2017 Aeris Centennial Mountain Vineyard Bricco Rosso [WA91-94][V93][JD92][JG92]

Producer: Rhys Vineyards  
Region: California 
Blend: 50% Nebbiolo, 15% Nerello Mascalese, 15% Nerello Capuccio (Carignane), 15% Primitivo and 5% Barbera 
Year: 2017 

Wine Advocate, 91-94 Points 

"Tasted from foudre, the 2017 Nebbiolo Centennial Mountain Vineyard is very promising, exhibiting a classic Nebbiolo bouquet of balsamic cherry, dried herbs, rose petal and licorice. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and succulent, with a sappy core of fruit and supple, fine-grained and varietally typical tannins. The finish is quite long. It's going to be fascinating to see how this comes together as it matures." 

Vinous, 93 Points 

"The 2017 Etna Rosso Centenari takes its time to fully blossom in the glass, but it’s well worth the wait for a rich and captivating display of crushed black raspberries, plums and licorice mixed with hints of mint and camphor. Here I’m finding depths of silky, elegant textures, and a polished display of blackberries and currant lifted by cooling herbal notes. The concentration of primary fruit is something to behold, but even more impressive is the perfect balance that’s maintained. Sweet tannins linger, yet as more of an accent than an obstruction, as this finishes long and lightly structured with dark inner florals. The 2017 is already pretty, but it will also benefit from a short stay in the cellar." 

Jeb Dunnuck, 92 Points 

"Coming from an interesting blend of Nebbiolo, Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio [Carignan], Zinfandel, Primitivo, and Barbera that’s all from the estate Centennial Mountain Vineyard, the 2017 Rosso has a more reserved yet layered bouquet of ripe blackberry and raspberry fruits interwoven with notes of brambly herbs, spice, chocolate, and loamy earth. It’s another wine that opens up with air and is beautiful on the palate, with medium to full-bodied richness, a great core of sweet fruit, good acidity, and just a balanced, delicious, lengthy profile. It carries plenty of intensity yet is classy and elegant. Drink this beauty any time over the coming decade." 

John Gilman, 92 Points 

"The wine is beautifully deep and transparent on the nose, offering up scents of cherries, leather, rose petals, a lovely base of soil tones, bonfire, a touch of cedar and a bit of road tar in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, ripe and chewy, with an excellent core and soil signature, firm, well-integrated tannins, tangy acids and very good length and grip on the nascently complex and promising finish. The wine comes in at 14.5 percent octane, but carries its alcohol very well and should age long and gracefully. Though it is only fifty percent Nebbiolo in the blend, it is structured like a young Barolo and built for the cellar." 

Alcohol: 14.5% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Vintage date may differ from pictured.