Le Piane Boca

J

Jayson Cohen

Jayson Cohen
All— a few of us had the 2015 Friday night. I know nothing about this wine but had been getting an occasional offer from trusted sources. It was fantastic. Everything I look for in an Alto Piemonte. Fresh, intense, vibrant, and high toned red fruit and reddish citrus aromatics. But plenty of structure for aging. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it shuts down in a year.

What do folks know about this estate?

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Excellent producer. Typical 'Alto" mix of grapes in their wines, although Boca is nearly all nebbiolo. What was your price on this and the 15 is out already (but, you're ITB, so you probably see it first)? I've only seen the 2012 out as current.
 
I drink these wines a lot and echo that portfolio is great from top to bottom. Especially at the lower end, the Mimmo (65% nebbiolo/30% croatina/5% vespolina)and the Maggiorina (40/40/5 of the above + 15% misc indigenous varieties) are just fantastic values at about $25 and just under $20 respectively. Really lovely "weeknight wines" that clock in at 12.5% alcohol or under and reflect a great sense of place.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
Excellent producer. Typical 'Alto" mix of grapes in their wines, although Boca is nearly all nebbiolo. What was your price on this and the 15 is out already (but, you're ITB, so you probably see it first)? I've only seen the 2012 out as current.
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That's true in my market as well. Manhattan Wine Co. looks like they have some 2015. Never saw 2013 or 2014 Piane Boca. [shrug]
 
originally posted by Brian C:
I drink these wines a lot and echo that portfolio is great from top to bottom. Especially at the lower end, the Mimmo (65% nebbiolo/30% croatina/5% vespolina)and the Maggiorina (40/40/5 of the above + 15% misc indigenous varieties) are just fantastic values at about $25 and just under $20 respectively. Really lovely "weeknight wines" that clock in at 12.5% alcohol or under and reflect a great sense of place.
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Yes, this. However, they are a bit pricier down here.
 
I tried and failed using the search function to find the list of interesting Alto Piemonte producers that Levi put together. It is a post rather than a topic.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
Excellent producer. Typical 'Alto" mix of grapes in their wines, although Boca is nearly all nebbiolo. What was your price on this and the 15 is out already (but, you're ITB, so you probably see it first)? I've only seen the 2012 out as current.
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LOL. I’m definitely not ITB. I’m a professional geek like you. I should have said I’ve received offers of prior vintages from trusted retail sources.

MWC pricing on this was very high compared to all other prices for this bottling from other vintages still available: $65 a bottle. I have no idea how or why they can source 2015 if no one eise has seen 2013 or 2014.
 
originally posted by VLM:
I tried and failed using the search function to find the list of interesting Alto Piemonte producers that Levi put together. It is a post rather than a topic.
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Loading…

winedisorder.com

Gotta scroll down to find it

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by MLipton:
originally posted by VLM:
I tried and failed using the search function to find the list of interesting Alto Piemonte producers that Levi put together. It is a post rather than a topic.
Click to expand...

Loading…

winedisorder.com

Gotta scroll down to find it

Mark Lipton
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Thanks, Mark and Nathan. I had forgotten about that thread.
 
I just tooled around the website, and while it’s not 100% clear, it looks like they may have held the 2013 Boca back to release after the 2015 and there will be no 2014 Boca - everything went into the Maggiorina instead.
 
There are back vintages available of la Boca. I’ve tried a couple bottles of the 2002 this year which were nice and showed maturish flavors. Very good for a maligned vintage. Similar price, around $65.
The same store had the 2007, I will probably get a bottle of that to try if they still have some.

Agree with Brian about the less expensive bottles. They are nice too.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
I just tooled around the website, and while it’s not 100% clear, it looks like they may have held the 2013 Boca back to release after the 2015 and there will be no 2014 Boca - everything went into the Maggiorina instead.
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Interesting info, thanks.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Le Piane BocaAll— a few of us had the 2015 Friday night. I know nothing about this wine but had been getting an occasional offer from trusted sources. It was fantastic. Everything I look for in an Alto Piemonte. Fresh, intense, vibrant, and high toned red fruit and reddish citrus aromatics. But plenty of structure for aging. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it shuts down in a year.

What do folks know about this estate?
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I've seen the 2015 Le Piane around but am somewhat surprised that the "Boca" of this year is released already. Normally, Boca sees quite some time in botte and bottle before being released. The owner is Christoph Kuenzli who was/is an importer of wines from Giacomo Conterno or Gianfranco Soldera. The wine growing and wine making without compromises of these two producers is a characteristic of the wines of Le Piane as well. Apparently, Kuenzli came to Boca by a tip from Paolo de Marchi of Isole e Olena. I too have a soft spot for Nebbiolo on these very particular soils. With Cristiano Garella leaving Sella this is the only wine I buy regularly from this coin of Piemonte. However, I do have some bottles of the new venture of Roberto Conterno with Nervi and am very keen on tasting them - anyone else tried them already?
Cheers!
 
originally posted by Anders Gautschi:
However, I do have some bottles of the new venture of Roberto Conterno with Nervi and am very keen on tasting them - anyone else tried them already?
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I have not. Rumor is that prices are double.
 
2013 Le Piane "Mimmo" Vino Rosso

I did some digging. “Mimmo” is a bottling dedicated to a friend who collaborated with the winery to improve the vineyards. Nebbiolo (65%), Croatina (30%), Vespolina (5%). The grapes are apparently a selection of riper, less structured grapes from younger vines compared to the Boca. (But, as described below, that is relative as the wine comes across as a high-altitude, cold-climate wine with plenty of zing.) The Nebbiolo comes from vineyards planted in 1999 and 2000 at 450 meters above sea level. The Croatina and Vespolina come from 100 year-old vines on Montalbano and Santuario at 500 meters above sea level. Overall the soil is crumbled volcanic porphyry.

The wine is high toned, with aromas of cranberry and orange citrus leading to a similarly vibrant acid-driven red fruit and citrus explosion in the mouth. It is very fresh and dynamic and drinks well with food, cutting through proteins and a decadent Mac-and-Cheese.

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Nice work. And I can see the freshness with decadent mac-and-cheese!

I had a couple of bottles of this 2013 Mimmo in December, with some friends who normally prefer more weight in their wines. Luckily the fragrance won them over, and it was such a good food match with our various pasta dishes that they grudgingly accepted the wisdom of my choice.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
originally posted by Anders Gautschi:
However, I do have some bottles of the new venture of Roberto Conterno with Nervi and am very keen on tasting them - anyone else tried them already?
Click to expand...
I have not. Rumor is that prices are double.
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No rumour. In Norway they are.
 
conversation with the executive chef

- can you have Nebbiolo/Croatina/Vespolina blend with mac and cheese? Jayson did
- of course
- i thought jura reds were the approved drink for mac and cheese
- you can't have jura reds every day, can you?
 
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