2018 La Palazzina Bramaterra Riserva 'Balmi Bioti'

2018 was a really outstanding vintage in Alto Piemonte. 

95+ Points, Mike Bennie (The Wine Front) - "A mix of mostly nebbiolo with ‘local varieties’. Old vines. Stellar wines from this mob. Sheesh. This is sensational. Sleek, tightly wound and precise. A sense of extreme length, synergy of red fruits (mostly sappy strawberry), dusty spice, faint choc-mocha notes, dried herbs and feisty alpine herbal and floral notes. Ripeness of fruit but tensely wound with ultra tense and granitic, powdery tannin that tells the wine who is boss and makes for firm succulence. Whiffs and licks of sooty, woody notes too, but well woven in. It feels very complete, multi-dimensional yet in such a compact frame. Nuttiness is its forte, the skin, savoury elements, succulence (again). Wonderful drinking."

96 Points Tom Kline (The Wine Pilot) - "70% nebbiolo, 10% vespolina, 10% croatina, 10% uva rara. Wow, we're on here! Very mineral off the bat, which is enchanting and attention grabbing. Restrained aromas of balsamic, ferrous, iodine, cherry, feint red rose. The restraint draws you into the glass, and what you find keeps you there. Very good. A great burst of intensity on the palate, which balances compaction and openness well. Burgundian in feel, with Volnay-like velvetiness. Integrated chalky tannins melt in the mouth and work with waves of acidity to a long close of kaleidoscopic detail that mirrors the aromas. Very classy, poised, and precise. An outstanding wine."

Normally the Riserva from La Palazzina (only made in exceptional vintages) comes from the 'home block' but such was the intensity of the fruit from the Balmi Bioti vineyard 2018.  It's an amped up version of the Balmi Bioti with its ferrous bloody & balsamic notes on full display.  It's super concentrated & dense but without coming over heavy in any way.  Destined for a very long & bright future too. 

The cepage (tradional of Bramaterra) is Nebbiolo 70%, Croatina 10%, Uva rara 10%, Vespolina 10%.  Fermentation was kicked off in concrete before the wine was moved to large, old & neutral oak for 36 months. It weighs in at just 13% alcohol.