Long time lurker here. I finally decided to sign up and contribute to this amazing community.
I started my wine journey almost 10 years ago. Since then, i loved, drank and collected many amazing wines, especially from Italy and France. Right now I’m based in Switzerland, and at least 4 times a year with my wine group, we take the time to visit a winery based in the north of Italy.
In the hearth of Gattinara you’ll find two brothers. Giancarlo and Marco Petterino.
Both in their 80’s and still making an ispiring and lovely version of nebbiolo. Wines that are light and bright, a lovely ruby, with a scent of autumn. Raspberry, dry leaves, tabacco, a little hint of amaretto, and then roses withered and forgotten in a drawer. With an essential body, fresh and lively. Biting acidity that calls for food and a wine that doesn’t care about tastings, guides, and wine journalists, but meant to be enjoyed in its simplicity.
Right now they are selling the 2013 version. The first time I have been there (2019) they still had many back vintages left. I tried 2002, 2004, 2007, 2011. Amazing wine and a price that’s touching. (13 euro for the riserva)
Welcome and thanks for joining! Lucky you being able to get to N. Italy so conveniently. I like this producer too. Currently, the 2009 and 2013 are in our market. I had the 2004 a few years ago which was quite nice and a good value.
It’s a good producer, and definitely a value even for Gattinara. Of course it doesn’t have the depth, consistency, length, and multidimensionality of Travaglini, Antoniolo, Anzivino. Still a great wine though!
It made me look back at my tasting notes and confirm that my Gattinara experiences are solely based on Antoniolo! I’ll make a point to seek out other producers to broaden my scope.
Side note, I recently moved from Canada to about 15 minutes from Geneva and I’m starting to discover Switzerland and Swiss wines. There are some great wines to discover considering how little of it is being exported.
Thank you for taking the time to join the community and contribute with a great post.
Thank You Phil! Switzerland has many hidden gems. Especially the whites from Valais. In general though they are pricey, and not always worthy. Especially the various merlots from Ticino. Gantenbein and Donatsch make an interesting version of pinot noir and chardonnay, but too expensive in my opinion. On the “natural” side there is Mythopia next to Crans-Montana. We should make a post about Swiss wines. Cheers to you as well
Picked up a couple of bottles of the 2013 Petterino this past year from Flor Wines. While they no longer show the wine on their website, I recall reading (when I purchased the 2013) Flor’s writeup suggesting they try to carry the Petterino wines whenever released.
I really like the fendant (chasselas) from Marie-Thérèse Chappaz. If I recall correctly is aged firs in steel then in neutral oak. But it really depends on the producer.
I found two bottles of 2011 Petterino Gattinara Riserva on markdown for $25 a couple of years back (Benchmark bin sale), and we drank them last year. Both were quite enjoyable, and I’d happily buy more if I could find them at that price.
Great picture and story. And great group of vintages for a question I’ve been meaning to ask.
One rarely hears vintage descriptions for Alto Piemonte, only for the Langhe in general and Barolo and Barbaresco in particular. The Consorzio puts out bigger reports but they are limited to a few years. 2002 is generally regarded as a terrible vintage in Barolo and Barbaresco due to rains, hail and winds leading to diluted or underripe wines. If you recall, did you discuss how the weather was in Gattinara? And what did you find in the glass? How did it compare to the others?
I also found four bottles of the same wine on closeout last year, from an East Coast retailer. $27 delivered if I recall correctly. It was very good, though it seemed perhaps a bit advanced, and I questioned storage over the life of the wine. Regardless, it was the type of thing where the wine seemed more mature, but in no way flawed. It was drinking great I just wouldn’t want to hold it another 10 years.
