New York Store
Roero D.O.C.G. Arneis Vigne Sparse Giovanni Almondo 2024 NY
Tasting Notes: The Arneis Vigne Sparse (from “scattered vineyards”) comes from three tiny parcels on the estate, including in the historic Burigot, which the Almondos have farmed for more than a... hundred years; the red earth Pe’ del Can; and a few rows on the lower slope of the Bric Valdiana. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks, and matured on the lees for five months before bottling. In the glass (not too, too cold), the wine has a luminous, medium gold color, with flashes of green gold at the edge. Aromas of ripe Bartlett pears, sun-warmed white peaches, Queen Anne cherries, and lemongrass emerge when the wine is poured, then alternate with fleeting, compelling aromas that include white peaches, crystallized green apple peel, cardamom pods, and coriander as the nose evolves in the glass. On the palate, the wine is juicy and broad, at the same time crisp and vibrant, with a layered core of exotic white fruit, lemon-lime citrus, and salt roasted fennel that echoes the developing nose. A racy core of berry acidity seasons the long clean finish, which is punctuated with fine-grained, cracked sea-salt mineral grip. Drink now–2028. Read More
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The Almondo family has cultivated vineyards and orchards in Roero for hundreds of years, but Domenico and his father, Giovanni, were the first to estate-bottle their production (their first vintage, in 1981, totaled just 1,500 bottles). Since then, the estate has acquired some of the most expressive parcels of vineyard land around the tiny town of Montà d’Alba—nearly fifteen combined hectares of Arneis, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Brachetto. Along with his sons Federico and Stefano, Domenico’s meticulous vineyard work and sensitive approach in the cellar make it no surprise that the Almondo family is considered the single best producer in Roero.
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The wines of Piemonte are noted as far back as Pliny's Natural History. Due to geographic and political isolation, Piemonte was without a natural port for most of its history, which made exportation treacherous and expensive. This left the Piemontese with little incentive to expand production. Sixteenth-century records show a mere 14% of the Bassa Langa under vine - most of that low-lying and farmed polyculturally. In the nineteenth century the Marchesa Falletti, a French woman by birth, brought eonologist Louis Oudart from Champagne to create the first dry wines in Piemonte. Along with work in experimental vineyards at Castello Grinzane conducted by Camilo Cavour - later Conte di Cavour, leader of the Risorgimento and first Prime Minister of Italy - this was the birth of modern wine in the Piedmont. The Roero covers an area split in half by the Tanaro River, north of the small city of Alba. Nebbiolo and Barbera grapes supply most of the red wines in this DOC, and the famous whites are produced from the local Arneis.
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Arneis is a white grape variety that originated in the Italian region of Piemonte, and is sometimes known as “Barolo Bianco.” The name Arneis is a local Piemontese term for “rascal,” which characterizes this variety, since it can be difficult to grow and requires great care in the winemaking to produce a well-balanced wine. High quality Arneis wines have rich, concentrated fruit flavors and noticeable minerality.
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Grilled, olive oil-laced seafood, whole-roasted fish, as well at pastas with diced tomato and herbs work very well with this wine. It also loves cow and sheep-milk cheeses.
