TN: 2019 Cantina dei Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema - Carema Riserva (white label) (Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Carema)

WINE TALK
1

2019 Cantina dei Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema Carema Riserva - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Carema (11/22/2025)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 45 min. –

NOSE: cool and savory red berries; faint hint of leather in the background; hint of mint; medium+ expressiveness.

BODY: medium bodied

TASTE: high acid; drying tannins; juicy red currant; cranberry-cherry mix; strawberry licorice; very good to low-level excellent (89 – 91), and I know this would have benefited from more air, too.

2

I like their wines. Not quite the level of the Ferrando of course, but solid, honest wine.

1 Like
3

Sometimes the riservas can drink fairly well on release for a while but the ‘19 seemed pretty tight, more so than the previous few vintages.

1 Like
4

“Solid, honest wine” is pretty much exactly where I’m at with it, too. And for $35 I’m quite happy with that. I don’t recall ever having tried Ferrando — (on the rare occasions I buy Nebbiolo, I’m almost always positioned squarely in the cheap seats; despite enjoying the grape, I usually feel the QPR is poor (not unlike Burgundy, although I admittedly enjoy Burgundy (red) more than I do Nebbiolo). Is there an entry-level Ferrando worth trying that typically retails for $50 or less?

5

I don’t know what the white label goes for these days, but I suspect closer to $60.

1 Like
6

:grimacing: … Thanks. For $60, I can get myself a killer Riesling, Chenin, Bdx, or any other number of wines I simply like more. And this is my ongoing difficulties with Nebbiolo …

Typically, when a friend opens a Barolo for me I like it — sometimes a lot. But, almost without fail, it costs about twice as much as what I’m willing to pay for it. … but I continue to hunt for bargains, regardless.

7

Spanna

2 Likes
8

And some age. The 2016 is in a better place now than the 2019, and the 2010 is in a great place.

1 Like
9

Big fan of Carema, but not willing to buy Ferrando at current pricing and never see the Cantina wines. I’ve enjoyed them in the past, will look for them.

Now gimme some Ghemme! Although that has also gotten pricey.

2 Likes
10

Yes.

Vallana

1 Like
11

I was just perusing Wine Searcher and it appears that Vallana is available to me locally. WIll give it a shot. I’ve enjoyed some Vallana in the past, but am pretty sure I’ve not tried their Spanna.

ETA: yep, just checked my TNs in CT: I’ve previously enjoyed Vallana’s Gattinara, and thought it represented good QPR.

12

The Vallana Cuvee Bernardo Spanna is particularly good if you can find it.

3 Likes
13

Now that reminds me of an old post I did on another board many years ago…“Ghemme Ghemme Shock Treatment.”

If you’re looking for a really nice Ghemme at a reasonable price, try the Francesco Brigatti Oltre Il Bosco. It should be around $40 or so. Brigatti’s other wines are excellent, too, and he is imported by @Oliver_McCrum in some markets.