INSIDER'S PICK: 2023 CANTINA SOCIALE COOPERATIVA DI GATTINARA VINO ROSSO $25.99

Most people's knowledge of Gattinara comes from the production of a couple producers that dominate probably 75% of the exported wines. Like most of the other appellations in the Alto Piedmonte at the foot of the Alps, Gattinara is largely rural and lost much of their production and reputation after World War II. Most of the vineyards were family farms, not wineries, and cooperatives like this one were vital for production otherwise the vineyards would have been completely forgotten. This co-op has been serving Gattinara since 1908 drawn from 40 family plots, primarily for the production of this flagship wine. This true field blend (the exact % of each varietal is not known as all the varieties are harvested by the families and co-fermented) is primarily Nebbiolo with a generous portion of Barbera along with some Vespolina and Uva Rara. Fresh and savory with dried cherry and cool restrained herbal aromas, this is fiendishly drinkable from one sip to the next, with lots of juicy energy and no hard edges that are usually seen with the more Alpine versions of Nebbiolo. Dry but not dry-ING, the Barbera and other varieties really contribute to the immediate drinkability here. The unbottled tanks at the winery are famously sold to locals bringing jugs and demijohns for their 'weekly drinker' refills. This will likely make it into many of your rotations as well.  ​

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