Antonio Galloni and his aroma and taste experience related to Boca and Gratus - Podere ai Valloni
Posted on: 16-03-2021 om 09:28:51
| Karina Imschoot
The elegance of old Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo from Alto Piemonte has the advantage of producing wines with nuanced beauty. And there is a reason why the big boys in the Langhe are buying up wineries in Alto Piemonte. The volcanic soil allows for the creation of some of the most elegant nebbiolos in Italy.
There was a major volcanic explosion here 300 million years ago. This explosion is what made Boca and Alto Piemonte what it is today. The volcanic soil is unique, special and gives Boca, the top wine of the Podere ai Valloni, a unique minerality and earthiness in itself. The vines dig deep into the Permian Rhyotilic lava, which can be seen as red-covered rocks in the vineyard. The Vigna Cristiana is the name of the vineyards of the Podere Ai Valloni.
Anna Sertorio, the winemaker, is charming but quirky and she is also an encyclopaedia of the history of Boca. What she has done to put this region back on the map is incredible.
The estate of Podere Ai Valloni
There is something special about Anna Sertorio's Boca at Podere Ai Valloni. They have an elegance and finesse, plus intoxicating aromas, that are just fantastic. Combine that with the most unique earthy minerality you can find in Alto Piemonte, the incredible attention to detail and the high level of wine production and you have wines that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Podere ai Valloni excels in all its wines in finesse. With all their wines - Boca, Gratus and Sass Russ - depending on the year, less than or maximum 10,000 bottles are produced. The choice not to expand is a well-considered one. Focus on quality.
Boca 2012
The nose consists of very intense roses combined with beautiful cherries, minerals and cooling blue fruit. Juicy almost Burgundian nose, strongly floral and the fruit is particularly sharp in 2012. Mushroom, tar, roses, cherry fruit, mineral and so aromatic. There is also a very specific kind of minerality due to the volcanic soils, but also the unique character of Vigna Cristina, with layered, aromatic and very delicate wines.
The palate has great ripeness and the most elegant and refined tannins. The Valloni Boca's manage to have a great balance of ripe fruit and ripe tannins - soft, ripe, juicy, sensual - in all the wines.
The complex fruity character with no hard tannins is striking.
Description of the fruit: cherry fruit with cherry blossom and some pine. Also striking is the clarity and, not surprisingly, the complex crescendo of an aftertaste that has all the freshness. The refined and elegant, grandiose tannins just stay with you.
The finish is a hint of liquorice and a swarm of cherries, and as an experience it is definitely penetrating.
Boca 2010
The 2010 Boca Vigna Cristiano shows all the complexity and subtlety of a wine that has spent three years in barrel. The aromas alone are enchanting. An exotic mix of sweet pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers, spices and cedar come effortlessly from the glass. Medium in body, with striking energy and verve, the 2010 is a fantastic example of the appellation, with its quirky personality. Further maturation in your wine cellar for the next 7-10 years. The blend consists of 70% Nebbiolo, 20% Vespolina and 10% Uva Rara. (Not for nothing did this wine get 94 PTS from VINOUS, Antonio Galloni)
Gratus 2017
The 2017 Gratus has a wonderful nose of classic Boca cooling blue fruit, some lively spice, and tons of minerality. Delightful nose., licorice, earthy, ripe and juicy.
Remarkable clarity, purity and refined tannins in the Gratus. Also perfect acidity, ripe and beautiful tannins. Powerful and beautiful structure and the super velvety tannins pump out the deep liquorice/black/red cherry pure fruit. The fruit is big, so juicy and so dense that this wine has an enormous flavour impact of freshness.
This is what Antonio Galloni wrote about the Gratus: "The 2017 Gratus, 85% Nebbiolo and 15% Vespolina, is a wine that, like the Boca, is hugely inspiring. The 2017 is resonant on the palate, yet retains a very classic sense of translucency. White pepper, cinnamon and bright acidity give the wine a wonderful energy to play with the natural intensity of the year. Good structure." - 93 PTS, VINOUS, Antonio Galloni
Highly exceptional to promote the wine Gratus 2017 is running until 31 March 2021 a promotion in which when you order with coupon code GRATUSEXTRA you get a special discount when you buy 6 bottles. Basically, it comes down to 5 pay and 1 free