TN: 2010 Ferrando “Etichetta Bianco” Carema

[ATaylor]

In addition to Sorpasso and Muraje, there is another small operation: Az Ag Monte Maletto which we plan to visit in the near future. The Produttori wines are just crazy cheap ex-cellar when you consider the farming.
The 16s were cleared out in record time and now into the 17s (ex-: Classico 13 euros, Riserva 18 euros and Selezione 28 euros). Have some of the Selezione going back 10 years, but still have not popped one. For the summer grills we always stock up on the very quaffable rosato for less than 5 euros a bottle.

[Michael_Acheson]

In addition to Sorpasso and Muraje, there is another small operation: Az Ag Monte Maletto which we plan to visit in the near future. The Produttori wines are just crazy cheap ex-cellar when you consider the farming.
The 16s were cleared out in record time and now into the 17s (ex-: Classico 13 euros, Riserva 18 euros and Selezione 28 euros). Have some of the Selezione going back 10 years, but still have not popped one. For the summer grills we always stock up on the very quaffable rosato for less than 5 euros a bottle.

Cool! Are these imported to the US?

[John_Morris]

I’ve visited both the producers and tasted through some 30-ish different Carema wines. In 2015 when I visited Piemotne and Aosta, Produttori was cheaper than Ferrando, but the quality seemed to be also slightly below Ferrando as well, so I guess the pricing reflects the quality. Locally the Produttori prices were around 13€ for normale and 20€ for Riserva, while Ferrando was around 22€ for Bianca. No Nera available was at all - the previously available vintage (they don’t make it every year) was sold out some while ago and the next vintage was still aging in barrels.

There used to be a handful of producers in Carema, but for the longest time it was just mainly Produttori dominating the landscape with Ferrando making tiny amounts of wine (they own / buy from only a few hectares of grapes while the co-op owns about 15 ha). However, in the past years, at least two other producers have jumped in: Chiussuma and Murajé. I haven’t had Chiussuma yet, but Murajé Kraema 2015 was outstanding - a very classic Carema wine by all accounts. It was labeled as Vino Rosso, though, since the appellation laws of Carema dictate that the wine must be vinified entirely within the region, which was - to my understanding - the co-op’s attempt at keeping any competition off. And it has been a largely successful move, since Ferrando was the only producer who moved their Carema production into the town from Ivrea, where the main winery is located. For example, this inaugural vintage of Murajé was vinified at Le Piane in Boca, which why it wasn’t allowed to be labeled as Carema. However, to my understanding, they now producer wine in Carema, so the subsequent vintages have been or are supposed to be labeled as DOC Carema.

I’m curious, is the “Kraema” in Murajé Kraema dialect for Carema?

[Otto_Forsberg]

I’m curious, is the “Kraema” in Murajé Kraema dialect for Carema?

It might be, but I’ve always imagined it’s a “fantasy name” close enough to Carema so people in the know would understand. I really don’t know.

[ATaylor]

I’ve visited both the producers and tasted through some 30-ish different Carema wines. In 2015 when I visited Piemotne and Aosta, Produttori was cheaper than Ferrando, but the quality seemed to be also slightly below Ferrando as well, so I guess the pricing reflects the quality. Locally the Produttori prices were around 13€ for normale and 20€ for Riserva, while Ferrando was around 22€ for Bianca. No Nera available was at all - the previously available vintage (they don’t make it every year) was sold out some while ago and the next vintage was still aging in barrels.

There used to be a handful of producers in Carema, but for the longest time it was just mainly Produttori dominating the landscape with Ferrando making tiny amounts of wine (they own / buy from only a few hectares of grapes while the co-op owns about 15 ha). However, in the past years, at least two other producers have jumped in: Chiussuma and Murajé. I haven’t had Chiussuma yet, but Murajé Kraema 2015 was outstanding - a very classic Carema wine by all accounts. It was labeled as Vino Rosso, though, since the appellation laws of Carema dictate that the wine must be vinified entirely within the region, which was - to my understanding - the co-op’s attempt at keeping any competition off. And it has been a largely successful move, since Ferrando was the only producer who moved their Carema production into the town from Ivrea, where the main winery is located. For example, this inaugural vintage of Murajé was vinified at Le Piane in Boca, which why it wasn’t allowed to be labeled as Carema. However, to my understanding, they now producer wine in Carema, so the subsequent vintages have been or are supposed to be labeled as DOC Carema.

I’m curious, is the “Kraema” in Murajé Kraema dialect for Carema?

Now you have me curious…shot them an email with the question to find out!

Domenico Tappero Merlo (www.tapperomerlo.it) was kind enough to send me a couple of more very new and small producers that have come online. Their presence is via Instagram.

@cantinatogliana Achille Milanesio owner
@vignetidomattizanoni

Both of the IG accounts have some really nice photos with Achille having a few from the 1975 harvest.

[ChrisJames]

I believe the only other producer I’ve had from the region is the local Produttori. I’ve never even seen a bottling from anyone else. Have y’all ever had Carema from anyone else? Or is it like Boca where there’s like just a tiny cadre of producers and that’s that?

The post got me thinking: I have four Boca producers in my cellar: Le Piane, Vallana, Conti, and Davide Carlone, along with various Bramaterra, Lessona, Ghemme, and Gattinara producers. Yet I don’t think I have ever seen a Sizzano or Fara. Has anyone else?

[Tvrtko_C]

I believe the only other producer I’ve had from the region is the local Produttori. I’ve never even seen a bottling from anyone else. Have y’all ever had Carema from anyone else? Or is it like Boca where there’s like just a tiny cadre of producers and that’s that?

The post got me thinking: I have four Boca producers in my cellar: Le Piane, Vallana, Conti, and Davide Carlone, along with various Bramaterra, Lessona, Ghemme, and Gattinara producers. Yet I don’t think I have ever seen a Sizzano or Fara. Has anyone else?

Sizzano is very rare these days. Dessilani used to be the main reference, but I haven’ seen those in a while, except very occasionally at auction. Valle Roncati’s San Bartolomeo is probably your best option (a very good wine). Valle Roncati also make at least two different bottlings of Fara, as far as I know and, while both are very good, I think it is Francesca Castaldi and Boniperti (Barton) who are now probably making the best Fara (both wonderful, Castaldi normally in a slightly more compact, structured style, with Boniperti on the relatively more elegant side of the style spectrum).

[ChrisJames]

Thanks for the tips. I am not seeing Valle Roncati or Castaldi for sale in the US, but several places have the Boniperti.

[ChrisJames]

I believe the only other producer I’ve had from the region is the local Produttori. I’ve never even seen a bottling from anyone else. Have y’all ever had Carema from anyone else? Or is it like Boca where there’s like just a tiny cadre of producers and that’s that?

The post got me thinking: I have four Boca producers in my cellar: Le Piane, Vallana, Conti, and Davide Carlone, along with various Bramaterra, Lessona, Ghemme, and Gattinara producers. Yet I don’t think I have ever seen a Sizzano or Fara. Has anyone else?

Sizzano is very rare these days. Dessilani used to be the main reference, but I haven’ seen those in a while, except very occasionally at auction. Valle Roncati’s San Bartolomeo is probably your best option (a very good wine). Valle Roncati also make at least two different bottlings of Fara, as far as I know and, while both are very good, I think it is Francesca Castaldi and Boniperti (Barton) who are now probably making the best Fara (both wonderful, Castaldi normally in a slightly more compact, structured style, with Boniperti on the relatively more elegant side of the style spectrum).

It turns out Monsecco still makes Sizzano.

[Greg_Gardner]

Walked into a local shop yesterday and they have the 2017 Muraje on the shelf. It is indeed labeled Carema. A bit pricey at $65 but I grabbed one to try. It’s being brought into the PNW by Owen Kotler of DrinkOKwines.

[Otto_Forsberg]

Walked into a local shop yesterday and they have the 2017 Muraje on the shelf. It is indeed labeled Carema. A bit pricey at $65 but I grabbed one to try. It’s being brought into the PNW by Owen Kotler of DrinkOKwines.

Ooh, please do report once you pop it!

[Tvrtko_C]

Walked into a local shop yesterday and they have the 2017 Muraje on the shelf. It is indeed labeled Carema. A bit pricey at $65 but I grabbed one to try. It’s being brought into the PNW by Owen Kotler of DrinkOKwines.

Ooh, please do report once you pop it!

I did a month or so ago (two bottles, actually, over the space of a week or so, just to doublecheck). It was one of the things I sort of had in mind when writing those last Carema comments on the other thread. It’s good. Most certainly not as good as the Produttori Riserva, though. Now, given I paid 55EUR for the Muraje and routinely pay less than half that for the Produttori Riserva, I guess I’ll refrain from any further comments. But then, who knows… I will definitely buy again to taste at some point (just not that soon). I’m giving these guys, say, ten years to show the goods.

[Tvrtko_C]

And, given that this is a Ferrando Etichetta Bianca thread, just to make my last comment crystal clear… I paid (appreciably) more for the Muraje than I paid for the Etichetta Bianca 2016. Well… science is a bitch