Wines

93 Points! Pure and focused, offering violet, cherry, raspberry and mineral aromas and flavors. Shaped by vibrant acidity, this red persists with a lingering, resonant aftertaste. - Wine Spectator

• The vines are grown in the commune of Chavanay, called the “Vignes d’à coté” because it’s mainly vines next this appellation.
• The soil is granitic and alluvial. Naturel cover cropping to avoid erosion.
• No insecticides with respect to soil and vine balance, few treatments (depending on weather and the necessary) and small amount of organic fertilizer. Vigor and yield control, leaf-thinning and green harvesting to promote grape ripening.

96 Points! Brilliant all the way, the 2020 Hermitage Chante-Alouette Blanc is a white readers should snatch up. All Marsanne from a mix of both granitic sites and more loess sites, brought up a mix of demi-muids and tank, it has a gorgeous perfume of honeyed peach, quince, crushed stone, and toast. With bright acidity, medium to full body, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and keep for 15+ years or more. It’s a quintessential Hermitage Blanc. - Jeb Dunnuck

95 Points! Shows impressive concentration, with a layer of melon, quince and heather supported by a foundation of wet stone. Lightly honeyed and well-defined, the palate shows beautiful integration and drive. Reveals echoing notes of dried verbena, white tea tannins and salted, buttery brioche on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2037. - Wine Spectator

This Barbera matures in 50hl steel tanks for 9 months, reaching a perfect balance of deep red fruits, perfume and pinpoint acidity. A joy to drink. Fruit is sourced exclusively form Monforte d'Alba...

96 Points! A big, ripe, opulent, and sexy white, the 2021 Hermitage Blanc has honeyed orchard and quince-like fruit, medium to full body, some acacia flower and spicy nuances, a layered, decadent mouthfeel, and that rare mix of freshness and richness that's so hard to deliver. - Jeb Dunnuck

80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne, 40-50 year-old vines...

Marsanne 85%, Roussanne 15% from 30-40 year-old vines in Le Paradis sur Mauves, La Ribaudy sur Chavanay and Rochecourbe sur St Pierre de Boeuf

91 Points! The 2020 Barbera d'Asti Montebruna is a plump and rich red with ripe berry notes, toasted spice, cinnamon and grilled Mediterranean herb. Despite the heft and brawn of this wine, the mouthfeel is pushed along by fresh acidity and a powerful 15% alcohol content. This is perfect companion to a meal heavy in cheese or cream. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

91 Points! Aromas of cherry chocolate, dark licorice, hints of bark and moist earth. Full-bodied with velvety, supple tannin structure and some chalky texture in the finish. Juicy and flavorful. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! A step up, the 2021 Saint Joseph Le Lombard Blanc is more rounded and complete, with beautiful honeyed quince, spice, and dried herbs in a medium-bodied, round, supple package that's already a joy to drink. - Jeb Dunnuck

93 Points! Part of the Scarrone Vineyard was replanted in 1989, and these younger vines give rise to the Vietti 2020 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Scarrone. This wine is also thick and darkly concentrated but not to the same degree as the version made with fruit from old vines. Indeed, it's fun to try these two bottles side by side. Dark fruit, baked plum and sweet spice give extra dimension and volume to this wine. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2020 Barbera d’Alba Vigna Serraboella is bright, effusive and full of character. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit, spice, rose petal and pipe tobacco makes a strong first impression. Ripe, silky tannins add to the wine’s considerable appeal. The Serraboella is such a delicious wine. It spent 18 months in cask and neutral oak. - Antonio Galloni , Vinous Media

This is one of the most under the radar wines in all of Piedmont. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Winemaker Notes: "When Jenn and I were dating we were up in San Francisco eating at La Ciccia, a great little Italian food spot, and asked the server for something to drink that they thought would go with our food choices and that also would be a bit off of the beaten path. The wine we ended up being served was awesome and my first time drinking a skin contact white. Over the years as this style of wine has gained popularity I have tasted many more. For me there is an “orange wine” style which to me is more funky, austere and sometimes flawed. In my mind there is the other side of skin contact whites, the bottles you keep going back to, unctuous and intriguing. So this is not orange wine, meaning it wasn’t made from oranges and it isn’t orange in color just to fit a trend. It is about ⅔ marsanne and ⅓ grenache blanc, both from Demetria Estate. Each variety was fermented separately on the skins, marsanne for two weeks and grenache blanc for about 5 days. Color is light amber, nose is fresh cut flowers and flavor is deep while remaining delicate. As I taste this wine I want crudo scallops or even better a good ole quesadilla mar y tierra."

94 Points! The 2018 Hermitage Chante-Alouette Blanc just about always delivers incredible quality, and it sells for a fraction of the single vineyard releases. Classic Hermitage notes of buttered citrus, honeysuckle, acacia flowers, and spice all flow from this richer, beautifully textured, balanced Hermitage that has enough density and depth to keep for 10-15 years or more. It's well worth seeking out and I'd be happy with a case in the cellar. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Lovely, with a mix of fresh and dried peach, yellow apple and quince flavors, along with honeysuckle, salted butter and heather notes. The long finish has a nice tease of quinine for contrast amid the fruit. - Wine Spectator