Boniperti Vignaioli “CArLiN”

One of the best values in Nebbiolo that we sell and if you love anything from Barolo and Barbaresco to Red Burgundy and Oregon Pinot Noir, you’ll love this wine!

If you stop by the Shop, you know that we have a small obsession with both Nebbiolo and the Alto Piemonte. The reasons behind that because this forgotten region is both the future and history of this noble grape.

Hidden at the base of the Alps, about 90 miles northeast of Alba is the winegrowing region of the Alto Piemonte – a region that acquired its name because of its elevated vineyards set in an Alpine paradise. From the 17th to the mid 19th century, it was Italy’s largest and most important zone for Nebbiolo production. Sadly, the region was devastated by phylloxera, and most growers did not have the means to replant these costly, terraced vineyards.

Those who did have the financial capability to replant were dealt a new blow some 40 years later, as the Alto Piemonte was virtually abandoned by the combination of World War II and Italy’s Industrial Revolution that saw many workers move to higher paying jobs in the city. By the time the dust settled, the once 40,000 hectares of vineyards was diminished to less than 600 hectares.

The region’s vineyards and vignerons, for the most part, laid dormant for the next 50+ years. It was in the late 1990’s that the area experienced a new renaissance, led by high-quality estates like like Vallana, Castaldi, and Antoniolo. Gilberto Boniperti came on line at the dawn of the 21st century, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. The previous two generations of his family sold almost all of their grapes to the local cooperative, but Gilberto decided to set out on his own and make estate-bottled wines. Carlin and other wines out of Alto Piemonte are still classic cool weather Nebbiolo! With less warming influence than Barolo and Barbaresco, these wines are the sweet spot that many Nebbiolo lovers are seeking. There’s a wonderful red fruit and floral character here, combined with an ethereal sense of place and Alpine minerality. The tannin is super fine yet the acidity is super fresh, almost Pinot Noir-like in its silky energy. Gilberto refers to this as the perfect, mid-weight, pizza-friendly, everyday Nebbiolo, but that is definitely underselling this wine. Grab a bottle or two before it is gone!