ELIO ALTARE, Barolo DOCG The Elio Altare Barolo is a blend of Nebbiolo grapes from the La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga dAlba and Barolo sub-regions. Only 800-850 dozen bottles are produced each year from vineyards planted on south and south-east facing slopes in the late 1900s. The vineyards, on various soil types, are farmed organically, but along traditional lines. The grapes are crushed and then macerated on skins for 4-5 days in temperature-controlled rotary fermenters before fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The wine is matured for 24 months in French oak barriques before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The Elio Altare Barolo shows an intense ruby-red colour with hints of garnet. On the nose fresh scents of small red fruits, raspberry, redcurrant and wild roses evolve into licorice and spice notes. The palate is typically warm, elegant and persistent, with soft tannins and a long finish.

From a 37-acre vineyard, Château Pavie Macquin is stunningly situated on the clay-limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion on the right bank of Bordeaux. 2010 has produced a formidable wine: a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a top release of the harvest year and a highlight from St-Émillion in 2010. Tannins, restraint and inward concentration are motifs, this is a wine for the patient, sophisticated collector who wishes to embellish a cellar with pedigree wines that need time and maturity to come to the fore.

Michele Chiarlo was founded in 1956 by the sole and present owners, Michele and Giuseppina Chiarlo. Son of over seven generations of esteemed wine growers, Mr. Chiarlo is today one of the most respected producers of the fine wines of Piedmont and a leading figure in its viticultural industry.Cannubi is a paradigm of Barolo with features from the Helvation and Tortonian soil, notes of liquorice and sweet tobacco accompanying full round tannins. It reaches complete maturity after 6/7 years with its complexity and aristocracy.

The Barolo del Commune di La Morra is a wine made from grapes grown in the La Serra, Fossati, Case Nere and Barolo vineyards. Roberto leaves each cluster weighing around 1kg instead of the 500g clusters used for the Cru Baroli. This is a stellar wine and a very good introduction to the range and philosophy of Roberto Voerzio.

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO Riserva Ovello, Barbaresco

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO Riserva Rio Sordo, Barbaresco

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO Riserva Paje, Barbaresco DOCG

PRODUTTORI DEL BARBARESCO Riserva Montefico, Barbaresco DOCG

Casa Maté is the more masculine of Grassos two regular Barolos, showing darker fruit, more tar and a more robust tannin profile. The fruit comes from a south-facing 3 ha plot within the Ginestra vineyard, 300-350 meters above sea level, on relatively loose-packed, slightly clayey, calcareous soil. Driven by rigorous attention to detail in the vineyard and picking at optimum phenolic maturity, Grassos Vigna Casa Maté is a contemporary expression of traditional Barolo underscored by immaculate winemaking. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and typically spends 30 days on skins followed by 30 months maturation in 2500L Slavonian oak casks.