The Barolo / Barbaresco / Nebbiolo thread

[tarija]

Abuse is common mostly from locals . Sad really as it’s the only way many families in poor Asian nations supported .

I have never understood why domestic help frequently gets treated poorly in Asia and Middle East. Push these people too far and something could happen to your kids, poison gets slipped into food, pushed down stairs etc.

[JamieBahrain]

HKWS Vertical Cappellano's Barolos : 1947 to 1979

So our theme continues on from the amazing Cappellano tasting that from 1927 onwards.

Now we begin with bottlings that saw Serralunga fruit used from a number of vineyards including Gabutti, Parafrada, Baudana and Carpegna vineyards. Before Gabutti was bought and we saw the emergence of Rupestris & Franco.

I highly recommend the book the Mystique of Barolo for its interview of Teobaldo Cappellano and the finewinegeek.com for his amazing data and research.

I won't use points as per the request of the artist Teobaldo. I'm not a wine critic, just a drinker, but I feel more comfortable doing so. And I will add, Augustus is shwoing some brilliance and we may see Cappellano soar to another level.



[url]http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f ... llano+1939[/url]


Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1947- VA/cognac nose blows off toward beautiful old mint, truffle and old leather.Framed in saucy acidity are lovely red fruits, mellow, gently entry of old tertiary persistence.

7th for me 7th for the Group

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Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1962-Strong old hard cedar notes, meek red and black fruits. Austere tart acidity dominates, it has a calcareous edge. Fades quickly.

9th for Me and 11th the Group.


Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1955- Savoury hazelnut like notes, dark fruits with a black tea like extract, complimentary herbal lift. Complete palate, dark, perfect depth filling out the length.

4th for Me, 3rd for the Group.

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Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1958- Stunning ! Ethereal and hallucinogenic aromatics blow from Alps with mints, grass, spring florals in swansong. The nose deepens, dark abyss of black fruits that lighten adding to the complexity. Perfect carry, lavendar and potpourri, fruit dances in spice and completes with without ceremony.


WOTN for Me and the Group.


Cappellano Barbaresco DOCG 1964- Reticent though life emerges with a fruit bump of old, sweet tar and roses. Rough acidity carry with bitter almond notes.

10th for Me and 10th for the Group

Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1961-Should have been better ! Soy and balsamic, gentle old red and black mesh. Very easy flavor profile, faded though enjoyabe- burnt sugar/ almond bitter acidity looks out of place.

6th for Me 5th for the Group


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Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1965-Light and a little non-descript- medicinal and faint tar and roses in a last gasp. It's a tired old Queen that displays a unique evidence of youth with strawberry like fruit- tertiary fade with coarse tannins convincing the end i s near.

11th for Me 9th for the Group.

Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1968-Molasses and undergrowth, red fruits before orange peel. Faded, though licorice and undergrowth- acidity spike accentuates irony tannins. Impressive still!

5th for me 9th for Group.

Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1974-Licorice and truffle, austere and dilute- hard win, grippy tannin and a little dirty. Pulled together respectably in some way as old nebbiolo can do !


8th for Me and 10th for Group

Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1967- Tar and Roses in an iron lung. Powerful, quintessentially Serranlunga.

3rd for Me 8th for Group

Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1979- CORKED Negotiant bottling!


Cappellano Barolo DOCG 1978- Fresh, almost youthful red and black fruits, old botti cedar and earthen undertones. Complete wine, showing a good position on the maturation curve, balanced alluring meaty notes.



2nd for me and 2nd for Group

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[JamieBahrain]

Dinner wines -

3 bottles each including 500ml Chinato


Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin (Gabutti) 2000- I think the 2000 vintage is delivering some elegant and integrated wines at the moment.

Airy, big botti cedar, seaweed and spicy black fruits. The acidity works wonderfully with the wine in its different phases ( fruit bright/ fruit mellow )- this included 180ml the next day ! The fruit is sweet, potpourri and red fruits, can be quit lifted at times but again, I emphasise the the wine's natural structure keeps the wine fresh and balanced in all phases.


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Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin (Gabutti) 2004- Damn! Who decanted this wine! Classic nebbiolo the aromatics are mesmerizing due brutal aeration but the palate hard !

Another bottle popped and poured-tight, focused, rocky minerality. Unevolved, compressed pristine dark fruits that present in clarity on the mid-palate- a little gape of austerity accentuates long fine tannins. It will be somewhere special in 10 years.


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I have so many stories if this Chinatos. Tonight's yarn is Teobaldo's resurgence of Chinato and his son persisting with his wish the core of this amazing elixir is quality fruit- Rupestris Barolo is the base!

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[Willard]

Thanks Jamie, I always appreciate you sharing reports of these tastings.

Will

[swirler]

A mate in Hong Kong tells me it comes to around AUD2 per hour.

[michel]

[url=https://ibb.co/kwErHn][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/kwErHn/CE81_E10_A_C468_ ... 008049.jpg[/img][/url]

I opened the Rinaldi and my wife said this a four dimensional wine - I opened the wine a few hours before dinner and it just built up intense perfume and intense length while being very ethereal and light.
Mr Bartolo was sulky and a few hours later blossomed wonderfully
Mr Giacomo has competition these days in the quality stakes- I always enjoy a fresh raspberry with Giacomo to enhance the acid structure in the palate and complement the heady perfume
Thank you cork Gods.

[JamieBahrain]

A mate in Hong Kong tells me it comes to around AUD2 per hour.

That would be a very Australian way of looking at it. It's actually way better and way worse!

Moving on. My employee is respected and very well paid. Has her own room and privacy - eats what we do. Paid super and long service. Extra Holidays etc etc. She's too good a lady to lose.

Now my neighbour, if their house was on fire, I doubt I'd tell the prick and it would be with reluctance I'd even kick a door down for his family. Probably a mild abuser by international standards - especially from what I saw with those horrific societies in the Middle East.

Back to Barolo.....

[JamieBahrain]

[url=https://ibb.co/kwErHn][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/kwErHn/CE81_E10_A_C468_ ... 008049.jpg[/img][/url]

I opened the Rinaldi and my wife said this a four dimensional wine - I opened the wine a few hours before dinner and it just built up intense perfume and intense length while being very ethereal and light.
Mr Bartolo was sulky and a few hours later blossomed wonderfully
Mr Giacomo has competition these days in the quality stakes- I always enjoy a fresh raspberry with Giacomo to enhance the acid structure in the palate and complement the heady perfume
Thank you cork Gods.

Eyes straining Michel- 2012 horizontal?

[swirler]

Jamie,

Thanks for sharing. Sorry for my Australian-ness

[Con J]

Thanks for the notes and photos Jamie.
Looks like an amazing night, wish there were tastings and dinners like this here in Melbourne.

Cheers Con.

[Con J]

[url=https://ibb.co/kwErHn][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/kwErHn/CE81_E10_A_C468_ ... 008049.jpg[/img][/url]

I opened the Rinaldi and my wife said this a four dimensional wine - I opened the wine a few hours before dinner and it just built up intense perfume and intense length while being very ethereal and light.
Mr Bartolo was sulky and a few hours later blossomed wonderfully
Mr Giacomo has competition these days in the quality stakes- I always enjoy a fresh raspberry with Giacomo to enhance the acid structure in the palate and complement the heady perfume
Thank you cork Gods.

Thanks for notes.
Looks like your slumming it again.
Ordered 2 X 2012 Giuseppe Rinaldi Brunate last week.

Cheers Con.

[winetastic]

[url=https://ibb.co/kwErHn][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/kwErHn/CE81_E10_A_C468_ ... 008049.jpg[/img][/url]

I opened the Rinaldi and my wife said this a four dimensional wine - I opened the wine a few hours before dinner and it just built up intense perfume and intense length while being very ethereal and light.
Mr Bartolo was sulky and a few hours later blossomed wonderfully
Mr Giacomo has competition these days in the quality stakes- I always enjoy a fresh raspberry with Giacomo to enhance the acid structure in the palate and complement the heady perfume
Thank you cork Gods.

Missed opportunity to open a Cappellano alongside!

Seriously though, what a great lineup.

[michel]

[url=https://ibb.co/kwErHn][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/kwErHn/CE81_E10_A_C468_ ... 008049.jpg[/img][/url]

I opened the Rinaldi and my wife said this a four dimensional wine - I opened the wine a few hours before dinner and it just built up intense perfume and intense length while being very ethereal and light.
Mr Bartolo was sulky and a few hours later blossomed wonderfully
Mr Giacomo has competition these days in the quality stakes- I always enjoy a fresh raspberry with Giacomo to enhance the acid structure in the palate and complement the heady perfume
Thank you cork Gods.

Thanks for notes.
Looks like your slumming it again.
Ordered 2 X 2012 Giuseppe Rinaldi Brunate last week.

Cheers Con.

Bartolo 2008
Ooh Con !,
Can you order me some Rinaldi also?

[Ozzie W]

2016 Azienda Agricola Benevelli Piero Langhe Nebbiolo
14% ABV
[url=https://postimg.org/image/5wwuh41az/][img]https://s17.postimg.org/5wwuh41az/MVIMG_20180305_221354.jpg[/img][/url]

Quite possibly the best Langhe Nebbiolo I've ever tasted. Still too young but after a few hours in the decanter it was on song. Ticks all the boxes. Cherry, tar, roses, mint, chocolate, liquorice. Chalky tannins. Great length. Ridiculous value at under $30.

[winetastic]

2016 Azienda Agricola Benevelli Piero Langhe Nebbiolo
14% ABV
[url=https://postimg.org/image/5wwuh41az/][img]https://s17.postimg.org/5wwuh41az/MVIMG_20180305_221354.jpg[/img][/url]

Quite possibly the best Langhe Nebbiolo I've ever tasted. Still too young but after a few hours in the decanter it was on song. Ticks all the boxes. Cherry, tar, roses, mint, chocolate, liquorice. Chalky tannins. Great length. Ridiculous value at under $30.

Every 2016 feels like the best Nebbiolo ever

Ordering a bunch of these now...

[Gary W]

[url=https://ibb.co/kwErHn][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/kwErHn/CE81_E10_A_C468_ ... 008049.jpg[/img][/url]

I opened the Rinaldi and my wife said this a four dimensional wine - I opened the wine a few hours before dinner and it just built up intense perfume and intense length while being very ethereal and light.
Mr Bartolo was sulky and a few hours later blossomed wonderfully
Mr Giacomo has competition these days in the quality stakes- I always enjoy a fresh raspberry with Giacomo to enhance the acid structure in the palate and complement the heady perfume
Thank you cork Gods.

That 08 B.Mascarello is an INCREDIBLE wine. Right up there with the best Barolo I've had. 2008 is a superb vintage. Wise people would back-fill.

[michel]

[url=https://ibb.co/kwErHn][img]https://thumb.ibb.co/kwErHn/CE81_E10_A_C468_ ... 008049.jpg[/img][/url]

I opened the Rinaldi and my wife said this a four dimensional wine - I opened the wine a few hours before dinner and it just built up intense perfume and intense length while being very ethereal and light.
Mr Bartolo was sulky and a few hours later blossomed wonderfully
Mr Giacomo has competition these days in the quality stakes- I always enjoy a fresh raspberry with Giacomo to enhance the acid structure in the palate and complement the heady perfume
Thank you cork Gods.

That 08 B.Mascarello is an INCREDIBLE wine. Right up there with the best Barolo I've had. 2008 is a superb vintage. Wise people would back-fill.

Yep
I had it double blind and it wasn't shabby

[Hunter]

X6 olek bondonio langhe from our host.
This is one Botti of the 2016 Olek Bondonio Straderi Cru Barbaresco. What are peoples thoughts on this. Obviously it hasnt seen alot of oak. An early drinker maybe ?

[JamieBahrain]

That 08 B.Mascarello is an INCREDIBLE wine. Right up there with the best Barolo I've had. 2008 is a superb vintage. Wise people would back-fill.

Wise and rich people.


B Mascarello has been elevated into the highest echelons.

I wisely bought in magnums and artist labels which sees $1500 AUD a magnum now from a purchase price of $100

[Gavin Trott]

Now available in Australia, the stellar wines of Francesco Rinaldi & Figli.

No, not THAT Rinaldi, the cousin, but the wines are absolutely in the highest echelon of Barolo ... let me know if anyone (May) be interested in the Barolos from 2013?

.

[Gary W]

That 08 B.Mascarello is an INCREDIBLE wine. Right up there with the best Barolo I've had. 2008 is a superb vintage. Wise people would back-fill.

Wise and rich people.


B Mascarello has been elevated into the highest echelons.

I wisely bought in magnums and artist labels which sees $1500 AUD a magnum now from a purchase price of $100

Talking about the 2008 vintage as a whole, as opposed to B.Mascarello!

[JamieBahrain]

Yep, I've been banging on about 2008 vintage for years. I have no idea what the issue is with the market? I've never heard the vintage dissed by serious Piedmont drinkers nor by locals. In fact, 2008 has come up a number of times from winemakers as being one of the top vintages of recent. Is it a high yield vintage? IDK.

But again, this week, same old, same old. My efforts backfilling Piedmont dominated by 2008 due value. Even awaking this morning to an old Berry Brothers BBX low bid being accepted for 6 x 2008 Cascina Delle Rose Rio Sordo Barbaresco. Quite pleased as I know back vintages don't exist at the winery as the matriarch sells everything on release and its only now the savvy son's push to keep back stock. Six packs of Brovia Garblet Sue and Cavallotto BB 2008 too.

It's becoming boring guys! Somebody else please backfill 2008!

[tarija]

Most of the best wine writers highly regard 2008. Unsure why not more popular. Have backfilled to good effect and nice to have 5 years less cellaring time compared to current vintage!

[JamieBahrain]

Yet 2006 is impossible to find! The sleeper vintage must be highly regarded.

[Ian S]

Now available in Australia, the stellar wines of Francesco Rinaldi & Figli.

No, not THAT Rinaldi, the cousin, but the wines are absolutely in the highest echelon of Barolo ... let me know if anyone (May) be interested in the Barolos from 2013?

.

Yes, after for many years being seen as 'the other' Rinaldi, it seems there is much more chatter about them in their own right these days. Their reputation appears to be belatedly growing.

[Ian S]

Yet 2006 is impossible to find! The sleeper vintage must be highly regarded.

2006 was definitely talked up at the time as the cellaring vintage of the decade, spookily similarly to 1996.

Arguably the 2006s are more of a gamble than the 2008s, in there is a greater risk that the tannins outlive the wine. I suspect for some this will be the case, but for many others the really long term holds great promise. The 2008s far from a hot or superficial vintage, and whilst many have firm tannins, few are as grippy as their 2006 equivalents. IMO a very sound bet for a representative wine, though part of the story is undoubtedly the Galloni hype about 2010, which probably stole the thunder from 2008. Surely 2009 must be a harder sell though?

A local merchant still has magnums of 2006 single vineyard Barbaresco for £26. A genuine (and genuinely friendly) family estate in Treiso. It wouldn't excite those who prefer Giacomo Conterno or Bartolo Mascarello or Gaja, but a heck of a good deal for the money.

[tarija]

Re. 2008: I do recall the following post from Bill Klapp on Berserkers, who derided 2008 Barolo in 2009. Interesting to read from some of the old timers.

"
Post #59 Postby Bill Klapp (deactivated) » December 7th 2015, 9:43am
2008-My question here is "where did ANYBODY get the foolish notion that this vintage is the logical successor to 2004 and 2006?" Even Galloni offered up assessments like "good, not great" on his first pass, and "far better than expected" and "gracious, medium-bodied wines" on his final pass, while warning about inconsistent quality. I am betting that the "received wisdom" that John and I were discussing above missed the boat to some degree in every vintage after 2006, but this is a missed boat that would seem to be on the shoulders of consumers more than reviewers. In 2008, we can start the bidding with another mediocre Barbaresco vintage, one in which the Cortese Rabaja' Riserva could end up being wine of the vintage. The sole exception would seem to be a decent set of Produttori Riserve. There was an even clearer split of opinion between Galloni and Tanzer, and on balance, the relatively unimpressed Tanzer had the best of it. The wines of Brovia, Burlotto and all of the modernists were no better than good. Vietti had a shockingly weak vintage. The G. Conterno Ceretta, still being called "Nebbiolo" at that point, was mediocre or worse, and both the Cascina Francia and Monfortino rather average compared to their siblings in 2004 and 2006. Giacosa made one very good but not legendary riserva. Aldo Conterno, Gaja and Sandrone were all solid but not great. It seems that the vintage's reputation hangs only upon a few outperformers, like Elio Grasso, Mauro Mascarello's Monprivato and Morissio, MT Mascarello's Bartolo and G. Rinaldi Brunate-Le Coste, and in large part, because the latter two were so highly perfumed, delicate and accessible, both quite antithetical to the notion of a classic, age-worthy vintage. The median quality is decent, but with more quality swings than one expects in a strong vintage, and with no truly great wines. Like everyone else, I bought some 2008s, but I bought banking upon medium-term drinking. I am betting that there will still be a lot of unopened 2007s in my cellar when I drink my last 2008, and probably a few 2009s as well. And the greatest tragedy of all? Some loose talking by Galloni and the early accessibilty afforded by a lightweight 2008 vintage led poor Michael S. Monie to found the Church of the Blessed New Paradigm..."

[JamieBahrain]

Wow ! I kid u not Bill’s rant emailed to me this morning . Is that you Nigel?

I’m flying home from KL soon. Will pour a big glass of Barolo and repost my thoughts after midnight .

[JamieBahrain]

I really like Bill's posts. I'm not sure of the politics of why he doesn't post anymore but for me its a loss. I'd love to bump into him on Piedmont travels. I could listed to him of hours.

I was emailed this by post by a wine society member as I'm doing a PdB 2008 Riserva horizontal next week. Now these wines get a good wrap and chatting to Aldo Vacca recently, he says they are superb, needing a little longer to mature than most riserva releases.

On 2008 Barolo, I was blown away by Elio Grasso in 2008- purity, depth and Barolo in perfection. So we agree there. Capellano's were stunning and surprisingly approachable recently ( both Rupestris and Franco ).Other experiences were more agreeable than 2007 which I'm still finding to be too tarry - though this may evolve.

I don't follow Galloni nor Tanzer. I'm sure I've also seen Bill flame critics of Giacosa's 2008's so with this post being a few years old, I'd really love an update!

I could be wrong I my enthusiasm for 2008. It is a vintage with stagnant pricing so I'm surprised there's not more comment out there.

[Ian S]

Klapp never short of a strident, argumentative and lengthy opinion.

He over-stepped the mark a number of times and was (briefly) suspended a number of times. His choice for not posting any more. He's not banned from WB

I don't miss him, mostly as his approach did tend to restrict other opinions, or turn threads into head to head arguments over what were merely opinions. Not that he was always the instigator or aggressor, indeed he reserved most of his wrath for people who were up for a joust, but there were a lot of arguments involving him.

He wasn't the only ex-lawyer on that forum, and a number of them brought their day job attitudes to the forum, making it at times a very confrontational place. It improves (IMO) slowly with time, with plenty of genuinely interesting and grown-up discussion, a seasoning of attitude and ignorance, more than the occasional touch the the puerile/juvenile and a handful of persistent trolls. A place where some of the greatest issues emerge (Rudy, Premier Cru, Maison Ilan), but also a place where pitchforks and flaming torches can come out a little too quickly.