Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter for information on our latest products and promotions.
Sign up for our newsletter for information on our latest products and promotions.
Please confirm that you are of legal age
to purchase alcohol in your region.
You currently have an active checkout session
open already, would you like to clear it?
1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
$42.99
Davide Carlone is a small but important winegrower in Piedmont. Based in Boca, a small appellation in Alto Piemonte, at the foothills of the Italian Alps, Davide’s focus is on Nebbiolo and the local supporting cast, Croatina (for which he may be the strongest advocate), and Vespolina. Boca sits on the east side (left bank) of the Sesia River and is shared between the communes Grignasco, Boca, and Prato Sesia. Most of the vineyards are tucked further back into the mountains away from the Sesia and experience a slightly cooler influence from the Alps. While many of the important local appellations mostly sit between 250-350 meters of altitude, with some up to 400, most of Carlone’s vineyards face south and range between 380-450 meters. Like many vineyards in the area, outside of important appellations like Gattinara and Ghemme, his vineyards are largely surrounded by forest and in constant contact with fresh alpine winds, making for wines with great tension and strong array of more savoury characteristics rather than punchy fruit.
750 mlOUT OF STOCK
If you'd like us to try to order it, add it to your cart. We can't promise, but we'll do our best!
Some typical characteristics of Croatina are its lower acidity, tendency to be more reductive, and a pronounced tannic structure due to its naturally bigger body and frame. It’s fruitier and more herbal, and renowned consulting winemaker Cristiano Garella describes its organoleptic properties of Croatina from Alto Piemonte as, “Wild, minty, black, oily like chocolate butter, with nutmeg and nuts, peanuts, blackberries, balsamic characteristics and iron.” Carlone’s varietal bottling of Croatina is fermented for ten to twelve days in stainless steel and also aged in stainless steel until bottling with no fining.
$41.99
One of the best-kept secrets out of Piedmont is the winery G.D. Vajra. Located at 1300ft in elevation and being the highest winery in Barolo they are fortunate enough to have some of the latest ripening grapes in Barolo and also providing smaller berries with thicker skins. A lot of the vineyards were planted in 1947, but the winery itself was not started until 1972 and the first vintage was released in 1978.
"Aldo and Milena Vajra are among the quietest and most introspective of Piedmont’s top echelon growers. It is the wines that do the talking here, and they do that ever so eloquently," according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. And from the winemaker: "Ruby red, delicate and at times, transparent. Intense expressive aromas of violets and dried roses are layered over small red berry notes. Silky tannins envelop the palate with personality and vivacious energy."
$73.99
Boca is both a small D.O.C. zone and a rare red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape (locally named Spanna, 70-90%) along with Vespolina and Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese), vinified either together or separately. Despite its modest size, its roots can be traced back to Roman times.
The wine is grown in the north of Piedmont, along the Sesia River, on the wooded hills of the Novarra province around the towns of Boca, Maggiora, Cavallirio, Prato Sesia and Grignasco. It delivers notes of wild berries, cherry, and forest floor. Fine but grippy tannins make it a natural fit with beef and lamb.
$44.99
Davide Carlone is one of the most dynamic winegrowers in Piedmont, and he has achieved a cult-like following over the years. Boca may not be a household name as it's tiny but it is well worth exploring. His focus is Nebbiolo, but he cultivates most of the local grape varieties including Erbaluce, Croatia, and Vespolina. Carlone is a traditionalist in the cellar, relying on large oak botti and extended aging for his top wines. The hills of Boca deliver distinctive expressions of these grapes, thanks to their volcanic soils, and Carlone’s hands-off approach lets those unique characteristics shine.
$31.99
With a name that means “hamlet on the slope”, Vignaioli Contrà Soarda is a beacon of conscientious farming in the region of Veneto. The estate is nestled in the hills of Breganze, an area that’s been home to the Gottardi’s since 1904. For generations, this family ran a busy osteria but in 1999 they officially became vignaioli (winemakers). 12 hectares of fallow land were purchased and a winery was built directly into the rock of the hillside to minimize its environmental impact. Since the day the vines were planted, the 12-hectare vineyard has been farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles. The wineries' tenant donkeys keep cover crops in check without compacting the soil.
Produced by Marzemino grapes, this red wine has sapid notes of plum, blackberry, and violet.
