La Spinetta

Fresh bouquet typical of the grape variety, light and very appetising. Biancospino is an expressive wine endowed with generous fruit notes and an engaging personality. SUPERIORE.DE

"Light yellow-green, silver reflections, delicate mousseux. Grapey muscat touch, a hint of elderflower, fine pear notes, hints of tangerine zest. Juicy elegant, substantial residual sweetness, ripe mango fruit and fresh orange, sticks very well, delicately mineral, great length." Falstaff

Bright ruby red with violet reflections and intensely fragrant, very clear, the Ca' di Pian shows ripe dark cherry and black currant. Beautifully juicy on the palate, it develops with power, but always remains elegant. A hint of mint in the precise finish. SUPERIORE.DE

The heavy bottle already indicates this: This is a light-weight wine that is still fresh and cheerful in its younger years, but which will develop into a highly c Vinousomplex and more than serious white wine over the years. In the still youthful, fresh bouquet we already find a lot of minerality and fine yellow fruit notes, then on the palate a texture and depth that becomes more and more prominent at 2° higher drinking temperature and appropriate aeration. It will be even better in a few years - guaranteed! SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2020 Timorasso Derthona is a phenolic, savory wine. Orchard fruit, almond, citrus peel and white pepper all open in the glass. Racy floral and tropical accents add an exotic element that is quite appealing."

Classic Nebbiolo from, among others, the not so young vines of the cru site Starderi, which stands up to many a Barbaresco: Bright intense ruby with garnet rim, in the elegant bouquet a lot of fresh, clear berry fruit, on the palate accentuated acidity at the beginning, which then gives way to the beautiful fruit and the strong tannin. SUPERIORE.DE

"Attractive dried-berry, orange-peel and mineral character here. It's medium-bodied and juicy with candied citrus. Flavorful finish." James Suckling

"Giorgio Rivetti is very proud of this wine and his work in this classic, slightly cool vintage. The La Spinetta 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo offers dark tones and bright fruit definition with forest berry, wild rose and cedar wood. I actually tasted some ripeness and softness in this wine, which adds to its immediate and universal appeal. You could pair a wine like this with a wide range of foods, from pasta to breaded veal. Fruit comes from the youngest plants in the Starderi vineyard (in Barbaresco)." Robert Parker

Gallina is a beguiling Barbera with wonderful freshness and clarity. Wonderful scent of violet, tar, smoke, minerals, plums and spices. The wine loves the time in the glass and shows there a lot of minerality and a long, pure finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"Fruit for this wine comes from a two-hectare plot in the Gallina cru in Neive with south-facing exposures. The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Gallina (with 7,000 bottles produced) shows great focus and sharpness with bright cherry and blackberry fruit followed by spice, tilled earth and sweet barbecue smoke. This Barbera from Alba offers more linearity and directness compared to the other two expressions of the grape from the Asti area, where you feel the acidic crispness of the grape." Robert Parker

"The 2016 Barbera d'Alba Gallina is a very beautiful wine. In 2016, the Gallina has all the fruit richness and intensity it always has, with an extra kick of richness that brings an extra dimension of verticality and energy. Raspberry jam, spice, menthol and licorice all develop in the glass in this impeccably rendered, totally alluring Barbera from one of the top sites in Barbaresco." Vinous

Gallina is a beguiling Barbera with wonderful freshness and clarity. Beautiful scent of violets, tar, smoke, minerals, plums and spices. The wine loves time in the glass where it shows a lot of minerality and a long, pure finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Bionzo is a vineyard site in Costigliole d'Asti planted with vines that are 80 years old or older. The 2017 release is a bold wine, offering generous fruit but then carefully pulling back to show elegance and complexity. The vibrant character of the fruit shines brightly, as does the softness and textural richness. Dried plum, blackberry and sweet cherry are supported by baking spice, earth and cedar. The finish is endlessly long with exceptional fruity persistence. Great! SUPERIORE.DE

"Packed tight with black fruit and dried blackberry, the 2017 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is an inky and darkly concentrated expression that brings on all the rich fruit of the vintage. There are subtle hints of spice, tar and campfire ash at the rear, but this vintage will be remembered for the depth and intensity of all that black primary fruit." Robert Parker

"The 2017 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is laced with the essence of blackberry jam, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks and menthol. This potent, structured Barbera from Asti needs a few years to unwind, but it is impressive. Like the Gallina, the Bionzo shows a transition to a style that is a bit less overt than in the past, but without sacrificing the intensity La Spinetta fans have come to expect. I would give the tannins a few years to soften." Vinous

Bright rich golden yellow, playful aroma of fine spicy herbs, some tobacco and lots of candied orange peel. At the palate a terrific firework of flavours of dried fruit, the fresh acid gives structure. Wonderfully balanced. SUPERIORE.DE

"Apricot, grapefruit, jasmine and pine aromas highlight this dessert white. Its sweetness is offset by bracing acidity and it ends with a bitter grapefruit note." Wine Spectator

"This is a special wine made from late-harvest Moscato grapes aged in French barrique for eight long years. The La Spinetta 2011 Piemonte Moscato Passito Oro (with only 1,000 500-milliliter bottles produced) opens to a dark golden color with polished copper or amber highlights. The perfumes are bright and intense, but interestingly, this aged Moscato shows a lot of herbal notes with dried rosemary and sage on top of honey, dried flowers and candied orange peel. The wine maintains its acidity, but it also shows thick layers of generous sweetness and richness, thanks to the hot-vintage air-dried grapes. Most of the fruit comes from the Mango area." Robert Parker

Pin is dedicated to Giuseppe, the father of the Rivetti siblings Carlo, Bruno, Giorgio and Giovanna. It is a blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. The Barbera comes from the Bionzo vineyard, while the Nebbiolo is a selection from old vines in Castagnole Lanze. This is a beautiful blend of Piedmont's great red grapes, delivering freshness and bright intensity. Expansive and persistent aromas of blueberries, currants and blackberries. Powerful cherry and cassis rise to the top, followed by light spice and smoke from barrel ageing. The harmonious balance between these two grape varieties, one providing exuberance and the other elegance, is simply magnificent. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dried-fruit, meat and citrus aromas follow through to a full body with chewy tannins that are focused and intense. This needs time to open and soften." James Suckling

"The 2016 Monferrato Rosso Pin is a blend of mostly Nebbiolo with some Barbera in a supporting role. The wine offers lots of cherry and a distinctive mineral note of crushed aspirin or chalk. Those two sides of the wine, the sweetness of the fruit and that dryness, work nicely together to build the aromatic profile of this elegant production." Robert Parker

Dark fruits on the nose, nuanced with spices, tar, liquorice and wild berries. The mouthfeel is soft and supple with a lasting and silky texture. Here comes a Nebbiolo that exudes character and personality. Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is a precise interpretation of the grape, drawing a fine line between elegance and power with ease. SUPERIORE.DE

"La Spinetta's 2018 Barbaresco Bordini is a very nuanced and streamlined expression. It opens softly to present aromas of red and purple currants. The elegance of the wine comes out, thanks to the subtle mineral tones of crushed limestone and dry earth that lift so delicately from the bouquet. The La Spinetta house style is normally richer and more concentrated, and this cool vintage comes as a nice surprise." Robert Parker

Barolo Vigneto Garretti smells invitingly floral of small, white flowers, berries and spices. On the palate, freshness, medium body and firm tannins, one senses the great potential. Barolo Garretti is a wine from the slopes of the La Spinetta estate in Grinzane Cavour. Previously, these grapes were used in the Barolo Campé. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Barolo Vigneto Garretti is bold, racy and super-expressive. Succulent dark cherry, lavender, spice, menthol, red flowers, licorice, and French oak all meld together in this creamy, racy wine from La Spinetta. The Garretti captures all of the richness and pedigree of the year in a forward, succulent style that is sure to find many admirers. This is an especially strong vintage for this wine, though it needs another year in bottle for the big tannins to soften. I won't be surprised if the 2016 turns out to be even better than this note suggests; today it is absolutely delicious." Vinous

"A strapping Barolo, exhibiting black cherry, black currant, tar and iron flavors backed by beefy tannins. It settles in on the long finish, the ripe fruit mitigating the tannins in the end." Wine Spectator

"A full-bodied red with classic aromas of sour cherries, dried leaves, dried orange peel and tar. Juicy and mouthwatering on the palate with plenty of refreshing citrus zest, framed by firm, tight tannins. Big wine." James Suckling

"This entry-level Barolo is made with fruit from the younger vines from the Garretti cru in Grinzane Cavour, in the comune where La Spinetta has its ultra modern winery. The 2016 Barolo Vigneto Garretti offers a generous and accessible personality that makes this wine optimal for near or medium-term drinking. The bouquet is layered and rich with dark fruit, licorice, tar and toasted aniseed. The tannins are nicely managed in this vintage, showing both power and elegance." Robert Parker

Pure-varietal Chardonnay in the finest Burgundy style in honor of Lidia, the mother of the three Rivetti brothers. straw yellow with greenish reflexes. Delicate-butterscotch nose of pineapple, peach, with nuances of stone fruit. Multi-layered, creamy and dry on the palate, the lovely mineral vein and subtle lingering fruit accompany this elegant Chardonnay into a complex and long finish. A wine monument that will gain in tension and elegance with increasing maturity. SUPERIORE.DE

"La Spinetta's 2017 Piemonte Chardonnay Lidia is an oak-aged wine that sees its fruit sourced from a hillside vineyard in the area of Mango at a high 500 meters above sea level with loose, sandy soils. These conditions add to the freshness of the wine that comes through clearly, even in a hot vintage like this. This wine shows some pointed acidity or sharpness, followed by stone fruit, tropical tones and green papaya. The oak is played well, adding mild notes of tasted spice and hazelnut. Production is small, with just 2,500 bottles made." Robert Parker

"Layers of ripe nectarine, mango, cream and toast on the nose. It’s full-bodied and ripe, yet with elegance and poise. Hawthorn and smoked-almond flavors, balanced by crisp acidity." James Suckling

Pure-varietal Chardonnay in the finest Burgundy style in honour of Lidia, the mother of the three Rivetti brothers. Straw yellow with greenish reflections. Delicate-butterscotch nose of pineapple, peach, with nuances of stone fruit. Multi-layered, creamy and dry on the palate, the beautiful mineral vein and subtle lingering fruit accompany this elegant Chardonnay into a complex and long finish. A wine monument that will gain in tension and elegance with increasing maturity. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dried apples, waxed lemon, jasmine, nutmeg and smoked almonds on the nose. It's full-bodied with fresh acidity and a waxy texture. Flavorful with complex layers of fruit and spice. Delicious now." James Suckling

Barbaresco Starderi from the municipality of Neive presents itself almost austere with its scent of pink pepper and cocoa, which combined with the subtle wood notes gives a delicious overall aroma; powerful and rich taste with the still superficial but very noble tannin. SUPERIORE.DE

"Mid to deep ruby. Aromatic, firm cherry-fruit nose with a certain coolness to it. Bags of fruit and tannins and great acidity. Truly a generous mouthful, but stylish. Can be approached now." Jancis Robinson

"Raspberry coulis, dried red plums, vanilla, cedar and spice box make for a pronounced and beguiling nose. Full-bodied and very powerful on the palate, yet the tannins are polished and the acidity focused and refreshing." James Suckling

"The 2016 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù starts with a no-nonsense obscure color and ends with lots of dark fruit on the close. In between, it shows a spot of bitterness on the tongue, delivered with ripe fruit and some rather tight tannins. There are lots of tar notes here too, along with the sort of resin and camphor ash you might not have been expecting from such a youthful Barbaresco. But this one has a heavy center of gravity and is not to be trifled with. It's a big and bold wine that demands a rare cut of beef." Robert Parker

"The 2016 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi is outrageously beautiful. Dense, powerful and rich, the 2016 races out of the glass with huge fruit to match its classically mid-weight profile. Super-ripe red/purplish berry fruit, wild flowers, licorice and mint play off the huge tannins with real grace. Readers have to be patient, but the 2016 Starderi is a rock star wine. That's pretty much all there is to it." Vinous

A great Barbaresco, destined for long ageing: Garnet red, concentrated and powerful the scent of red berries, freshly cut flowers, mint and tobacco. The taste, too, is bursting with power and fullness, but nevertheless harbours a captivating purity, immediacy and elegance, the framework of which is formed by the beautifully integrated tannins. SUPERIORE.DE

"With fruit from Neive, the La Spinetta 2018 Barbaresco Gallina Vürsù is packaged in a heavy glass bottle. The wine is extremely polished and tight, especially at this young stage, with a pretty assembly of wild berry, grilled herb, blue flower and crushed stone. What's terrific here is that no element is out of place. These different characteristics all work together to create lasting balance, and I'm sure that this sensation will only become more evident as the wine takes on more bottle age." Robert Parker

The grapes for this exceptional wine come from vineyards at 450 metres above sea level in the Neive district. Fine spicy notes, dark berries and wet earth dominate the precise structure and power of this nevertheless very elegant red. Buy, store and revel in anticipation! SUPERIORE.DE

"So perfumed and floral with bright black cherries and citrus, following through to a full-bodied yet very tight and intense palate. Compact and beautiful. Slightly austere at the end. This needs time to open and soften." James Suckling

"These 2018 Barbarescos from La Spinetta are just terrific. The 2018 Barbaresco Valeirano Vürsù (with 7,000 bottles made) completes this line with its fruit from the village of Treiso. This wine is less etched and sharp than the others, and it exhibits a rich and more fleshed-out approach with greater volume. There is plenty of dark fruit and shades of cherry, but a lasting impression is made by spice, licorice and balsam herb." Robert Parker

Barbaresco Starderi from the municipality of Neive is almost austere with its aroma of pink pepper and cocoa, which combined with the subtle woody notes gives a delicious overall aroma; powerful and rich taste with the still superficial but very noble tannin. SUPERIORE.DE

"Roses, dried fruit, hazelnuts and some spices on the nose. Full-bodied with very creamy tannins that are polished and beautiful. This is very structured and needs time to soften, but beautiful and solid." James Suckling

"Another especially elegant expression from La Spinetta, the 2018 Barbaresco Starderi Vürsù demonstrates how well this winery worked in this slightly cooler growing season. All the wines across this portfolio appear bright and more ethereal, representing a subtle pivot for proprietor Giorgio Rivetti and his crew. Dried cassis, limestone and crushed flowers emerge from the bouquet, and the wine imparts a lasting and highly polished mouthfeel." Robert Parker

The Campè vineyard is located above Garretti in Grinzane Cavour. Barolo Campè Vürsù by La Spinetta draws its fruit from the upper part of the vineyard, where the topsoil is shallow and the vines are oldest at 70+ years. Campè 2017 opens to a velvety and dark and very potent appearance with dark garnet hues. The nose shows dark primary fruit with dried blackberries and plums, but also savoury notes of spice, tar and dried liquorice roots. The wine shows a firm backbone and is actually not at all restrained, but the elegant tannins complement the captivating interplay of fruit and structure into the long, very classic finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2017 Barolo Campè is a very pretty, elegant wine. Proprietor Giorgio Rivetti and winemaker Stefano Mazzeta did everything right with the 2017, a wine that is so harmonious in the early going. The Campè is bright, punchy and so expressive. A spine of tannin gives the wine energy and shape, with all the elements so nicely balanced. Another few years in bottle will help immeasurably." Vinous

"The La Spinetta 2017 Barolo Campè Vürsù sources its fruit from the Garretti vineyard in Grinzane Cavour. The wine shows depth, vertical intensity and quite an impressive range of aromas that span redcurrant and berry to hazelnut paste and earthy truffle. Despite the shiny ruby appearance of the wine, this is a full-bodied Barolo with plenty of power and true grit, or what the Italians call "grinta." Give those nervous tannins time and patience." Robert Parker

"This is really something, with superb concentration of fruit and tannins. It's powerful yet harmonious with a muscular sense and agile feel. Blackberries and strawberries with bark and wet-earth undertones. Goes on for a long time on the palate. Give it three to five years of bottle age to come around." James Suckling

Gallina is a beguiling Barbera with wonderful freshness and clarity. Beautiful scent of violets, tar, smoke, minerals, plums and spices. The wine loves time in the glass where it shows a lot of minerality and a long, pure finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Bright rich golden yellow, playful aroma of fine spicy herbs, some tobacco and lots of candied orange peel. At the palate a terrific firework of flavours of dried fruit, the fresh acid gives structure. Wonderfully balanced. SUPERIORE.DE

"Apricot, grapefruit, jasmine and pine aromas highlight this dessert white. Its sweetness is offset by bracing acidity and it ends with a bitter grapefruit note." Wine Spectator

"This is a special wine made from late-harvest Moscato grapes aged in French barrique for eight long years. The La Spinetta 2011 Piemonte Moscato Passito Oro (with only 1,000 500-milliliter bottles produced) opens to a dark golden color with polished copper or amber highlights. The perfumes are bright and intense, but interestingly, this aged Moscato shows a lot of herbal notes with dried rosemary and sage on top of honey, dried flowers and candied orange peel. The wine maintains its acidity, but it also shows thick layers of generous sweetness and richness, thanks to the hot-vintage air-dried grapes. Most of the fruit comes from the Mango area." Robert Parker

Bionzo is a vineyard site in Costigliole d'Asti planted with vines that are 80 years old or older. The 2017 release is a bold wine, offering generous fruit but then carefully pulling back to show elegance and complexity. The vibrant character of the fruit shines brightly, as does the softness and textural richness. Dried plum, blackberry and sweet cherry are supported by baking spice, earth and cedar. The finish is endlessly long with exceptional fruity persistence. Great! SUPERIORE.DE

"Packed tight with black fruit and dried blackberry, the 2017 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is an inky and darkly concentrated expression that brings on all the rich fruit of the vintage. There are subtle hints of spice, tar and campfire ash at the rear, but this vintage will be remembered for the depth and intensity of all that black primary fruit." Robert Parker

"The 2017 Barbera d'Asti Superiore Bionzo is laced with the essence of blackberry jam, gravel, smoke, crushed rocks and menthol. This potent, structured Barbera from Asti needs a few years to unwind, but it is impressive. Like the Gallina, the Bionzo shows a transition to a style that is a bit less overt than in the past, but without sacrificing the intensity La Spinetta fans have come to expect. I would give the tannins a few years to soften." Vinous

Dark fruits on the nose, nuanced with spices, tar, liquorice and wild berries. The mouthfeel is soft and supple with a lasting and silky texture. Here comes a Nebbiolo that exudes character and personality. Barbaresco Vigneto Bordini is a precise interpretation of the grape, drawing a fine line between elegance and power with ease. SUPERIORE.DE

"La Spinetta's 2018 Barbaresco Bordini is a very nuanced and streamlined expression. It opens softly to present aromas of red and purple currants. The elegance of the wine comes out, thanks to the subtle mineral tones of crushed limestone and dry earth that lift so delicately from the bouquet. The La Spinetta house style is normally richer and more concentrated, and this cool vintage comes as a nice surprise." Robert Parker

Pure-varietal Chardonnay in the finest Burgundy style in honour of Lidia, the mother of the three Rivetti brothers. Straw yellow with greenish reflections. Delicate-butterscotch nose of pineapple, peach, with nuances of stone fruit. Multi-layered, creamy and dry on the palate, the beautiful mineral vein and subtle lingering fruit accompany this elegant Chardonnay into a complex and long finish. A wine monument that will gain in tension and elegance with increasing maturity. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dried apples, waxed lemon, jasmine, nutmeg and smoked almonds on the nose. It's full-bodied with fresh acidity and a waxy texture. Flavorful with complex layers of fruit and spice. Delicious now." James Suckling

The extremely rare Riserva qualities of the Rivetti brothers are filled exclusively in magnum bottles. Only 600 bottles of Vigneto Starderi have been filled. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi (magnum) is in a gorgeous spot where it is starting to show the signs of having entered an early plateau of maturity. Even so, it retains formidable tannic clout and tons of intensity. The 2009 appears to have enough fruit to develop well for another 7-10 years. Even with considerable aeration the tannins remain formidable." Vinous

"Here's another beautiful expression of Barbaresco by La Spinetta released in magnum 10 years after the harvest. The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Starderi Vürsù (Magnum) opens to a dark garnet color and a well-defined set of aromas. Boasting Nebbiolo purity, darkness and generosity, it reveals rich fruit, dried cherry, ferrous earth, licorice, tar and toasted aniseed. This expression from Starderi in Neive shows an austere and brooding personality with plenty of textural richness and depth. This magnum reveals a wine of careful balance, precision and power. A mere 600 large-format bottles were produced." Robert Parker