An Evening with a Piedmontese Master

Due to the combined efforts of Warren Shon, Executive Vice President of Southern Wine and Spirits of Hawaii and Vino Italian Tapas and Wine Bar, we were treated to an evening with Alfio Cavallotto and six of his exquisite wines. For those not familiar with the Cavallotto label, they are a small 5th generation family that didn’t start producing wines until the 1930s. Up until then, they simply grew those fabulous Nebbiolo grapes for the large Barolo houses until Giuseppe and Marcello Cavallotto decided to vinify their own produce with their own label. This tradition was carried on by Livio and Guido Cavallotto up to the current generation of Guiseppe, Alfio and Laura Cavallotto.

What makes a Cavallotto wine noteworthy? The Cavallottos have never tried to make wines outside of the usual Piedmont comfort zone – namely Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto based wines. They do make an exquisite white Pinot Noir (Langhe Bianco) on a recently acquired property that rivals any Premier Cru white Burgundy but that’s the exception, not the norm. They also have never tried to please the major Western wine publications so you won’t find 95 point scores with their wines. What you will find is rustic, balanced authentic Barolo, Barbera and Dolcetto wines that are great with food and in the case of their Barolos, exquisite on their own after a dozen or so years of aging. With hints of truffles, leather, pebble and spice on the nose with dried cherry and silky tannins and a very long finish.




Langhe Bianco 2005
Sadly, Nunzio Alioto took the total U.S. allocation. A white Pinot Noir with mineral and dried lemon peel on the nose and an almost oily palate of dried citrus peel with good acid.

Dolcetto d’Alba Vigna Scot 2005
Pebble and dried red fruit on the nose with a light body and short finish but made for food.

Barbera d’Alba Bricco Boschis Vigna del Cuculo 2005
Subdued dried red fruit on the nose with concentrated ripe red fruit and good acid with a long finish.

Nebbiolo Langhe 2004
Subdued red cherry on the nose with ripe red cherry, mineral and good acid on the palate with a moderate finish.

Barolo Bricco Boschis 2000
Sour cherry, pebble and a touch of tar on the nose with a balanced palate of red fruit and chewy tannins and a long finish.

Barolo Riserva Vignolo 2000A very tight nose with hints of red cherry, leather and pebble. More Parkeresque on the palate with very concentrated red fruit, a touch of mineral and a very long finish.