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Reviews: Gambero Rosso 2022 and Decanter (January 2022)

 A quick perusal shows that Fabrizio Battaglino has some well-deserved awards in the 2022 edition including for his 2019 Nebbiolo d'Alba 'Paradi', a wine which is coming into its own well now (Due Bicchieri) and the 2020 Roero Arneis 'Bastia', a lovely Arneis with a little more richness than the younger vine 'San Michele' (both also Due Bicchieri, the latter in the 2019 edition). 

Lots of entries too for I Campi, our Veneto superstar estate. This year it has yet another Tre Bicchieri but, for the first time (I think) for the regular Valpolicella Superiore in a vintage I have yet to try. If Covid restrictions are eased in time, it will be on my list of addresses to visit while stocks last! Only (a maximum of) one Tre Bicchieri is awarded per estate each year so the red Due Bicchieri for the Soave Classico "Vulcano' should be regarded as every bit as worthy of the top prize. 

Elsewhere, in Decanter last month, Matt Walls' focus on "other" Northern Rhône areas including Seyssuel (which surely must merit full appellation status putting it on a par with Côte Rôtie), gives Pierre Gaillard's 2019 'Asiaticus' a whopping 94 points describing it as 'All destemmed, aged 18 months in 50% new oak barrels. Displays the roasted spices on the nose that are so characteristic of this cuvée: cardamom, cumin, hot sand. Medium-to-full-bodied, it has presence and concentration on the palate with furry tannins. The oak is present but well integrated - extracted but not overly thick. It's a big style and will age with interest. 13%'. Always good to read such positive reviews of particular favourite wines!

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