Tre Bicchieri 2019 Previews. Piedmont’s best wines

After 51 Nebbiolos were awarded Tre Bicchieri in the 2018 edition of Italian Wines (just over 66% of the wines recognized that year), 2019 saw a slight dip. This year 43 Nebbiolos (58%) earned our highest honors, a good number considering that 2014 was a tough year for Barolo. Rather than being indicative of Nebbiolo’s waning importance, however, it’s a sign of Piedmont’s overall vitality, foremost when it comes to Langhe, an area that’s enjoying international attention. But one thing is for sure, both in terms of wine-growing and tourism, Piedmont is on the march. There are a number of points worth considering here. For example, it’s interesting how the region is reasserting its role as Metodo Classico’s birthland. For too long the name ‘Alta Langa’ hasn’t received enough visibility, but today, finally, the work of promotion has begun, bringing together under a single brand the best of southern Piedmont’s classic sparkling wines. For the first time some four cuvées took home Tre Bicchieri (only one displays ‘Alta Langa’ on the label, but the others will soon too). It’s also worth noting the lovely overall performance put in by northern Piedmont, with a Canavese white (Erbaluce di Caluso) and six Nebbiolos (two Gattinaras, two Ghemmes, a Fara and a Coste della Sesia Nebbiolo) all earning top marks. Among the reds awarded, we see more readily enjoyable wines consolidating their presence, like Antoniotti’s 2015 Nebbiolo, which stole the crown from the producer’s more well-known 2014 Bramaterra. Another consideration is the splendid performance of the region’s most planted cultivar, Barbera. Thanks to a trio of good years (with 2015 and 2017 proving particularly hot and dry) the grape served as the basis for 12 Tre Bicchieri, from Albese to Casalese and the subzone of Nizza Monferrato. And two 2017 Barberas stand out, Coppo’s Avvocata and Pico Maccario’s Lavignone, which beat out their respective producers’ more well-known offerings. Finally, hats off to the eight neophytes that earned our highest honors for the first time: Negretti, Facchino, Roberto Ferraris, Isolabella della Croce, ColomboCascina Pastori, Boniperti, Ioppa and La Raia. And Piedmont also earned our award for the ‘Sweet of the Year’ thanks to La Bella Estate di Vite Colte’s Moscato Passito.

Alta Langa Zero Ris. ’12 - Enrico Serafino

Barbaresco Albesani ’14 - Cantina del Pino

Barbaresco Albesani Santo Stefano Ris. ’13 - Castello di Neive

Barbaresco Asili ’15 - Ca’ del Baio

Barbaresco Asili ’15 - Ceretto

Barbaresco Asili Ris. ’13 - Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Asili V. Viti ’13 - Roagna

Barbaresco Camp Gros Martinenga Ris. ’13 - Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy

Barbaresco Cottà ’15 - Sottimano

Barbaresco Currà Ris. ’12 - Bruno Rocca

Barbaresco Montaribaldi ’14 - Fiorenzo Nada

Barbaresco Montefico ’15 - Carlo Giacosa

Barbaresco Pajoré ’15 - Bel Colle

Barbaresco Rabajà ’15 - Giuseppe Cortese

Barbaresco Sorì Tildin ’15 - Gaja

Barbera d’Alba Vittoria ’15 - Gianfranco Alessandria

Barbera d’Asti L’Avvocata ’17 - Coppo

Barbera d’Asti Lavignone ’17 - Pico Maccario

Barbera d’Asti Nuda ’15 - Montalbera

Barbera d’Asti Sup. V. La Mandorla ’16 - Luigi Spertino

Barbera del M.to ’16 - F.lli Facchino

Barbera del M.to Sup. Bricco Battista ’15 - Giulio Accornero e Figli

Barbera del M.to Sup. Le Cave ’16 - Castello di Uviglie

Barolo Bricco Ambrogio ’14 - Negretti

Barolo Bussia 90 Dì Ris. ’12 - Giacomo Fenocchio

Barolo Bussia V. Mondoca Ris. ’12 - Poderi e Cantine Oddero

Barolo Cannubi ’14 - Marchesi di Barolo

Barolo Cerretta ’14 - Giacomo Conterno

Barolo del Comune di La Morra ’14 - Brandini

Barolo Falletto V. Le Rocche Ris. ’12 - Bruno Giacosa

Barolo Ginestra Ris. ’11 - Cascina Chicco

Barolo Ginestra Ris. ’10 - Paolo Conterno

Barolo Lazzarito Ris. ’12 - Ettore Germano

Barolo Monprivato ’13 - Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio

Barolo Monvigliero ’14 - F.lli Alessandria

Barolo Novantesimo Ris. ’11 - Paolo Scavino

Barolo Rapet ’14 - Ca’ Rome’

Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice ’13 - Elvio Cogno

Barolo Ris. ’11 - Giacomo Borgogno & Figli

Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata ’14 - Renato Corino

Barolo Rocche di Castiglione ’14 - Vietti

Barolo Sottocastello di Novello ’13 - Ca’ Viola

Barolo Vigna Rionda Ester Canale Rosso ’14 - Giovanni Rosso

Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Il Montino ’16 - La Colombera

Coste della Sesia Nebbiolo ’15 - Odilio Antoniotti

Derthona Sterpi ’16 - Vigneti Massa

Dogliani Papà Celso ’17 - Abbona

Dolcetto di Ovada ’16 - Tacchino

Erbaluce di Caluso 13 Mesi ’16 - Benito Favaro

Fara Bartön ’15 - Gilberto Boniperti

Gattinara Osso San Grato ’14 - Antoniolo

Gattinara Ris. ’13 - Giancarlo Travaglini

Gavi del Comune di Gavi Minaia ’17 - Nicola Bergaglio

Gavi V. della Madonnina Ris. ’16 - La Raia

Ghemme ’13 - Torraccia del Piantavigna

Ghemme Balsina ’13 - Ioppa

Giuseppe Galliano Brut Nature M. Cl. ’13 - Borgo Maragliano

Grignolino del M.to Casalese ’17 - Tenuta Tenaglia

Langhe Rosso Giàrborina ’16 - Elio Altare

Marcalberto Extra Brut Millesimo2Mila13 M. Cl. ’13 - Marcalberto

Millesimato Pas Dosé M. Cl. ’13 - Contratto

Moscato d’Asti Canelli Ciombo ’17 - Tenuta Il Falchetto

Moscato d’Asti Casa di Bianca ’17 - Gianni Doglia

Nizza ’15 - Tenuta Olim Bauda

Nizza Augusta ’14 - Isolabella della Croce

Nizza La Court Ris. ’15 - Michele Chiarlo

Nizza Liberta ’15 - Roberto Ferraris

Ovada Convivio ’16 - Gaggino

Piemonte Moscato Passito La Bella Estate ’16 - Vite Colte

Piemonte Pinot Nero Apertura ’15 - Colombo-Cascina Pastori

Roero Arneis Cecu d’la Biunda ’17 - Monchiero Carbone

Roero Arneis Sarun ’17 - Stefanino Costa

Roero Ròche d’Ampsèj Ris. ’14 - Matteo Correggia

Roero Valmaggiore V. Audinaggio ’16 - Cascina Ca’ Rossa