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Carema, 1971 Red Wine

L. Bertolo

Bottle size: 75cl

ABV: 12%

Price:

£129.00

1 In Stock

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Description

The Carema DOC 1971 L. Bertolo 75 cl 12,5% is a traditional red wine from Piedmont, Italy. Produced under the Carema DOC designation and bottled by L. Bertolo, it reflects the classic mountain Nebbiolo style of northern Piedmont in the early 1970s: austere, elegant, and structured, shaped by high-altitude vineyards and long traditional aging. Wines from this area are historically known for their finesse, acidity-driven structure, and ability to develop complex tertiary aromas over very long aging periods.

Tasting notes:

The 1971 vintage is now fully mature and well beyond peak, showing deep tertiary evolution typical of aged Nebbiolo from Carema. The nose opens with aromas of dried rose petals, faded violet, leather, tobacco leaf, and dried cherry. With air, more evolved notes emerge such as forest floor, wet earth, balsamic spice, dried herbs, and subtle oxidative tones depending on storage conditions.

On the palate it is light-bodied, fragile, and fully evolved. The natural high acidity of Nebbiolo is still present but softened, giving a delicate structural frame. Tannins are completely resolved. The fruit has transformed into dried and savory tones, with earthy, herbal, and slightly oxidative nuances dominating. The finish is usually medium-short, fading into earthy, floral, and leathery notes.

Serving & food pairing:

Best served at 15–17°C, but only if the bottle shows good preservation (fill level and cork condition are critical for a wine of this age). Decanting is generally not recommended, except for a very quick sediment separation.

It pairs best as a contemplative or gastronomic wine rather than a structured pairing wine, but can still accompany:

Braised meats and game (if the wine is still sound)
Mushroom-based dishes (risotto or tagliatelle ai funghi porcini)
Aged cheeses such as Castelmagno or mature toma
Traditional Piedmontese cuisine (brasato, tajarin, fonduta)

However, like many 50+ year-old Carema wines, it is often more valuable as a historical and collectible bottle than as a reliable drinking experience.

Producer:

L. Bertolo was a commercial bottler active in the mid–late 20th century, known for selecting and bottling wines from various Italian regions under a unified house label. In the case of Carema, the wine would typically be 100% Nebbiolo sourced from the steep alpine vineyards of the Canavese area. These wines are part of a historic era of Italian wine trade where bottlers played a major role in distribution before modern estate-focused winemaking became dominant.

Condition

Good conditions

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