Reviews

Second year of presence in the Guide for this brilliant Roero company.

This is not just a confirmation, but a constant growth that we will certainly comment on in the next editions. For this year, we would like to point out the goodness of all the wines on offer, starting from a fragrant rosé made from Nebbiolo grapes, to the most famous Arneis and Roero. Common denominators are elegance, the extreme definition of all gustatory sensations and a satisfying drink that testifies the wise interpretation of the territory. Savij 2015 deserves special mention, an Arneis vinified exclusively in steel, presented three years after the harvest, which tells of the evolutionary potential of a wine too often drunk only when young. A courageous but perfectly appropriate choice: good!

Roero 2016: ruby ​​red begins to turn into garnet, balsamic incipit and freshly picked flowers, the progression tells of cut grass, undergrowth, mushrooms, tea leaves, yellow peach, currant and wild strawberry. It surprises by alternating serious and dark sensations with other sweeter and welcoming ones. The tasting reveals it fresh and with a tasty savory streak. The tannin is already balanced and elegant and invites re-tasting. It ferments in 10Hl barrels, where it ages for a year, and then ages in the bottle for the same time. Roasted lamb with potatoes.

Roero Arneis Savij 2015: Bright straw color. Fine and soft nose, played on flint, chalk, citrus fruits, yellow fruit and graceful vegetable touches: a corner of Loire in Piedmont. The sip is surprising for its freshness and flavor, rich in substance and decidedly persistent. A very successful interpretation. Already excellent but with great evolutionary potential. First vintage produced, from vineyards of just over ten years. It rests on the lees for 11 months in steel and ages in the bottle for a long time.

Roero Arneis 2018: Classic straw yellow. Initially almost atypical with notes of dried fruit, pastry, cream, balsamic touches, over time even the most orthodox acacia and hawthorn, asparagus, nettle, white peach and mirabelle arrive. The sip is fresh, savory and tasty, with good persistence and a bitter finish. From very young vineyards. It rest in steel for 7 months, 4 of which on the lees. Risotto with scampi.

Young and motivated, open to comparison and with a vision that goes beyond his own reality, Andrea Careglio is one of those producers who bode well for a rosy future in the area. He took over the reins of the company in 2008, making it grow in small and thoughtful steps, especially in the quality of the wines, faithful representatives of this area. The new and functional cellar was also completed, a few steps away from the old one, which is now too small.
Andrea has a precise and reliable winemaking style, linear and without unnecessary frills, which leaves ample room for the expression of the vineyard . Once again among the best in the area the Roero Arneis 2018, typical and balanced on all fronts: aromas, freshness, structure and ease of drinking. Excellent test for the new Roero Arneis Savij 2015, aged for a long time on the lees and then in the bottle: a very refined and elegant expression, almost youthful in the floral traits. Tasty and fragrant the Langhe Nebbiolo 2017 aged only in steel tanks: it expresses the most classic fruit of the Roero with floral hints and wet earth. The Roero 2016 at the time of our tasting still needed time to fully unfold, but the solid tannic matrix and a harmonious juicy component promise well.

It is a small family-run business founded in 1986 by Pierangelo Careglio and since a few years the young son Andrea took over full management. There are 8 hectares of vineyards, of which 6.3 registered in the denomination, divided between 4.6 hectares planted in Arneis and 1.7 planted in Nebbiolo, all within the municipal area.

Wines with a strong territorial character and remarkable technical precision are obtained. Roero Arneis Savij 2015 [94 points] : with Arneis grapes. Refined in steel for 10 months. Brilliant straw yellow. In the foreground flint stone followed by notes of aromatic herbs and white fruit. The structure is full, but vibrant and tasty. The finish is dynamic and very salty.  Roero 2015 [92 points]: from Nebbiolo grapes. It ages for 6 months in steel and 12 in large barrels. Brilliant ruby. The scents are inviting with dried flowers and licorice. The structure is composed, agile but tonic with juicy tannins and a fresh and progressive finish.

It is always a pleasure to return to visit the company of Pierangelo and Andrea Careglio, the only one reality to overlook the Baldissero d’Alba area. Andrea, the latest generation, welcomes us: young and dynamic, he is on the front line of the activities of the Roero Consortium, he already demonstrates an unexpected solidity in terms of ideas and production capacity. If the Roero is crossed by a breath of freshness today, the merit is also his.

The wines are always good and convincing, clean, easy to drink and the prices affordable. We start with the Gramplin 2017, a rosé from Nebbiolo grapes made with a very happy hand: slender and  savory. A wine to be loved, and we want to give it importance. The Langhe Favorita 2017 also convinced us, with an awesome saline minerality, which gives it great strength. Then the symbol wines: Roero Arneis 2017presents typical notes of white fruit and a concentrated drink and sapid. The 2015 Roero, very fragrant fruit and flowers, has a compact and fairly horizontal palate.

Typical in primary fragrances is the Barbera d’Alba 2016, with the right acid tension and juice. The Langhe Nebbiolo 2016 is delicate.

Roero Arneis’ 17 is really well made, with a nice grit and tension, with notes of yellow fruit, pleasant and easy to drink. On the same level we found Barbera d’Alba ’16, with hints of red fruits, fullness and pleasantness. The Langhe Favorita ’17 is correct and immediate.

“In the words and gestures of Andrea Careglio, thirty-one year old jumped at the helm of this small but firm family company, there is all the safety of those who have a definite vision of their future: in a place less know of the Roero, the Careglio are demonstrating , harvest after harvest, that there is space to grow and make great wines from native vines, and, at the same time, to spend in an ‘intelligent promotion of the territory.
We were impressed by the frankness, the precision and the typicality of the battery of tasted wines.
Floral and slightly mineral, the Langhe Favorita also has a beautiful acidity.
Beautiful version for this Roero Arnies 2016, which is expressed on citrus, flower and saltiness; on the palate has lengthness and an enthralling drinkability.
Equally successful was the Gramplin 2016 RosÈ Wine, a fixed nail to which the Careglio’s rightly wanted to give space.
Sharp in fruity aromas, the Barbera d’Alba 2015 is fresh and flowing.
Even the Langhe Nebbiolo is agile and elegant.
Finally, Roero 2014: it shows up with scents of fragrant and pleasant berries, to continue on the palate with dynamism, ripe tannins and a slender final.”

From the well-tended property vineyards, located on sandy and sandstone soil at high-altitude called “Bric”,it born an excellent Roero Docg is perfumed with rose, violet and orange peel. A powerful wine with tannins that are still important, consistent, fresh and dry in its long finish.

Good also the Langhe Nebbiolo, with fresh and floral wisteria lucerne, and a Favorita typical and fruity, with a sapid and soft mouth. Very pleasant the Roero Arneis, fresh and with citrus and mineral aromas.

This small family business founded in 1986 cultivates the vines typical of the Roero area: Arneis, Barbera, Favorita and Nebbiolo in its 8 hectares of vineyards and offers a range of excellent quality wines.

This year we especially liked the 2013 Roero, one of the best of the typology, thanks to the aromas of small red fruits, incense and wet earth with spicy nuances, while on the palate, even if the tannins are still a bit aggressive, it is long and pulpy, rich in fruit and savory.

Az. Agr. Careglio Pierangelo: Andrea and his father, Pierangelo, make the wine at this small winery established in 1986. They have 8 Ha of organically cultivated vines, including 4,6 Ha of Arneis, and a total production of about 30 thousand bottles. The vineyards have a predominantly southern exposure. Careglio puts the focus on traditional winemaking with no skin contact for the Arneis. This is the only producer in Baldissero d’Alba.
CAREGLIO Roero Arneis 2015 90 points: A mineral-driven Arneis with substantial breadth on the palate, showing aromas and flavors of orchard fruit. Quite delicious with a rich, full palate and good extract with a chalky finish. A blend of fruit of different vineyards, most with a southerly exposure.
CAREGLIO Roero 2013 90 points: the Careglio Roero offers aromas of fresh red berries, cherry, plum, and underbrush. It’s soft on the attack with a silky texture and fine, dry tannins. The wine is a blend of two different vineyards in Baldissero d’Alba. Aged in 10 Hl oak casks.

“Andrea Careglio is the young winemaker at the helm of this beautiful family that we could see it grow a lot in the last years in terms of quality. Andrea, born in 1986, has always given his contribution on the company, and since 2008 he has been doing it full-time. In addition to the commitment between their own four walls, we like to remember his efforts for the promotion of the territory. Currently it is councilor of the Consorzio vini del Roero. Is planned the construction of a new cellar.
Andrea focuses on the classic vines of the territory, vinified in a traditional way and without overwhelming technical interventions.
The Roero Arneis 2015 has structure and softness, it closes fresh and savory.
The Langhe Favorita 2015 is more simple, linear and graceful. About the red wines,
it stand out the red Roero 2013, refined in barrels of 10 hectoliters: broad, clear and very “roerino” about the aromas of ripe red fruit, is structured but agile on the palate, with tannins that emerges in the closing. Also the Langhe Nebbiolo 2014 exhibits a recognizable territorial stamp, but the aromas are more youthful and the palate is very slender, with solid tannic grip. The fresh vintage gave Barbera 2014 less pulpy than usual.”

Pierangelo Careglio founded this small company in 1986 and today, together with his son Andrea, he proposes a series of wines of good quality and typicality.
Their Roero Arneis 2014 is one of the best we have tasted of this difficult vintage.

The nose is complex, with floral aromas of broom and iodine tones in the background, while at the palate is simpler and smoother, but still savory, with good fruit and freshness.

“The only producer of Baldissero d’Alba, Andrea always surprises us. His skills and his active enthusiasm in the local Consorzio roerino are positive signs of a growing territory. A small production at the sign of quality, with wines always clean and traditional. Even the average exit prices of its bottles are definitely honest, being able to boast a not indifferent quality.
Andrea looks for typicality and freshness in his wines through traditional vinifications and classic fermentations. The Langhe Favorita 2014 is exemplary in this sense, with an extraordinary drinkability and fruity. The Roero Arneis 2014 is persistent and with a finish of white pulp fruit. the rosè Gramplin 2014 plays on the freshness combined with the acidity of the grapes . Floral notes and fine tannins for the Langhe Nebbiolo 2014. Roero 2012 (“VINO SLOW”) it is certainly not a example of power, but has elegance and finesse of record. One of the best tasting of the denomination. A very welcome surprise, with territorial matrix definitely recognizable and enjoyable.”

Wine & ratings:
Roero Careglio 2012
91 Points

CAREGLIO PIERANGELO: Barbera d’Alba 2013 (best buy):
Floreal aromas and fresh berry flavors give this stainless steel-aged Barbera a lively character.
With its tangy acidity and light dusting of dried herb notes, it’s a good match to a bowl of cacio e pepe.

“Andrea, the only producer of Baldissero d’Alba, in the “heart of the heart” of Roero, already has clear ideas on the road to take, despite his young age: traditional vinification, research of the typicality of the vine and wine, promotion of the territory . Andrea is an active part of the new Consortium of Roero wines and makes us look with optimism at the advancing “new era”. Pierangelo supports him.
In the small but clean cellar, Andrea looks for the typicality and finds it in the successful Langhe Favorita 2013, fresh, fruity, one of the best interpretations on the market. Same style – only steel and 3-4 months “sur lie” – with herbaceous notes in evidence for the pleasant Roero Arneis 2013. Very fine, long, with fruity tones and smooth tannins Roero 2011, refined in medium-sized botticelle.
The Langhe Nebbiolo 2013 is interesting, fresh and immediate, with an enthralling drink.

First year for the Rosato Gramplin 2013, a different interpretation of nebbiolo, where the tannin is there but doesn’t compromise the drinkability; it’s a fresh and pleasant wine.”