Carema Classico 2016

The 2016 Carema Classico is a wine of unreal beauty. Orange peel, spice, star anise, sweet pipe tobacco, rose petal, mint and Alpine herbs are some of the many aromas that lift from the glass. Translucent and gracious, with tons of character, the 2016 is all class. Readers who want to understand what Nebbiolo in Carema is all about will want to check out the 2016. It is a stunning, hauntingly beautiful wine. The 2016 spent two years in neutral oak casks.

-- Antonio Galloni

93/100

Antonio Galloni

Carema Riserva 2016

The 2016 Carema Riserva is another knock-out effort from the Produttori di Carema, the local cooperative that has really been on fire these last few vintages. Open-knit and inviting, but with all the complexity that is so typical of the appellation, the 2016 is superb. Crushed flowers, mint, sweet tobacco, cedar and licorice are all woven together in a super-expressive Carema that offers tons of complexity in a relatively accessible style for a young wine from the appellation. The Riserva is a selection of the best casks in the cellar, with the wine aged for an added year in cask, so three years’ in neutral oak in total. That extra year in oak vis-à-vis the Classico does take with it some of the fruit while emphasizing more savory and mineral qualities. Power and finesse come together so well in this textbook Carema.

-- Antonio Galloni

95/100

Antonio Galloni

Carema Selezione 2015

The 2015 Carema Selezione is a new wine in this range, and was made to celebrate the winery’s 60th anniversary. It is a bit riper and racier than most of the Produttori’s wines, but in this appellation, that is not necessarily a bad thing, as it does mean the wines can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, hard candy, mint, rose petal and orange peel are all finely knit in a Carema that offers an intriguing mix of classic structure, bright acids and exotic red fruit character. The Selezione spent two years in cask followed by a third year in neutral French oak barriques. The French oak adds a bit of sweetness and texture, but is very nicely integrated.

-- Antonio Galloni

94/100

Antonio Galloni