy. So this was a natural choice for them when the estate became available. The Millesimato Brut is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. The wine spends almost four years on the yeasts before disgorgement and is finished with a dosage of 5g/l. This wine has a nice developed bouquet of almond, white flowers, pear and apple fruit on the nose. A smooth and creamy mouse on the tongue with layers of flavors on the finish and nice freshness with good minerality showing through the finish. Finish 40 Excellent

Contratto Vermouth Bianco
Price: $36.00        Sale $31.68         Case $368

“The original recipe from the early 19th century for Contratto Vermouth is based on a combination of white wine fortified with Italian brandy and more than 50 delicately infused premium natural herbs, spices, roots and seeds. This traditional process is again used to create a sophisticated elixir and a complex and well balanced boutique aperitif that will make any Vermouth based cocktail an exceptional experience." 

Alcohol: 18% Sugar: 190 g/l Content: 0,75l

Ingredients:  white wine, sugar, alcohol, water, herbal extracts, caramel coloring 28 of 50 major aromas

(the other 22 aromas are a secret):  Hawthorn flower/leaves, coriander seeds, marjoram leaves, bay laurel leaves, chamomile flower, yellow sweet clover, aloe juice, cinnamon, mint leaves, ginger roots, angelica roots , cardamom seeds, nutmeg, bitter orange peel, gentian roots, nettle, sweet orange peel, carob tree pods, pimento seeds, felon herb, rhubarb roots, hibiscus flower, sage, bark of China, lemon peel, bergamot orange peel, liquorices roots, sandal wood, etc. The aromatic blend of herbs and spices gently infuses the wine to create a unique bouquet and taste. Delicious served chilled on its own with a twist of lemon, it is the perfect vermouth for classic and contemporary mixology.

La Spinetta Vermentino 2013
Price: $20.75    Sale $18.26    Case $212

Vermentino is the typical white wine of Tuscany so this was a natural choice for a white wine and it does well in the south where their vineyard is located. A fresh floral character to the green apple and white grapefruit citrus fruit along with a light gravelly mineral note. A light and refreshing wine on the tongue with a light ginger spice and floral notes showing on the finish. Finish 35 Very good

La Spinetta Chianti Riserva 2009
Price: $30.00       Sale $26.40          Case $306

SW corner of Chianti a mixture of fruit from both Sezzana and Sassontino fruit but with different barrel regime larger and aged for two years. Some pretty floral notes red cherry berry fruit and a red licorice spice with some fresh herbs here also. A nice amount of light red berry fruit on the tongue with a good amount of floral highlights and some fresh earth but the focus here is on that pretty floral nuance and the light red berry fruit. Finish 40+ Excellent

La Spinetta Il Colorino di Casanova 2009
Price: $29.00       Sale $25.50          Case $296

Very intense dark red (Colorino meaning color) cents of spicy currant, plum and prune and pepper.  Full bodied, intense fruit and chocolate flavors, fine and fresh finish

La Spinetta Barbera d'Asti Ca di Pian 2010
Price: $28.25    Sale $24.86    Case $2910

La Spinetta Barbera Ca di Pian comes from younger vine Barbera grown in two sites: Castagnole and Costigliole where the Bionzo vineyard is located. The vineyards together are about 23 hectares. The vines are 6-20 years old and grow on calcareous soil at 300 meters above sea level, at a southern exposure. Harvest usually happens in the last week September to early October, after which time, the grapes are fermented in rotofermenters for 6 to 7 days. The wine then ages for 12 months in a mix of new and old, medium toasted, French oak barrique. Malolactic fermentation takes place in the barrique. The Ca di Pian Barbera is aged for another two months in bottle before its release. 

La Spinetta Barbera d'Asti Bionzo 2010
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

(90 Points) Cassis, blackberry and violet notes take on exotic spices in this focused, intense red. Vivid and firmly structured, with a long, mineral-, berry- and spice-tinged finish. Drink now through 2018. 2,916 cases made. –BS Wine Spectator  Issue: Feb 28, 2014

La Spinetta Barbaresco Bordini 2010
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

La Spinetta Bordini vineyard Barbaresco comes from a 4 hectare vineyard on the western side of Nieve facing south. The vines are 20-25 years old and grow on calcerous soil at 270 meters above sea level. Harvest usually happens in the first or second week in October, after which time, the grapes are fermented in rotofermenters for 7 to 8 days. The wine then ages for 20-22 months in half neutral, half new, Medium toasted French oak barrique. Bordini Barbaresco is then aged for another year in bottle before its release. The wine is not filtered of clarified.

La Spinetta Barolo Campe 2010
Price: $180.00    Sale $158.40       Case $1836

(94 Points) The 2010 Barolo Campè is one of the most polished, refined wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta. Dried rose petals, sweet herbs, tobacco and red berries meld together in a soft, silky Barolo loaded with glass. There is virtually no sensation of young Nebbiolo tannin, which is quite surprising for a year in which the wines are less immediate. A striking , perfumed finish rounds out the 2010, a Barolo that impresses for its gracious personality. Rose petals and red berries reappear on the perfumed finish. - vinousmedia.com

La Spinetta Moscato d'Asti BiancoSpino 2014
Price: $21.00       Sale $18.48          Case $215

Very fresh with a hint of mandarin orange, a wine that is surprisingly good with fresh peach and pear fruit slightly sweet and slightly frizzante with pretty floral notes through the finish. Finish 35 Very Good

Menu

Reggiano Parmesan tuile cookie with Strawberry Jam

Smoked Mozzarella stuffed Arancini with roasted pepper and sundried tomato Sauce

Shrimp fresh rolls with lavender vinaigrette

Grilled Mushroom and Sangiovese braised short rib Panini with savory herb laced Mascarpone cheese

Foie Gras with pear butter served in phylo cup

The fee for this tasting is $75 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

A bit about La Spinetta Winery:

Located a tad north of Barbaresco towards Asti is the "modest" facility of the Rivetti family.   When we first became acquainted with Giorgio Rivetti, he was regarded as an up-and-coming producer of fizzy Moscato d'Asti wines.  Ask anyone in the Langhe who's making top Moscato wines and they'd always have Rivetti on their short list of producers.   Move on to the 1990s and then things changed.  Oh, Rivetti still makes some of Piemonte's best fizzy Moscato wines (Biancospino, Bricco Quaglia, Bric Lapasot, San Rumu and Muscatel Vej).  If you see them while traveling around Italy, don't hesitate to order these after dinner as they are really "fun" wines.   

La Spinetta makes 3 single vineyard Barbarescos; Gallina, Valeirano, and Starderi, all are very unique despite being from vineyards not very far from each other.  All three are 100% Nebbiolo as dictated by DOCG laws and all spend a minimum of 18 months in oak and one year in bottle.  The Gallina and Starderi are single crus in Neive and Valeirano is a single cru from Treiso.  The Gallina (green label) tends to be the softest and most elegant of the three.  The Valeirano (blue label) is more tannic and aggressive with a very impressive structure.  In blind tastings, the Valeirano is often thought to be a Barolo from Serralunga d’Alba.  The Starderi (pink label) is tannic with unimaginable complexity and layers upon layers of fruit.  The 2010 vintage in the Piedmont is the latest in a string of  outstanding vintages, each of them different but nonetheless producing very high quality wine.  The 2010's have a bit more structure and depth than the highly touted 2009’s which tend to be very forward and approachable wines.

The 2000 vintage was the first release of La Spinetta’s Barolo from the Campe vineyard in Grinzane Cavour.  Even though Grinzane Cavour offers one of the greatest terroirs of the Barolo region, given its exposure to the south and its microclimate, it has never been capable of producing world class Barolos.  Giorgio feels certain that this is because no producer has been able to interpret this land as it should be interpreted.  He is confident that he will be able to make Barolo from the Campe vineyard that will rightly pay tribute to its incredible terrior.  He compares it to what Elio Altare faced with his Arborina vineyard, a previously unknown area of production for Barolo that today thanks to Altare is one of the greatest crus of Barolo.  Giorgio is very enthusiastic about meeting this challenge and by the looks of it; he may very well have done so.  I have had an opportunity to taste every one of these Barolos and have to say that from the very frist one that rated (98 Points) in the Wine Spectator they have all been Most Excellent to KILLER.  This is one of the best Barolo’s that I have ever tasted and is quite drinkable even at this young age, the 2010 could be the best release of this wine to date!!  The Campe Barolo has quickly become one of the most sought after wines made in Barolo.  This wine is KILLER!

Pin is one of the first blends of its type from the Piedmont, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon make up the blend with Cabernet Sauvignon making up less and less of the total, the new releases of this have no Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend at all.  Giorgio took this foreign varietal out of this wine completely as he has pointed out, the Piedmont is better suited to its native varietals.  Just a few short years ago producers in the Piedmont were planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and other popular varietals because it was fashionable at that time.  Today it's fashionable to make wines from varietals that are indigenous to the area and there is nothing like Nebbiolo from the Peidmont found anywhere on the planet, so why plant Cabernet Sauvignon which is suitable to grow in many areas all over the world.  This wine is more international in style, a touch of toasty oak spice and cassis berry fruit, and it is the most drinkable of all the wines except the Ca di Pian upon release.

Although La Spinetta focuses on native varieties such as Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Moscato, it does produce a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay.  Giorgio assures that because these international varieties are planted in such small quantities, their production does not distract from the estate’s attention and passion towards the local varieties.  The Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are made in a lean old world style.  They show strong terroir characteristics and pronounced fruit.  La Spinetta’s Bianco is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.  The vines are grown at a very hi-altitude that leads to crispness, freshness and a wonderful perfume in the glass.  This Sauvignon Blanc is very Loire like in style with good minerality and a strong sense of terroir.  In a blind tasting with Daganau’s Pur Sang, La Spinetta’s Bianco proved to by a far more complex and interesting wine.  The wine is 50% barrel fermented and 50 % stainless steel fermented.  La Spinetta’s Chardonnay is called Lidia, in memory of Giorgio’s mother.  It is 100% barrel fermented Chardonnay.  It spends a year in oak followed by approximately 6 months in stainless steel.  It is a rich and full-bodied wine with an elegance and complexity.  They have recently added a Vermentino from their Tuscan grapes to offer and entry level white to the portfolio of La Spinetta wines.

In 2001, La Spinetta acquired 65 hectares of vineyards in Tuscany to make three different Sangiovese based wines, and so the Rivetti horizon continues to expand. La Spinetta’s newest project lies in Tuscany in the village of Terricciola between Pisa and Volterra.  Here they make their Sezzana, a 95% Sangiovese from Casciana Terme, as Sangiovese is the ambassador of the Tuscan terrain. The remaining 5% are Colorino, another Tuscan indigenous grape variety, that gives a dark ruby red color to the wine. From the 65 hectare of vineyards we also make another 95% Sangiovese single vineyard wine, called Sassontino. These Sangiovese grapes grow near Casanova, Terriciola. The first vintage of Sassontino was 2003, released in 2006.

The newest thing is the acquisition of the Contratto winery in the Piedmont which means that the Rivetti's now own a premier Sparkling wine label.  Although they did make other wines in addition to methode champenoise sparkling wines at Contratto in the past they are focusing solely on the sparkling wines under this label now along with the Vermouths that are made from 100+ year old recipes.

La Spinetta Wines Available:

2008 La Spinetta Il Gentile di Casanova
Price: $29.00    Sale $25.52
Quantity in Stock: 10

2010 La Spinetta Barbera Ca Di Pian
Price: $28.25    Sale $24.86
Quantity in Stock: 3

Aging: partly in new, partly in used medium toasted French oak for 12 months  Bottling: transfer to stainless steel vats for 6 months before bottling, aging in bottles for another 2 months

Ruby red with purple reflections, Beautiful and complex aromas of blueberry, dried plums and sandal wood. Complex, vibrant, focused wine with refreshing acidity and ripe fruit

2009 La Spinetta Barbera Di Asti Bionzo Piedmont
Price: $59.00    Sale $51.92
Quantity in Stock: 12

(92 Points) Another totally gorgeous wine, the 2009 Barbera d’Asti Bionzo stands out for its exceptional pedigree. Layers of creamy, generous fruit wrap around the palate with lovely intensity that nearly buries the trademark of Asti acidity. But it is there, as is everything else, so the wine will drink beautifully for a number of years. Violets, cloves, pencil shavings and crushed rocks frame the long intensely saline finish. This is another impressive effort, Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Wine Advocate #203 Oct 2012 Reviewer: Antonio Galloni

2011 La Spinetta Nebbiolo Langhe
Price: $34.25    Sale $30.14
Quantity in Stock: 12

The La Spinetta Nebbiolo Langhe comes from the youngest part of the Starderi vineyard in Neive. The vines are between 5-7 years old and grown at an altitude of 270 meters on in the same vineyard that produces the Starderi Barbaresco. Harvest usually happens in the middle of October, after which time, the grapes are fermented in rotofermentors for 7-8 days. The wine is then aged in part new, part neutral, medium toast, French barrique. It is then aged for another 2 months in bottle.

2010 La Spinetta Barbaresco Starderi
Price: $162.00    Sale $142.56
Quantity in Stock: 9

(95 points) The 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is born in a vineyard that sits at 330 meters above sea level. Giorgio tells me that the challenge here is crafting a wine with both elegance and power. Thanks to ideal growing conditions in 2010, he has succeeded at his task. Firm structure is supported by fleshy fruit tones and elegantly integrated spice. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue # 207 - Jun 2013)

2010 La Spinetta Gallina Barbaresco
Price: $162.00    Sale $142.56
Quantity in Stock: 3

(94 Points) The 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina comes from low-yield producing old vines in Neive. The wine is immensely pleasurable and bright with beautiful aromatic intensity that shines bright from the glass. Only 900 cases are produced. This vineyard expression offers notable freshness and brightness that make it suitable for long cellar aging. This is a truly magnificent wine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. Wine Advocate #207 Jun 2013 Reviewer: Monica Larner

2010 La Spinetta Valeirano Barbaresco
Price: $162.00    Sale $142.56
Quantity in Stock: 3

Fruit for the 2010 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is harvested at 450 meters above sea level in the Neive township. These conditions shape a radically different character. This wine is precise and sharp with finely etched tones of spice, dark berry and wet earth. The overall structure and power of the wine is super elegant and immediate. You can safely put this bottle away for years. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.  Wine Advocate #207 Jun 2013 Reviewer:  Monica Larner

2004 La Spinetta Sassontino Tuscany
Price: $52.00    Sale $45.76
Quantity in Stock: 5

descriptionWine Watch Review: Big wood 500 tonneuz 95 % Sangiovese 5% Collorino Sand similar to Roero. More classic in style with fine herbs and green grassy notes to the black cherry and sandy loam minerality. Excellent freshness on the palate with a good amount of fresh acidity and lots of red and black cherry fruit. Finish 40 EXCELLENT

2006 La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano
Price: $140.75    Sale $123.86
Quantity in Stock: 3

(91 Points) The 2006 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is another exuberant wine. Here, too, the aromatics literally jump out of the glass, as layers of perfumed super-ripe fruit are intermingled with a persistent vein of minerality. The powerful, focused Valeirano offers outstanding balance, but needs a few years in bottle for the tannins to melt away. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. Wine Advocate # 185, Oct 2009

2007 La Spinetta Barbaresco Starderi
Price: $149.25    Sale $131.34
Quantity in Stock: 11

(94 points) The 2007 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi bursts from the glass with red berries, sweet spices, roses and mint, all of which come together on a powerful, richly structured frame that is the hallmark of Barbareschi from Neive. The Starderi is the most tannic of the estate’s 2007s but it is a wine with significant promise and a long road ahead of very fine drinking. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027. Wine Advocate #192 Dec 2010

2010 La Spinetta Barolo Garretti
Price: $67.50    Sale $59.40
Quantity in Stock: 12

A little smoky reduction gives way to ripe raspberry, leather and spice flavors. Supple, yet firmly structured, with refined tannins on the finish - Spectator  (October 2014)

2008 La Spinetta Barolo Campe
Price: $183.00    Sale $161.04
Quantity in Stock: 4

(94+) The 2008 Barolo Campe’ emerges from the glass with freshly cut flowers, mint, licorice and spices. This is a decidedly elegant, polished Barolo that stands apart from some of the more obvious wines made here in the past. Although initially quite delicate, the 2008 turns powerful and deep with exposure to air. The authoritative finish leaves a lasting impression. Cool, mineral notes add an underlying sense of tension and energy that is highly appealing. This is a fabulous showing from La Spinetta. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.

I tasted an impressive set of wines at La Spinetta. Over the last few years the wines have become more focused and refined than in the past.  Wine Advocate #200 Apr 2012 Reviewer: Antonio Galloni