Happening Now Tasting 33: La Crotta Di Vegneron Pinot Noir 2013, Vallée d'Aoste

For my thirty-third „Happening Now Tasting“ I have arbitrarily chosen another northern Italian Pinot Noir! Actually, for some inexplicable reasons I only taste Italian Pinots in my trusted Happening Now mode! Anyway, this time I am going for one with a considerable amount of presumed „Joie de vivre“. Hence, it has to come from Vallée d'Aoste. As you can imagine in such a mountainous Alpine terrain like in Aosta there isn't too much space for stuff like viticulture. On a mere (and wildly scattered) surface of approximately 250 hectares French(/Swiss) varieties like Pinot Noir, Gamay, Petite Arvine, Chardonnay and autochtonous Petite Rouge are calling the shots. Today's Pinot Noir 2013 was produced by the cooperative society La Crotta di Vegneron in Chambave. The grapes were cultivated on a wide range of vineyards situated between 450 and 650 meters above sea-level. The predominant type of soil are morainic and loosly sandy solis with medium speep slops. After harvest in the middle of September 2013 the grapes underwent a pre-fermentative cold maceration for 24 hours and were subsequently fermented for approximately 10 days in stainless steel. The aging time, as well in stainless steel, took another 8 months. So I am rather positive to assume: this one will be a crisp, fruitful and easy drinking Pinot!? Well, we'll see! Right now ...

Happening Now Tasting 13: La Crotta di Vegneron Chambave Supérieur Quatre Vignobles 2010, Vallée d’Aoste

In preparation for a forthcoming blind Italian-Vino-Guessing-Game next Friday I'd like to strengthen my general palatal (and of course visual as well as nasal) abilities with a Happening Now Tasting of a red blend wine from a pretty much unknown and for my palate totally uncharted territory! I suppose this wine would have been far too viciously mean as a participant in a blind tasting after all! Or who has ever heard of Chambave Rosso or Petit Rouge? Today, for a change, I am totally honest! Me - NEVER ever! Anyway ..., for a simpleton like me this stuff sounds awfully French, doesn't it?! What is it then? Well, in short: this Chambave Supérieur Quatre Vignobles from 2010 comes from the partly French speaking Vallée d’Aoste in the very North-West of Italy. Its producer La Crotta di Vegneron is probably the most famous cooperative winery in the valley. At least to my limited knowledge. The main raw material, about 70%, for this wine is the very late ripening small and "dusty" coloured Petit Rouge. An autochthonous grape varietal from Vallée d’Aoste. The other 30% is a wild assortment of other local varietals like Pinot Noir, Gamay, Cornalin, Fumin etc. There is probably more information to find about this wine! But I am too lazy right now! I am thirsty! Now it is time for some decent Chambave …