Date of visit: June 14, 2024
Cavallotto is always one of our favorite producers to visit. For our most recent tasting, Valentina was kind enough to host us, and taught us a lot about the wines that we weren't previously familiar with.
For more information on this legendary producer, please refer to our previous posts here: 2023, 2022, 2021, as well as Cavallotto’s website, and Skurnik’s website.
Tasting notes:
2022 Pinner: The nose is light, floral, and mineral driven. The palate delivers tart flavors of grapefruit and lemon pith. It's energetic and vibrant, with a smooth mouthfeel, and finishes long. Valentina explained to us that the Pinot Nero which goes into Pinner was actually planted by the previous owner who used to sell grapes for sparkling wine production, and the clones come from Champagne, France. Cavallotto didn’t want to rip these vines up, but also didn’t want to produce a sparkling wine, and instead ended up producing Pinner. This is always an extremely refreshing and unique wine to enjoy in the warmer months, and we’re so glad that Cavallotto kept these vines, and decided to produce their Pinot Nero in this style.
2022 Barbera d’Alba “Vigna Cuculo”: Bottled just 1 month ago along with their Langhe Nebbiolo, Freisa, and Dolcetto. Perhaps the most expressive nose that we can remember on Cavallotto’s Barbera. Fruit driven aromas of crushed marionberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, with nuances of licorice and tar, all of which carry over to the palate, which is densely concentrated, and backed by very fine, velvety, mouth enveloping tannins, and lively acidity. Persistent finish. This is a bit rounder, more fruit forward, and approachable than previous vintages we’ve tasted, but just as enjoyable.
2022 Langhe Freisa: Pronounced aromas of black and red berries, new leather, tar, roses, baked tomatoes, black currants, mushrooms, and some sandalwood. The palate is dark and densely concentrated, with flavors of red and black berries, alongside velvety smooth tannins, which quickly dissipate. Just 2,000 bottles produced.
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo: Produced from younger vines Nebbiolo sourced from Cavallotto’s Bricco Boschis vineyard. Aromas of roses, tar, peonies, cherry sap, and crushed cherries immediately jump out of the glass. The palate is fruit forward, with flavors of juicy fresh crushed cherries, wild strawberries, and pomegranates, with lively acidity, and bracing, but very fine, mouth enveloping tannins, all packaged in a way which maintains impeccable balance. Very precise and direct, with a persistent finish. A beautiful Langhe Nebbiolo.
2020 Barolo Bricco Boschis: Beautiful captivating aromas of crushed ripe strawberries and red currants, followed by raspberries, cherries, licorice, new leather, anise, black currants, and heaps and heaps of rose petals. This is a firecracker, filled with nervous acidity and aggressive youthful tannins, and complemented by juicy crushed cherries which slowly expand on the palate. 18,000 bottles produced.
2018 Barolo Riserva Vignolo: Fresh crushed ripe cherries, along with forest floor, mushrooms, flowers, tar, wet road, licorice, and leather aromas rise from the glass. Despite the immense amount of power which is immediately evident on the first sip, this somehow manages to be very approachable and enjoyable today. Crushed red cherries with vibrant, lively acidity, velvety yet powerful tannins, and a pleasant inner sweetness, all work together in perfect harmony, and deliver a wine which is perfectly balanced, and immensely enjoyable. 6,000 bottles produced.
2018 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe: Captivating aromas draw you in and keep you coming back for more. Immediately you can tell that this is something very special. This conveys a sense of place that is unlike anywhere else in the Barolo growing zone, this is Vigna San Giuseppe. The aromas alone are jaw dropping; anise, licorice, flowers, and black tea, with some notes of balsamic. Floral and fruity. This wine is all about finesse first and power second. It’s juicy, and effortlessly glides across the palate with silky yet bracing tannins and energetic acidity. Terrific balance. This wine is alive, and is a total show stopper! It’s showing great now, but we’d like to revisit this again in another 3 years or so, where we think it will really begin to shine.
Thank You
Grazie mille Valentina for the amazing and very informative visit, and thank you Giuseppe, Alfio, and the whole team and Cavallotto for welcoming us back and sharing your wonderful wines with us. Grazie mille! A presto!
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