Cascina San Michele

One can find Cascina San Michele just south of the city of Asti in Alto Monferrato, a region that features a natural amphitheatre in vineyard topography boasting the best Barbera in the world. Established in 2015, the cascina, or humbly named “farmhouse,” showcases the award-winning skill and vision of winemaker Marco Minnuci. Here, his low intervention approach combined with the historical validation of Barbera in these hills since the 13th century gives rise to characteristically fresh and chiseled wines of distinction.

Farming organically in 6.5 hectares, Marco grows other regional grapes including Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Brachetto and more depending on soil composition and aspect. However, it is here in the light coloured calcareous soils of Asti that Barbera shows true promise.

Robert Parker listed Clos des Papes as one of the Top 155 Producers in the World.

Earlier in the 20th century, Barbera developed a waning reputation as a quality wine because its natural vigour and adaptability meant it was heavily replanted after the phylloxera outbreak at the beginning of the century. It became a high volume, low quality option for the region, further propelling its potential downward. Beginning in the 1980s, a resurgence to return it to its former dignity ensued, and today, Cascina San Michele is an excellent example of what mindful viticulture can do. The flagship wines are born in the soft undulating slopes with the best exposure, exhibiting the joyful facets of a grape that are at once approachable and noble.

"It boasts a cool, fresh nose of strawberries, cola and tree bark, yet it's full-bodied and tannic on the palate."

WA96 by Joe Czerwinski

2017 Clos des Papes • Chateauneuf du Pape

He blends grapes from his different plots to co-ferment in large vats, after which he then re-blends in to large 20-55 hectoliter wooden foudres (casks) to mature for 15 months. New or small barrels are never used, “I like the oak to make an indirect impact – I only want tannins from the grape skins not even the pips and certainly not the stalks” says Avril. And though it may not be widely known, this domaine has been buying corks from the same producer in Portugal ever since 1926!

The wines are no doubt enticing, garnering great praise from many publications and critics such as Wine Spectator who awarded their 2005 vintage as “Wine of the Year”, stating that “in the Southern Rhône's recent trio of great vintages starting with 2003, no other Châteauneuf-du-Pape domaine has produced better wines than Clos des Papes”. But the accolades don’t stop there, as Robert Parker followed on to pronounce the 2007 vintage “the greatest Chateauneuf du Pape made since 1978 and 1990”.

We at Ginsberg+Chan are extremely proud to be the exclusive distributors of Clos des Papes, and with good volumes of both red and white back vintages too, we can ensure you a wide range of drinking windows for your cellar.