Petterino Gattinara Riserva (Yellow Label) 2013

Petterino owns just 2½ hectares of vineyards amongst just seven parcels, but the location of each parcel is what helps set this tiny winery apart. At this tiny little boutique winery, home to some of the absolute top parcels of Gattinara’s top cru vineyards, is where some of the best Nebbiolo is made. Anywhere.

With such miniscule amounts of wine produced each year, this micro-winery can’t afford to have these precious bottles snatched up and consumed too early. There’s no marketing department and no expert reviews. They rely completely on their reputation among an exclusive group of some of the world’s foremost tastemakers.

It’s a luxury that most winery’s can’t afford– but when your wine is exceptional enough that it easily rolls its way into Thomas Keller’s Michelin-starred NYC hotspot upon (belated) release, and never has to rely on expert reviews, you get to play by a wholly separate set of rules.

The aromatics here are so intense and noteworthy, that I was reluctant to even take a sip. Of course, I eventually relented. This wine is all class and harmony and I imagine more universally appealing than most cru Barolo. Despite the decade of age, this bottle has another decade ahead of it.