Le Piane Boca 2010
ITALY
Regular price $79.99
Le Piane 2010 Boca
$79.99
95 Vinous
Le Piane's 2010 Boca is once again striking. Translucent yet deep and wonderfully expressive the Boca shows just how expressive Nebbiolo and Vespolina can be here. Sweet red cherry, spice, tobacco and mint gradually blossom in a super-finessed yet deep wine with class and pedigree to burn. Tasted next to the 2011, the 2010 is quite a bit more reticent and in need of time in bottle. The classically austere style will hold considerable appeal to traditionalists. Over the last few months, the 2010 has developed nicely, but it still needs time. What a gorgeous wine it is. (2016 - no doubt even better now in 2022!-TK)
Le Piane’s Boca usually consists of about 85% Nebbiolo with 15% Vespolina. Vespolina produces low yields, but gives the wine a distinct aromatic signature with bright notes of spice and dried rose hip. It also adds textural volume to the wines. The Nebbiolo grape, on the other hand, is responsible for the wine’s razor-sharp focus, energy and structure.
At the top of their game, these wines compete with Barolo and Barbaresco in terms of elegance, territorial typicity and longevity. These are some of Piedmont’s most expressive, soulful wines.
The Boca appellation in the province of Novara makes wines that are 70% to 90% Nebbiolo, also known as Spanna in this part of Piedmont. Two other indigenous grapes, Vespolina and Uva Rara, can represent up to 30% of a Boca blend. The wines see 34 months of aging, 18 of which must be in oak. A Boca Riserva must age for 46 months (with 24 months in oak).
One producer looms largest and is almost exclusively responsible for the under-the-radar cult following Boca enjoys today. That producer is Le Piane, run by a Swiss-born vintner named Christoph Künzli. The estate was founded by Antonio Cerri, an old-school artisan who created the blueprint for these exciting and eccentric wines, thanks to his sheer passion and determination.
The magic of Le Piane is that the singular vision of one vintner happened to perfectly align with the vintner who would follow. Both men, Antonio Cerri and Christoph Künzli, operate on a seamless continuum of style, approach and execution. To understand Boca, you must start with Le Piane.
Christoph Künzli and his enologist friend Alexander Trolf acquired Le Piane from the 80-year-old Cerri in 1998. The Piedmont-born Chianti Classico winemaker Paolo De Marchi of Isole e Olena introduced his friend Christoph Künzli to the Boca appellation and to Le Piane. That friendship inspired Christoph Künzli to pursue and safeguard the Boca wine identity.