Up on BP Wines…have not had this one, but several others and really enjoy them.
I snapped up a couple of the '11 when Cinderella offered them. I believe it had a similar rating from Luca Maroni.
Tried one not long ago; it’s fascinating, probably the most aromatically intense wine I can recall. Florally aromatic, like Gewurtz, not like any other red. Lilac, rose, and especially violet. Tastes pretty much like it smells, which made it really interesting in small sips - but not sure I’d want more than a glass at any one sitting. And it paired somewhat awkwardly with some wine-friendly fairly neutral foods, but was more enthusiastic about combining with some spicy homemade Thai curry - I’d suggest it pairs more like a Gewurtz than like a Pinot or Bojo, of which it seems like a flamboyant cousin.
Ruche smells pretty similar to the Lacrima grape from Lacrima di Morro d’Alba in Marche, not so much like Gewurz too me.
Love the bit where it says “Luca Maroni is Italy’s top reviewer and considered very conservative”. Try as I might to couch this in very diplomatic terms… Luca Maroni is considered to be something of a laughing stock among Italy’s more serious wine cogniscenti. He is a top reviewer in the James Giacomino Suckling vein of top reviewing at best, and about as conservative as Amsterdam’s Red Light District in the late '80s.
I’m sure you’re right about that, Sarah. I haven’t had one of those; the Gewurz is more analogy than exact comparison, the closest reference point I could think of.
I’d really appreciate Ruche pairing suggestions if anyone’s got 'em.
At that price it might be worth trying one. And I would not give the review much weight. Just not sure that you can ever make a 99 pt Ruche.
what is your basis for this?
When we were in Italy this past September, every producer we met told us the exact opposite of what you said (and we met with some very well respected producers), so I’m just wondering where you came up with this?
Drinking a Luca Maroni 98 pt. Icardi “Nej” Langhe Pinot tonight - pretty tasty, reminiscent of a Rosso di Montalcino or something. Not a 90+ point wine in any universe, except maybe a category for making Pinot taste Italian.
If you’re a producer, what’s not to love, Ian? 
I picked up a couple from Wine Library, I will try to pop one this weekend and post a note.
My wife and I had the “luxury” of attending a Ruche festival in Piedmont when we there 3 years ago. We were staying in an agratourisimo just outside Asti, and the proprietor was awesome. He sent us to a few wine festivals in the area over 4 days; events we probably wouldn’t experience in the US.
One day was a Ruche festival, where all the producers made Ruche based wines. No one spoke English, and luckily I had my nephew along, as he was able to communicate with the winery owners. We had a great time, but I have to say, the wines really were very difficult to enjoy. The only (and I mean only) wine that was palatable to us, was one that was produced in a “new world” style, meaning it used some oak. Figures, it met our palate. Other than that, the only redeeming part of the time, was the fact that we were in Piedmont…
Where I came up with this? Years and years of kind of knowing my way around, to begin with. Feel free to disregard, though.
Alternative reply: ehm… oh well, I was in Italy at some point and anybody worth their salt (and, believe me, I spoke to some very well-regarded salt mine workers) told me Luca Maroni was a stooge.
Be serious, please.
I bought 3 of the 2010 when they offered it before. It was decent but in no way a 99 point wine. More like upper 80’s. It was unique and interesting at first but nothing to keep me coming back for more.
Maroni is kind of like the Ryan Seacrest of wine reviewing.
??? You are going to have to elaborate on that…
b/c this guy doesn’t look like he has anything in common with Ryan Seacrest…
Luca Maroni is a weirdo. I’ve never met anyone who takes him seriously. Except for just now, I mean.
Luca Maroni has vastly wasted his talents. His belief that wine should taste exactly like the grapes when harvested and that the things we consider vinous (ie a TRANSFORMATION of the original material into something on a higher plane) are faults would make him an excellent head of quality assurance for Gelato where that IS the goal, but makes him a raving idiot when it comes to wine.
I’ve had the 2011 of this Ruche and it was really interesting, but I wouldn’t want to drink it regularly. About the 2011, my note from last spring:
A gorgeous highly-perfumed nose that one could easily mistake for Gewurz with a dash of grenadine syrup is followed by a vanilla-infused framboise and black cherry number offset by an unusual herbal element. Distinctive and delicious but potentially hard to pair with food. Yesterday Jim said this wine reminded him of a grandmother’s closet or baby powder, which I agreed with at the time, but today it is showing more perfume than must.