The Grace of Mountain Nebbiolo
2007 Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca
"When I am asked which wine would I choose were I to be restricted to a single one, my answer is: Carema." -Neal Rosenthal
Carema is the product of backbreaking work on steep, terraced slopes in the margins of where grapes can properly ripen in the northern hemisphere.
The Rosenthal quote, above, really says something - this is a man, after all, who has Fourrier's Griotte at his fingertips.
But there's no denying that Ferrando's Carema is luminous, captivating, unique, something to cherish.
There is something very special about this wine. Carema is a rather small, unknown appellation in the northern haunts of the Piedmont, yet every year, this is one of our most popular wines. Ferrando's Carema has become in a way a cornerstone of the store, right there with the likes of Lafarge, Mugneret-Gibourg, Raveneau, Schäfer-Fröhlich, Mascarello's Monprivato, to name but a few examples.
It is a wine we support every year because, well, every year it has something beautiful to say.
There's an admirable consistency in Ferrando's Carema, each vintage offering that signature vivacity and finesse with such detail. As for 2007, it's particularly vibrant and richer than some of its predecessors while maintaining the structure that allows the wines to age.
It leads with that brightness and energy that runs into pure, precise flavors: cinnamon-touched dark cherry fruits, sweet herbs like mint and tarragon, irises, violets and a smokiness, all of it offering a subtle grace and complexity that's hard to tire of.
In a world where so many wines boast brawn and directness, the grace and agility of Ferrando's white label can be outright beguiling in the way it quietly invites you to engage its complexities.
Today we offer the 2007 release at $34.95 a bottle, down to $31.91 a bottle on today's three-pack.
Experience has shown that these combinations of alpine briskness and approachable yet firm tannins - plus the persistent perfume of the Nebbiolo grape - lend Ferrando Carema 10 years, no problem. Nebbiolo ages long and gracefully, and there are many tales of outstanding bottles of Ferrando white label at 15 and even 20+ years old. At under $100 a three-pack, there is likely no better value for a Nebbiolo with which to fill your cellar.
Judging by the cult following that has begun to gather around this wine, many share Neal Rosenthal's (and our) enthusiasm for it. Each new release is eagerly anticipated, and every year we sell out more and more quickly, fielding calls through the rest of the year from people who want to get their hands on more. We urge you to order now if you have any interest in the 07.
To order, please email us at offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
2007 Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca
