April 15, 2O17. As I was leaving Giuseppe Mascarello’s cellar in Monchiero, the sky was menacing, an ominous shade of green and black. By the time I reached La Morra, the dark clouds had unleashed a torrential rain. In 20 minutes it was over, leaving remnants of hail pellets on the ground. The Neive commune of Barbaresco bore the brunt of the damage, along with Alta Langa and parts of Asti. The vines were two weeks in advance, some already bearing shoots a foot to a foot-and-a-half long, due to the unseasonably warm weather.
If the storm that day wasn’t bad enough, the following week brought three nights of freezing temperatures, causing frost in low-lying areas and an average loss of 20% in the affected vineyards.
The season changed course, however, and the summer turned hot, with very dry conditions in July and August. But the vintage wasn’t as hot as some other scorchers, such as 2011 or 2003, and the Barolos aren’t stamped with the character of a hot vintage, thanks to ample water reserves from the spring rains as well as cool summer nights and favorable weather during the crucial ripening phase in September.
Although the Nebbiolo harvest came early— and was mostly finished by the end of September—the growing season itself was long, due to the precocious growth in the spring, yielding fine conditions for ripening Nebbiolo. Yet the crop was 20% to 30% lower than average for Barolo overall, and less wine was made, in part, because of the small, thick-skinned berries.
Denne historien er fra April 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
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Denne historien er fra April 30, 2022-utgaven av Wine Spectator.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New Zealand's Success Story - From small beginnings, the country's wines have ascended to global prominence
Since then, New Zealand has become one of the world’s most successful wine nations. Currently there are 102,000 acres planted, and 40 million cases were sold in 2023, according to the New Zealand Winegrowers. The tiny country produces less than 2% of the global wine supply, but it’s the world’s sixth-largest exporter of wine by value. Another thing that’s evolved? The image of corks no longer applies, as most vintners there eschew cork (only about 15% of the wines we review still use the closure).
Wine Is Healthiest Choice for Drinkers - Decades of research has linked light to moderate drinking, especially of wine, to a range of health benefits.
There’s also strong evidence that alcohol consumption raises the risk of certain cancers and that heavy drinking carries serious health risks. But the reasons why moderate drinking seems to be neutral or beneficial for some people and harmful for others remains a mystery.A new study sought to solve that puzzle. Looking at health and lifestyle information for a large population, the researchers found that while any alcohol posed risks for adults with existing health problems from poorer areas, healthy adults from wealthier areas suffered no additional risks from moderate drinking, and those who drink wine with food even enjoyed better health.
In Pursuit of the Perfect Crust
“Dough is always the hardest challenge for any home chef,” explains chef and restaurateur Tony Gemignani. “But it’s the foundation of any great pizza.”
SEAVEY VINEYARD
In Napa’s Conn Valley, a family-run winery marches to its own drum
CALIFORNIA RHONES Show Their Range
RECENT VINTAGES DELIVER EXCELLENT REDS AND WHITES IN AN ARRAY OF STYLES
Tuscany Comes of Age
Anchored by the 2021 vintage, Tuscan reds set a new standard of quality
The Absolute Best Places to Eat and Drink in America
PROFILES OF THE 63 WINE SPECTATOR GRAND AWARD WINNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY, AS THE PROGRAM MARKS ITS 44TH YEAR
Events- A Grand Tour for Wine Spectator- a perfect day with an evening of outstanding wines.
A young couple in shorts and festival shirts sped into the ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott on a mission.
Big Wine Players Target Pinot Noir - Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they're looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Plenty of small winery owners are cashing out, either because they’re looking to retire or they see selling as the best way to keep their label growing
Restaurant Awards- Lazy Bear- Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it's so much more.
Lazy Bear bills itself as a modern American dinner party. But it’s so much more. This Mission District restaurant effortlessly strips away the formality of a multicourse dinner and replaces it with conviviality, nostalgia and curiosity. With reverence for time and place, Lazy Bear is an ode to California where guests dine in concert with the season and can explore diverse wines, including an impressive collection of older California vintages.
