Nebbiolo & Sangiovese - La Spinetta wines

 Piedmont & Tuscany, Italy - 

Founded in 1977 and now spanning 165 hectares between Piedmont and Tuscany, LA SPINETTA means “top of the hill”, which refers to the location of their first cellar in Castagnole, Lanze, Piedmont. This outstanding producer has a 3 star Gambero Rosso rating and in the 2007 edition was ranked No 2, just behind Gaja of all the producers in Italy.

The 'signature image' rhinoceros on the label has no relevance to anything except for owner/winemaker Giorgio Rivetti's love of the famous Albrecht Durer print of an animal Durer had never seen.

• La Spinetta Langhe Nebbiolo $63 -  'dried roses, black cherry and lots of elegance...' This is affordable nebbiolo, drawn from the broad Langhe region rather than the (far more expensive) Barolo or Barbaresco communes. Fermented in rotofermenters (preserves fruit purity), aged in French oak, transfer to stainless steel vats just before bottling, no filtration of clarifying.
• La Spinetta Il Nero di Casanova Sangiovese $42 (aka at Pinot Shop, 'the black heart-throb') - 100% sangiovese from La Spinetta's Tuscan estate. 'Intense ruby red, scents of mint, ripe berries, cherries and plum, full bodied, sweet tannins, great fruit forwardness and fine, dry finish.' Matured in French oak, transfered to stainless steel before bottling and aged at least 6 months in bottle before release.

Available singly, a duo $99 (one of each) or mixed six pack $275 (3 of each)