Get 10% off the purchase price with every order of 12 bottles or more of still wine not already on sale. The savings add up!
Candela Prol, highly experienced certified wine educator and friend of the shop, is available for tastings and training for private and corporate events. For rates and other inquiries, please contact her at candelaprol@gmail.com .
*Offsite events are contracted to and coordinated by a 3rd party, and are in no way affiliated with Chambers Street Wines.
Gianni Canonica is one of my wine heroes. He makes uncompromising, great wine in every vintage, and he seems happy in his work, taking a calm and harmonious view of the swirling world around him. His wines have been discovered – fundamentally because of their quality, but also because some key Italian tastemakers have a better understanding and feeling for naturally made, traditional-style wines than in the past. Given the craze for G. Rinaldi, B. Mascarello, Accomasso, etc, it makes sense that another natural wine Barolista would find a ready market. If there’s a problem, it’s that Canonica has a tiny amount of land and his production is a fraction of the others; I live in anxious anticipation of a super-high score, which, à la Burlotto Monvigliero 2013, might finally spoil the party for all of us. Meanwhile, Gianni continues to make transparent wines of exceptional purity.
I am a big fan of 2013 Barolo in general – my favorite wines have balance and cut that reminds me most of, dare I say it, 1989. Instead of visiting with Canonica, at the last minute I had to make a Solomonic decision, and I went to meet the local collector with a large cellar that might be for sale. I was very sorry to miss what my friends reported to be an outstanding visit: “One of the best ever,” said Gregory Dal Piaz, with whom I have tasted at Gianni’s for at least 8 years running. We’ll see if the cellar of old wine ever bears fruit. For now we are grateful to Gregory for sharing his notes, which you can read below; now that the wines arrived we will add our own soon. Jamie Wolff
Canonica, Giovanni 2013 Barolo Grinzane Cavour - Limit 1 Per Customer, Please!
50 year old vines with a good percentage of Rose [the clone of Nebbiolo]. Delicate, earthy and fairly light on the nose, with a gentle intensity to the ferrous mineral base notes. Light bodied, very pretty and long in the mouth, with an open, delicate character. There's a real depth to the fruit on the palate, slightly dusty, red-toned, with hints of rosehips, though this is a bit short today revealing only a lingering licorice note on the finale. Gregory Dal Piaz
Canonica, Giovanni 2013 Barolo Paiagallo
Wow, this is performing at another level entirely [from the Barolo Grinzane], with lots of camphor, and real intensity to the earthy underlay and herb-framed cherry fruit. Bright, juicy, and showing lovely purity in the mouth, this is vibrant and nervous with dusty ripe tannins. This is delicious, the tannins have a little herbal note that lends freshness. There’s a slight natural feel to this, but with such purity and persistence to the fruit. Gregory Dal Piaz