WTN: LaKiuva Arnad Montjovet '11...(short/boring)

We tried this Sat night at CinqueTerre:
1. LaKiuva SocietaCooperativa Arnad Montjovet Dd'OC: Valle d'Aosta (13%; > 70% Nobbiolo; 100% Spontaneous Fermentation; http://www.LaKiuva.It; Vinlandia/Kittery/ME; http://www.VinLandiaUSA.com) 2011: Med.light color; some earthy/granatic/mineral/stony rather perfumed/strawberries/floral/alpine strawberries quite complex nose; slightly tart some earthy/mineral/granatic quite floral/perfumed/alpine strawberries almost Pinotish-like complex flavor w/ light/smooth/polished tannins; very long/lingering stony/mineral/earthy quite aromatic/alpine strawberries/cherries complex finish w/ smooth/delicate/polished tannins; nor really recognizable as Nebbiolo but shouts the Val d'Aosta terroir; a gorgeous/drinkable unusual rendition of Nebbiolo. $60.00 (CT)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Our last night out in Portland from our week in Maine; a state I'd never visited before. Spectacular scenery. I'd flagged this restaurant as a possibility and we happened to park (finally) just a block North of it. Took one look at the exceptional wine list and the menu and knew that this was our place. We had just 4 different appetizers plus dessert. The Italian food here is every bit as good as you can find in the USofA.
The wine list has a few of the old Italian war-horses on it...but lots of amazing little gems like this Vallee d'Aosta Nebbiolo. Almost went for the Teroldego, but glad I didn't. And they even had a Ribolla from the Veneto, something I'd never seen before. A highly recommended restaurant. Our waiter, Chris, really knew his wines and was eager to share his knowledge with us.
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2. Val d'Aosta: Most of the Nebbiolo up North (other than the Valtelline) is grown in the Alto Piemonte in the Colline Novarese (Gattinara/Gehmme/etc). There is precious Nebbiolo grown in the Val d'Aosta, mostly in the Donnas DOC. This Montjovet is grown in a bit more alpine area near Arnad, maybe 5 miles NW of Donnas. I've never had a Nebbiolo from this area. But I'm going to look for more, now.
When I spotted this on the wine list, it seemed like a real hidden treasure. Nebbiolo from the Val d'Aosta?? Don't see that every day. When I first tried the wine...I was convinced it was PetiteRouge or Tourette or Schiava, not Nebbiolo. But, sure 'nuf, the LaKiuva WebSite asserts it's at leat 70% Nebbiolo. It's a beautiful rendition of Nebbiolo and lacks the schreechy acidity and the aggressive tannins of Piemontese Nebbiolo. It speaks very strongly of Val'dAosta terrior. This is the way they should be makng Nebbiolo in California if they could.
Tom

Hi Tom -

Thank you for the great note - impressive, coming from someone who generally isn't a Nebbiolo lover, as I am. Anyway, I've had this wine before (2007), and liked it when I had it a couple of years ago.

Haven't tried anything from the Donnas coop, as those wines are not distributed around here. I know that Polaner has brought them into to NY, though. Most of the Valle d'Aoste wines that we see here are either from Grosjean (always very reliable in my experience, but no Nebbiolo that I am aware of) and the Institut Agricole Régional d’Aoste (good wines for $20 and less).

Incidentally, Torrette is predominately Petit Rouge (a grape that I happen to like a lot, and should drink more of).

Very good wine, and the Superiore is much better.
I must admit I am stunned about the price you paid, here the normale is about € 7 and the Superiore € 10. They also have a cheaper label, Picotendro, 100% nebbiolo, at € 5-6.
By the way, the little village Arnad is well known for their lardo, seasoned some months in wood and then in glass, exactly like wine!

Very good wine, and the Superiore is much better.
I must admit I am stunned about the price you paid, here the normale is about € 7 and the Superiore € 10. They also have a cheaper label, Picotendro, 100% nebbiolo, at € 5-6.
By the way, the little village Arnad is well known for their lardo, seasoned some months in wood and then in glass, exactly like wine!

Roberto,
The price I paid was the restaurant price. Alas, this is not Italy, so restaurants mark their wines up quite a bit.
In Maine, this would probably retail about $25. Still way above your price, though.
That lardo looks really good. Makes me hungry. I hope to be over there in about a yr, so maybe I can get some
of the real deal in Arnad.
Tom