Giovanni Canonica
April 2023 visit
2021 Giovanni Canonica Nebbiolo
Both vineyards mostly Grinzane Cavour
Wild flowers, slightly medicinal, very complex, wild cherry cough lozenge, great mouth feel, it’s light and fresh with ripe tannins featuring inner mouth perfumes of damp soil, incipient tobacco, lots of just pure and gentle fruit followed by riverstone minerality and a flourish of gentle floral medicinal notes. 89pts
2019 Giovanni Canonica Barolo Grinzane Cavour
Very aromatic, very floral, soapy florals, a hint of matchstick, cherry extract, not sweet fruit, lightly smoky, dry, chalky soil, transparent, pretty fine, firm, upright lots of herb and medicinal cola quality.Lots of acidity keeps this bright and long, sour cherry fruit, lacks some of the flesh and grace of other wines. Gently lifted aromatics don’t cross the line, tannins are ripe, not quite loose, but more open knit, fruit is verging on black cherry, it’s really quite fruity, shows a lot of restraint for the vintage, but length and a decent layered. 91pts
2019 Giovanni Canonica Barolo Paiagallo
Darker cherry fruit more seed and dried herb aromas, also tighter on the nose, with aromas of rose petal, gently dusty fruit, a little orange note here as well, Smooth, fairly rich, supple, then angular, fine stone fruit complexity, transparency and vibrancy. This is built on a stunning base of limestone minerality, has 15% alcohol but there is no trace of it, not even the sweetness it would usually provide. It’s an austere pleasure, there is some warmth on the finale but in the mouth the wine is regal, nuanced, complex if not bold, with a return of fruit and inner mouth perfumes after the finish that is impressive. Ripe tannins. 94pts
2021 Giovanni Canonica Nebbiolo
Both vineyards mostly Grinzane Cavour
Wild flowers, slightly medicinal, very complex, wild cherry cough lozenge, great mouth feel, it’s light and fresh with ripe tannins featuring inner mouth perfumes of damp soil, incipient tobacco, lots of just pure and gentle fruit followed by riverstone minerality and a flourish of gentle floral medicinal notes. 89pts
2019 Giovanni Canonica Barolo Grinzane Cavour
Very aromatic, very floral, soapy florals, a hint of matchstick, cherry extract, not sweet fruit, lightly smoky, dry, chalky soil, transparent, pretty fine, firm, upright lots of herb and medicinal cola quality.Lots of acidity keeps this bright and long, sour cherry fruit, lacks some of the flesh and grace of other wines. Gently lifted aromatics don’t cross the line, tannins are ripe, not quite loose, but more open knit, fruit is verging on black cherry, it’s really quite fruity, shows a lot of restraint for the vintage, but length and a decent layered. 91pts
2019 Giovanni Canonica Barolo Paiagallo
Darker cherry fruit more seed and dried herb aromas, also tighter on the nose, with aromas of rose petal, gently dusty fruit, a little orange note here as well, Smooth, fairly rich, supple, then angular, fine stone fruit complexity, transparency and vibrancy. This is built on a stunning base of limestone minerality, has 15% alcohol but there is no trace of it, not even the sweetness it would usually provide. It’s an austere pleasure, there is some warmth on the finale but in the mouth the wine is regal, nuanced, complex if not bold, with a return of fruit and inner mouth perfumes after the finish that is impressive. Ripe tannins. 94pts