Italian white wine is crafted in a portion of Piedmont called the Province of Alessandria. This white wine is made from a particular grape variety called Cortese that sits close to the town of Gavi. The region’s production style goes all the way back to 1876 and the wine was given the status of DOC in the early 1970’s. In the late 1990’s the Gavi wine was awarded DOCG status. Due to the change in status, Gavi wines can now only be produced in several towns. Among these are the towns of Gavi, Parodi, San Cristoforo, Tassarolo, and Bosio. Only several other towns in the list of Italian towns are permitted to craft the wine. The story of the Gavi wine goes back to around the 5th century where there was a princess called by the name of Gavia. The princess loved one of the guards and was not allowed to marry him. The couple eloped and got married, but her secret slipped. Her father, the king, was asked to forgive his daughter, and when she came back with her new husband, it is said the king gave them an entire town and named the wine created there in honor of the happy couple.
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Vintage Unknown
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Luis Canas Rioja Crianza is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha
A classic style Rioja from one of the regions most enduring family run wineries.. The hillside terraced vineyards are sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains to the north from harsh weather extremes. Small plot production is utilized in this region of infertile chalky clay soil to produce clusters of excellent quality. Almost 900 plots are needed to complete the approximately 400 hectares of estate-owned or cellar-controlled vineyards, some with vines more than 100 years in age.
Tasting notes
Made from 95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha of 30 years of age, the wine shows a ruby red color, a clean nose with nuances of balsamic, plum and cedar. The palate is smooth and velvety, complex and structured, with fruit, spice flavors with toasted oak. A pleasant finish with red fruits and hints of eucalyptus.
The harvest
This year in Rioja Alavesa the weather has been especially cold, the summer short and dry, and there has been plenty of rain in early September. This has produced wines with great aromatic notes, particularly those coming from high altitude areas, very fragrant and with great structure.
Winemaking and aging
Upon entering the bodega and passing the selection table, the grapes are de-stemmed and crushed before undergoing fermentation and then maceration in stainless steel tanks for a total of 8 days, obtaining better color extraction as well as much more complex wines, suitable for prolonged aging. The wine is clarified with vegetable gelatines and follows anicrobic filtration.
It is ideal to pair with meats; red meat, poultry, small game, oily fish, semi-cured cheeses, spicy dishes and hot dishes such as beans or potatoes Rioja style.
After its primary fermentation, the wine is placed in barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for a minimum of 12 months. It is then bottled for at least another 12 months.
Review:
"Juicy Bing cherries, peppery herbs, leather, and cedarwood notes all emerge from the 2021 Rioja Crianza, a medium-bodied, concentrated, round, layered red that has supple tannins, beautiful fruit, and a great finish. This classic Rioja has tons to love."
- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 91 pts