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What We Say 2004 Boca DOC Nebbiolo Blend
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Mission Codename: The Rarest of the Romans
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Visit the historic Boca DOC in Italy’s Piedmont and secure an exclusive allocation of wine from this very special region.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Cantine del Castello di Conti
Wine Subject: 2004 Boca DOC Nebbiolo Blend
Winemakers: Paola, Anna and Elena Conti
Backgrounder: The wines of Boca DOC, located in the Novara Hills (just north of Gattinara) of the Piedmont, are predominantly Nebbiolo based with the addition of Vespolina and sometimes Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese). The region located to the north and west of Milan and just across the river from Gattinara. In addition to Nebbiolo, the local grapes of Vespolina and Bonarda may be used in the wines.
Today’s wine is 70% of Nebbiolo, 25% of Vespolina, 5% of Uva Rara and was aged for 36 months in oak and then an additional aging in the bottle. Organic ad Bio-Dynamically produced.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Brilliantly clear ruby red in its core with a touch of purple to add density. Along the edges this wine’s patina lightens slightly and includes hints of brick and orange. When swirled, fast thin legs quickly ring the glass and are followed by slow and tightly spaced tears that descend at varying speeds.
Smell – Spiced and herbal red fruit leads the way with bright notes of red cherry and zesty black licorice. Hints of violets mature toasted oak and earthy undertones adds depth and complexity.
Feel – Bright and spicy on the initial attack, this warm medium-to-full bodied dry wine has highly textured firm but finely grained tannins that quickly coat the palate. Vibrant acidity and characteristic etch minerality holds on to the red fruit tightly as the other complex flavors linger.
Taste – Sweet and ripe red fruit including red cherry, tart raspberry and other ripe and tart berries blend with a touch of citrus. Spice and a touch of pepper, black licorice and green herbs follow in succession and are supported by a zesty mineral and tar component, floral violets and toasted oak.
Finish – Extremely long and warm with the textured tannins, acidity and minerality lasting and lasting as hints of the red fruit and other complex flavors slowly fade.
Conclusion – The 2004 Conti Boca DOC Nebbiolo Blend is quite a remarkable wine with all the character you’d expect from Nebbiolo in its adolescence but the addition of Vespolina and Bonarda Novarese providing notes of sweetness and warmth that balances the fantastic etched mouth feel. Even at eight years old, this wine is youthful and will cellar for ten to fifteen years, so if enjoying this wine now, be sure to let it open up or decant it. Pair with classic Piedmontese cuisine, creamy risottos and anything with truffles.
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The approximate location of the Boca DOC can be seen in this <A HREF=”https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Boca,Piedmont,Italy&hl=en&sll=26.402587,-80.07663&sspn=0.100095,0.130806&oq=boca,+piedmont+italy&t=h&hnear=Boca+Novara,Piedmont,Italy&z=13" TARGET="NEW">satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Cantine del Castello di Conti
About This Wine:
The Boca, a historical DOC created in the 1969, is a fine wine of the tradition of Novara’s Hills. It born from the mix of three kind of grape: 70% of Nebbiolo, 25% of Vespolina, 5% of Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese).
It is a grape variety that needs to be aged and We decided to age it more than the 3 years established by the law. It is a tannic wine, rich of mineral salts, its color goes from ruby-red to brilliant garnet-red; warm and dry in mouth, it is a full-bodied wine agreeably acid that underlines the presence of tannin with the tendency to sweetness, an invite to taste it, leaving a clean mouth. The total acidity is less than 6 per 1000 and this is the “real secret ingredient” that makes, between the red aged italian wines, Boca one of the most drinkable.
About The Winery:
All passion is an enchantment. Novalis
We are a family in love with his own land, We live with passion our work, keeping “a growing” cultural heritage. This heritage has a huge value and it is told by our wine: the Boca DOC.
The Cantine del Castello born in the 1963 by dad Ermanno, in Maggiora (near the city of Novara, in Piedmont region, North Italy), maintaining the tradition of his forefathers of making wine but with the innovative idea choosing a wine as the Boca.
With his persistence and passion, Ermanno never followed any market leanings, defending the choice of making the wine that he always loved to do. In this way he has became the living memory of Boca.
When he had his third daughter, my dad was very sad because he thought that without sons the family tradition would end. But, as usual, life can surprise and since few years and after different paths, my sisters and I are at the head of the family company, keeping alive the dream that our parents had create in fifty years of hard work and sacrifice.
The Winery: It is the heart of the castle. Here is produced our wine and here take place all the process that are involved during the creation of our wine until the sale. In its generous spaces, beyond the typical activity of aging and bottling, there are the places for wine tasting and sale. In the show floor, where We alternate different art exhibitions, it is possible to organize vertical wine tasting of Boca DOC since vintage of 1984 . All our wines are purchasable by mail from most of the foreign countries.
Technical Analysis:
Varietals: 70% of Nebbiolo, 25% of Vespolina, 5% of Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese).
Region: Boca DOC
Alcohol: 12.5%
