2021 Ferrando, Etichetta Bianca, Carema - Magnum

Carema, a tiny appellation at the foothills of the Alps just before you arrive in the Valle d’Aosta, offers a compelling and distinct perspective on the extraordinary Nebbiolo grape. This is a dramatic landscape where the grape shines with an alpine clarity. While Barolo and Barbaresco showcase Nebbiolo's power and density with great fanfare and worldwide acclaim, Carema offers elegance, perfume, and refined structure in relative obscurity – outside of Michelin-starred wine lists and plugged-in enthusiasts, most have never heard of Carema. We’ve championed this tiny appellation for the past 10 years, and it’s terrific to see it evolve and thrive as new growers emerge and put the region on the map. Don't let their elegant, higher-toned nature fool you; these wines are built for the long haul. Their subtle tannic structure and alpine acidity enable them to age and improve gracefully in the cellar. We’ve enjoyed countless Ferrando bottles from the 1970s and 1980s that are as alive and compelling as the finest Barolos and Barbarescos from that era. This profound quality emerges from a minuscule appellation, where only about 15 producers farm 25 hectares. Critically, these sensational, age-worthy Nebbiolo wines remain incredibly accessible. 

The Ferrando family is often cited as the undisputed benchmark producer of Carema, with a winemaking tradition stretching back over a century. Ferrando were the very first wines Neal Rosenthal imported into the US in 1980, 45 years ago. Luigi Ferrando and his sons are guardians of the appellation, known for their meticulous work in the steep, terraced vineyards that sit in the shadow of Mount Blanc. The Etichetta Bianca (White Label) is their flagship wine, celebrated globally for its ethereal complexity, aromatic intensity, and legendary capacity to age gracefully for many decades.