Also by Jeremy Young:The Italy Wine ProjectThe Humidor Project
The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Piedmont

DOCStill huntingNear impossible

Rubino di Cantavenna DOC

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IL PROGETTODOCRUBINO DI CANTAVENNAAAIT56749614Denominazione di Origine Controllata

No strip issued. I'm still hunting a bottle.

A micro-DOC that was once made by the village cooperative in Cantavenna and now survives mainly at Castello di Gabiano. It's a barbera blend softened with grignolino and freisa, aged briefly, with bright ruby color, sour cherry and red plum, a peppery lift and moderate tannin. Lighter and fresher than the neighboring Gabiano DOC and meant for early drinking. One of the smallest denominations in Italy by output.

Still hunting

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If you make Rubino di Cantavenna, import it, or know who does, the form takes two minutes and I reply to every one.

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Bottles I'm chasing

  • Castello di Gabiano

    Rubino di Cantavenna

    Effectively the only bottling of the DOC; barbera with grignolino and freisa, cherry, pepper, soft grip, drink young.

    $18 to $24Wine-Searcher
  • Cantina Sociale del Rubino

    Rubino di Cantavenna

    The historic cooperative that created the DOC; only old vintages turn up at Italian auction sites, listed here for the record.

    Price unknownWine-Searcher