La Cantina di Cuneaz Nadir Rosso Badebec Vallee d'Aoste 2021

This is one of Italy’s rarest reds, and it’s made in a cellar no bigger than a room. Named for an Italian Alps mythical beast, this wine carries the same level of ferocity and intrigue – and a whole mountain of value – at an astounding price point!

La Cantina di Cuneaz is not a grand winery but a homegrown endeavor in the hills above Gressan in Valle d’Aosta. The “cantina” is literally a room in the family house, holding just a few small tanks and a couple of barrels. From this modest space, only a handful of wines are made each year, preserving a deeply local tradition in one of Italy’s most remote alpine regions.

The 2021 Nadir Rosso Badebec comes from just two small parcels, yielding only about 100 cases annually. Though it qualifies for the Torrette DOC, the estate chooses the broader Valle d’Aosta designation, reflecting a local belief that the Torrette appellation no longer guarantees quality. The wine itself is distinctive: fruit from an earlier-ripening parcel is partially dried for about two weeks before fermentation, concentrating flavor and contributing a subtle touch of residual sugar. The lots are vinified together – a blend of 90% Petit Rouge, with small amounts of Fumin and Vien de Nus – and aged for a year in barrel before release.

The name “Badebec” draws from local folklore – a mythical creature said to wander the forests above Gressan, a cautionary figure in village storytelling. In the glass, the wine carries that same sense of intrigue with bright tart cherry, pomegranate, and black currant layered with alpine herbs, dried flowers, and a soft, damp earth note. There’s freshness from the altitude, balanced by fine tannins and a faint, rounded softness from the drying process, finishing clean and savory. Our wine buyer calls this an Italian Alps mythical beast, and it’s easy to see why. Wines this small in production and this connected to a place rarely leave their region. To have it in hand for under $25 feels downright mischievous!

A must-have for any wine connoisseur—perfect for sharing with enthusiasts and enjoying the bragging rights of an early discovery. 

PAIRING IDEAS: Pappardelle in a creamy lemon sauce with spicy sausage and topped with fresh herbs provides a nice counterbalance to all the tart, bright fruit and savory undertones within this wine.