About this WINE
Cornarea, Piedmont
The Bovone family herald from Ovada where they were wine merchants until Gian Piero Bovone bought the Cornarea estate back in 1974. Having studied oenology, Gian Piero had figured out that reductive winemaking was the key to successful white winemaking and so invested in the single vineyard of 15 hectares overlooking the small town of Canale. He then had the foresight to replant almost the entire hill to the white Arneis grape, culminating, in 1981, with their first single varietal wine.
Drinking Cornarea's medium bodied Arneis one's struck, not just by the fresh acidity (there's no malolactic conversion) but by its wet stone minerality that stylistically sits somewhere between Chablis and Vermentino. And such is the significant (phenol) extract and old vine fruit that this wine should age beautifully, as a tasting of 1983 clearly showed.
The key to Cornarea's high quality white wine Arneis DOCG (in north-west Piedmont in Italy) is the territorio/terroir: 30 million year old Miocene former sea bed soils rich in marine fossils and magnesium. In fact so rich is the soil in magnesium that a couple of doctors from nearby Canale made their fortune selling salt of magnesium, dug up locally, as a remedy during the late 19th century.
But Cornarea aren't just about Arneis, for they also have 3 hectares of Nebbiolo; fruit that Gian Piero's son and oenologist, Gian Nicola, transforms into Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC and Roero DOCG wines - very elegant, feminine styles, laced with silken tannins. A perfect reflection of the flour-like soils and rolling hills.
Arneis
Arneis means "rascal" in Italian, and is so named for its ability to beguile the most patient winemakers. It is a delicate white wine grape that originated (and is still primarily grown) in the Roero hills of Italy's southern Piedmont, just north of Alba ; it thrives in the chalky and sandy soil of this region.
Once nearly extinct, Arneis has made a comeback in recent years. The Arneis de Roero wines received DOC status in 1989 and DOCG in 2006 and production is on the rise, as consumers have come to appreciate its its distinctive apricot and tangerine aromas.
It can produce very good wines with perfumy characteristics of apples, pears, and a hint of licorice. The wines, usually sold as Roero Arneis DOCG.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
This is no-ordinary Arneis! It's a Roero Arneis, meaning it's comes from the left, sandy bank of the river Tanaro, in a DOCG zone noted for the quality of its Arneis fruit. So it should be 'miles-away' from the 'Langhe Arneis' DOC churned out by many other producers from fruit grown almost anywhere (in the Langhe) The differences don't stop there (if you've got a minute): Roero Arneis wine has to be 100% Arneis, while the Langhe version only 85%; and while the yields of Langhe Arneis top 78hl/ha, those of the Roero are at 65hl...and those of Cornarea at 59 hl/ha, sooo all this adds up to a special wine, from the magnesium rich soils overlooking the town of Canale.
Gian Nicola Bovone, the owner/winemaker, whole bunch presses the thick-skinned, naturally low acid fruit (but minerally rich) to ensure the prettiness, smoothest of juices. He and his brother Pier are justly happy with the 2013 vintage, a cooler, later one (20 Sept harvest vs 30 Aug in 2012), for its complete nose, it's limpid (limpet?) and shellfish, white peach and pebbles scented aromas…and to taste it's deliciously lithe, with fluid, citrus sapidity, great detail, a fresh acidity (of 6 grams/litre if you're asking), of peach stone, lime flower fragrance and great elegance. Pouilly-Fume producers should take note!
David Berry Green
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee