There's a very interesting article called "Italy's Best Kept Secret" in a new free online men's lifestyle magazine called HE. You can find it at:
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18 years ago
Great Article on Italian Wine
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- posted
18 years ago
Interesting...but in my experience, Gattinara has been disappointing-thin and weak tasting. However, years ago, I used to love the Spannas of Lorenzo Vallana. Whatever happened to them?
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18 years ago
Both the elderly Dessilani & Vallana passed in the mid 80's--Nephew making wine @ Dessilani. Guy Fogarty, English son in law winemaker @ Vallana---Prior to 1967 when DOC rules were in effect---both wineries used grapes from the South to lend some heft to Gattinara, Ghemme & Spanna.
Antoniolo & Traviglini make good Gattinara. Anjelo Gaja purchased the winery, Le Colline, which was excellent. I know Le Colline owned some vineyards near Gaja, I'm sure Gaja has integrated the Barbaresco into his bottlings---Don't know what he did with Gattinara vineyards.
Most wine drinkers who like the weight & tannins of Barolo/Barbaresco, find wines of Novara-Vercelli(Gattinara etc) too light. Both the Wine Advocate & Wine Spectator are not champions of Gattinara. English writers more receptive.