The Barolo / Barbaresco / Nebbiolo thread

[JamieBahrain]

Giuseppe Rinaldi Barbera d'Alba 2014- Very happy with the latest house quaffer which replaces the Bondonio nebbiolo in picture.

I highly recommend this Barbera as an insight into the Barolo of this amazing producer. There's a traditional simplicity to the wine that takes it to great heights, the wine is full of soul and it is so silken in a 13% framework it disappears with ease. As I mentioned earlier, a good investment before being challenged by Rinaldi's masterful Baroli.

90pts

[Sean]

deleted

[Ian S]

aha Paolo Massobrio.
Whilst I don't especially value his winery listings in the annual Golosario, the list of great food stores is invaluable to someone like me who loves grazing good food shops, to eat in Italy, or to bring home to UK. Whilst nothing is ever a perfect listing of the most interesting (whilst ignoring the less interesting), the Golosario feels like it does a better job than any other listing publication in any other field I can think of.

[Ian S]

At risk of damning with faint praise, tonight's 1998 GD Vajra Bricco delle Viole Barolo:
A slight bulge in the cork and a label that looked a little faded... might this be heat damaged? No, no signs of that with the cork soaked for less than half it's length (they do use very long corks) and the wine a healthy colour for it's age, showed a little orange-brown at the rim, but with a good claret colour with still more than a hint of purple.

Slightly reserved nose, but very much showing the sweet/fragrant (rose) with the more earthy/leathery (tar). Very much in character for the region.

On the palate too, this is a very 'true to type' Barolo, with good balance, still relatively strong fruit, but with a little orange coming through. Not big nor overly structured, there are some fine residual tannins, but they're not getting in the way of enjoyment. The finish is also quite light / refreshing, prompting another sip, and there is hint of nettles on the finish, again pointing to a wine where they didn't push the grape ripeness too far.

Overall not an astounding experience, but a wine that follows the script flawlessly, delivering a profile that is most definitely Barolo.

[ajh]

Giuseppe Mascarello Nebbiolo 2013. Real vibrancy. Lifted red fruits, freshness and lively length. So good. A step up on the Sandrone Valmaggiore and Giovanni Rosso editions of the same vintage . Quality.

[JamieBahrain]

Bel Colle Barolo Monvigliero 1999- Monvigliero is the Cru site in the little known commune of Verduno which is just a few km's from La Morra. Verduno has many hidden treasures and though I didn't know this label, it delivered typical floral, spice and lightly scented fennel notes. The palate delivers an austerity amongst faint licorice like fruit, enveloped with dark smoke and tar notes, prior a sweet dark fruit presence on a finish carried with a long run of smart acidity.

90pts

There was a real on-again, off-again, delicate complexity to the wine; perhaps showing a "passive" cellaring provenance as the cork was stained to half way.

[JamieBahrain]

Conterno Fantino Barolo "Vigna del Gris" 2004- I had a glass a few nights ago and popped back in the wine fridge to let oxygen come into the play to give some measure to a coarse French Oak finish. Came together nicely, tar-cherry, smoke, balsam-soy with aromatics including menthol and spice, lovely palate volume, deep and dark, the wood dominance on the finish gives way to a floral-red flavor persistence; suggesting a few more years to optimum with oak integration and fruit development.

91pts+

[michel]

Conterno Fantino Barolo "Vigna del Gris" 2004- I had a glass a few nights ago and popped back in the wine fridge to let oxygen come into the play to give some measure to a coarse French Oak finish. Came together nicely, tar-cherry, smoke, balsam-soy with aromatics including menthol and spice, lovely palate volume, deep and dark, the wood dominance on the finish gives way to a floral-red flavor persistence; suggesting a few more years to optimum with oak integration and fruit development.

91pts+

I tried this a month ago
I was told it had high tone notes like Giacomo Conterno
Your note reflects that it doesnt have that
a good wine but not really my style

[JamieBahrain]

Hi Michel yes, not in the same league nor even close to the same style.

Young Nebbiolo is very fickle . Hence for quaffing I tend to open a few bottles start of the week and drink when ready. This one took two days to open up from three quarters full.

[JamieBahrain]

Some nice Barolo on the Wickmans auction. Hope to see some of you buy some and post the notes here. Secondary market pricing more than fair !

[Chris H]

2007 Traversa Barbaresco Starderi
Initially closed on the nose, then some leather, mint and nuances of red fruits behind. Never really got more than that. Palate was more open though and quite easy to drink - soft tannins underpin subtly sweet palate.

2013 Benevelli Langhe Nebbiolo
Youthful red. Open on the nose - new leather, dusty-earthy red fruits to smell. Soft, bright earthy fruit on the palate with soft tannin length. Unadorned by oak so the true character of the grape shows through. Drinking nicely.

[conformistpete]

2013 Benevelli Langhe Nebbiolo
Youthful red. Open on the nose - new leather, dusty-earthy red fruits to smell. Soft, bright earthy fruit on the palate with soft tannin length. Unadorned by oak so the true character of the grape shows through. Drinking nicely.

I do like that Langhe Benevelli. Good entry point into Italian styled Nebbiolo. Much more convincing than the '13 Maretti of which the previous vintage was a great early drinking Nebb.

[JamieBahrain]

Elio Altare "Arborina" Barolo 1990 & 2000- Great fun mini-vertical from a superb producer. Time has certainly healed the modernist stigma and both these wines were of great enjoyment. The 2000 was fresh and feminine, beautiful florals and mysterious dark fruits shrouded in crafted oak that supports a long palate carry onto a precise and long finish ( 95pts ). The 1990 melds tertiary aromatics and a devoloped fruit sweetness with La Morra finesse. The floral aromatics and classic Barolo fruit is revisited on a powerful, crafted finish with deft, supporting oak still in evidence. Better stored bottles would rate higher. ( 93pts )

Beautiful wines ! My friend suggested another so I served a Rockford Basket Press 1996 popped and poured, in an options format. Stunning BP incidentally ! No great wines, only great bottles ? Or perhaps this was so much better than recent 96 BP that I suggest a pop and pour all that's needed. ( 95pts )

[Mivvy]

1996 Vietti Brunate decanted for about 5 hours, sipped and drunk over the next 4-5. A dark ruby colour with a tinge of orange at the rim. Very youthful colour for a Barolo. Red fruits and sage on the nose, some floral aspects - seemingly changing every sniff. Has the austere edge of the vintage, good structure, red fruited, clean, fresh acidity and still plenty of fine grippy tannins. Medium+ finish. I'm sure this bottle would have lasted well over a few days, would likely be better in 5 years and would go 10+ with no issues.

[JamieBahrain]

Punset Barbaresco Basarin 2010- This is a pretty little vineyard area on the road from Neive to Barbaresco. High tones of Alpine grass/herbs, deep goudron that settles and open with dark strawberry-violet notes and cedar wood. Very approachable wine, popped and poured which showed up some of the criticisms of the 2010 Barbaresco vintage with a lack of structural intensity and vibrancy. Some airtime brought a correction, the wine filled ( especially on the edges which seemed watery prior ) and the tannins are light though gently firm, helping field a gratifying persistence.

Very nice now.

91pts

[JamieBahrain]

Prunotto Barbaresco Montestefano 1989- A true tertiary dovetail : tar-cocoa, roast game and burnt fig in a complex aromatic mesh. There's a youthfulness to palate that belies the 25 + years, with a weight and density that although not overly complex, delivers a contented mire of dark fruits in a tertiary buzz similar to the aromatics. Lively, long finish, with seemingly age-tamed acidity.

94pts

[JamieBahrain]

Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo Villero 2010- Great to be home after 5 weeks in the antipodes. Now Nebbiolo runs free again.

I will report on this lovely Barolo further as I'm long on it due a sales opportunity and I'm reporting from an iPhone.

But I will say quickly , the utter joy Piedmont Nebbiolo presents in the early years prior to a wines shutdown . Crack a bottle in late youth and drink over two nights and you get two different wines .

The 2010 Villero is a magnificent on day two. It's hidden amongst the hype of 2010 and you need to present the wine with care to extract its brilliance in youth . Twiggy autumn notes, China bark and the classic Mascarello tar in a vintage car engine oil shade, a merry mix of red and black fruits, silky Burgundian texture with a perfect fruit fill spreading with a delectable evenness across the palate. Orange citrus notes and fresh acidity tame the tannins delivering an Old Soul like approachability.

95pts +

[Chris H]

2010 A & G Fantino Barolo Laborio Disobedient
Declassified Riserva since 2005 issue with Consorzio over missing Riserva tasting deadline. Brick red. Five years Riserva ageing on old oak gives leather on the nose. As it opens in the glass over time, the attractive red fruits come up from underneath the leather to dominate. Similarly on the palate, attractive relatively rich red fruits and soft tannins. Long soft tannin finish. Can be approached now.

2011 Massolino Barolo
Light-medium depth red. Fragrant roses, leather and some dustiness. Rose petal spectrum fruit and enveloping furry tannins on the palate, albeit relatively soft. Some iron in the tannins indicated Serralunga perhaps. Soft astringency means better with food.

[JamieBahrain]

The 2010 Massolino was stunning and in for a long future. The 2011 seems to reflect the vintage even though time will see some lean nebbiolo muscle develop.

I have a 1969 Massolino Barolo on the tasting bench. Will drink it watching the footy tonight.

[winetastic]

Couple of orders came in this week:
x6 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2012
x24 Benevelli Langhe Nebbiolo 2015

No single vineyard Produttori bottlings from 2012, thus the standard barbaresco offers outstanding value from what I think is a more attractive vintage than 2011.

I went all in on the Benevelli was after being blown away by barrel samples (half was fermented in stainless steel, half in a newish botti). The former was so fruit forward and aromatic, the latter offered up earthy complexity, cant wait to crack a bottle this weekend and see how it turned out.

[winetastic]

The 2010 Massolino was stunning and in for a long future. The 2011 seems to reflect the vintage even though time will see some lean nebbiolo muscle develop.

I was not overly impressed with the standard 2011 Barolo, however the "Parussi" cru knocked my socks off - poise and elegance despite the vintage.

[WAwineguy]

What does everyone think of the Jasper Hill Nebbiolo? Appears highly rated so I ordered some today, though have never tasted it!

[JamieBahrain]

Olek Bondonio Barbaresco "Roncagliette" 2011- Calling what's before me on day two. Chalk and cheese to the regular bottling ( which is excellent ). The Riserva as such, is monumental, a myriad of compressed dark fruit notes in an abyss needing a long time to unravel and friendlier, emerging fresh, ripe dried fruits and supportive oak. Rather monolithic on the palate, a generous view to the next decade can see a balance and I'm quite looking forward to how it presents. Presently, there's a big dollop of fruit on the front palate, as the wine sits toward room temperature it evens out this generoisty across the palate, prior a long run of splinter-dry tannin.

Olek's got a little press now, though if unaware, this vineyard is one of three in Cru Roncagliette. The other's are two of Italy's greatest- Sori Tildin and Costa Russi

93pts+










La Berchialla the small farmhouse in the Cru of Roncagliette.




I drank the wine from barrel on a visit in 2013.




Roncaglietti. Sori Tildin and Costa Russi.

[JamieBahrain]

Wow! Some stunners tonight. Roagna. Gets a little flak on the US boards for skyrocketing prices but Holly-Molly last night I was blown away by the fruit purity of three Barbarescos.

All three wines are from the same vineyard- Paje, an amphitheater that runs down from Barbaresco proper to the Tanaro River.


Luca Roagna Barbaresco Paje 2009- Smokey red and black fruits, light, sweaty oak notes, faint pepper and spice. Excellent delineation, sublime fruit purity on the palate. Great length and an overall refinement. 25-50 yo vines.

93pts+


Luca Roagna Barbaresco Paje Vecchie Viti 2007- From a minimum of 50 yo vines, this has an obviously greater intensity than the 2007 regular. Possibly in part due the vintage though vine age and microclimate a factor too as we move further up the slope of Paje. Again, there a fruit purity standing out with the classic red and black fruit of Barbaresco displaying some feminine muscle. Great length, long, long finish with a tannic grip sitting nicely at the end.

95pts+


Luca Roagna Barbaresco Crichet Paje 2005- I've had the pleasure of standing in Crichet Paje with Luca ( grandson ) before we polished off an early 70's Roagna Barbaresco back at the cellar. Crichet Paje is old vines 70+ years old, at the top of Paje where the higher limestone content of the soil and wonderful aspect generates a WOW factor wine.

The veritable aromatic abyss, darker influenced fruit nuances than the preceding two wines, in multiple shades, lightens toward violets and this magical red fruit scents of nebbiolo emerge. Perfect ripeness throughout, there's a mid-palate intensity lending to pause and savor this micro-parcel of Paje. Perfect balance, very fine finishing. Long road ahead.

98pts+







One of Italy's rarest and most expensive wines ! Crichet Paje





We had some of the great whites of Piedmont with WA black truffles.

Roagna is chardonnay and nebbiolo ! Beuatiful wine, crafted with pine-lime blossom and a gentle intensity on a long length. Gaja's Sav Blanc from the heart of Barbaresco had a distinct grassy spring note of Piedmont. And 2008 Gai & Rey was all class but too young- a great foil for white burgundy when sufficiently aged.

[michel]

What does everyone think of the Jasper Hill Nebbiolo? Appears highly rated so I ordered some today, though have never tasted it!

I just dont think Australian nebs do a lot for me .....
they are kinda fruity and simplistic lacking a haunting complexity and high tone
I still try them

[JamieBahrain]

From earlier pages in this thread WAwineguy.

I think Aussie nebs are showing some promise. They can lack a wow factor being very technically correct though seemingly out of place if you are drinking a lot of Italians.

Jasper Hill is very good. First releases showed dusty austerity and not much else but I imagine vine age, amongst other things, contributing to a smarter wine these days.

Jasper Hill Georgia Paddock Nebbiolo 2004- An affable Italian gent in a V-B singlet. The tar is brooding and near prune like. The roses are more dried and native with eucalypt decay. The structure is very good and all in all an intriguing wine. I will hunt down Ron's nebbiolo in the future with interest.

[JamieBahrain]

Pleasant 74 which improved on breathing . Would have liked to have been more brutal on the aeration.

[tarija]

Taking your point further, in the last few years, the new wave of Piedmont fashion has actually seen the rapid emergence of wine critic experts ( Australia included ) who have bugger all drinking exposure and salt of the earth knowledge of the region.

Bloggers can often be far more knowledgeable through drinking exposure and this sits well with Nebbiolo as it can be very temperamental.

Am in agreement with you Jamie - would think that the best wine critics are those that have actually experienced a full maturity cycle: from release all the way to maturity - otherwise it's all just book knowledge and writing from hearsay. Critic still needs to have their tastebuds intact as well.

With that said, who do you believe are the best nebbiolo critics in the world? Many thanks!

[JamieBahrain]

I don't follow any Piedmont critics as I find them of little value- as do the winemakers who are astounded at such early calls on wines and vintages. What's been going on of late is a disappointing fashion too. Barolo and Barbaresco is being sexed up with rubbish tasting notes choc full of commercialism. Just not my thing. This week I'm drinking 10 to 20 year old Barbera and Dolcetto which are wonderful and exceed the limitations the mainstream critics would place on them- now nebbiolo is a whole different complexity in my experience.

But I do love the true believers. The drinkers. You get a bit of a snapshot on the wine-beserkers forum and I wish they had a Piedmont only section and I'd follow it religiously. Local drinkers ( Piedmont ) are a treat to meet too. Completely different perspective which encompasses the culture, tradition and the land- and a forgiving patience.

[Ian S]

Yes, difficult to identify a single critic / wine writer for the Langhe or wider Piemonte. I do like the writings of Nicholas Belfrage and Ian d'Agata for Italy in general. Less so Galloni. Keiren O'Keefe is alluded to above, as a writer with questionable experience seeking to write a definitive tome. I'm interested in reading one of her books to judge for myself.

I do buy the annual DueMilaVini / Bibenda Wine every 2-3 years (and may well backfill). There was one edition in English, but it's good for me to get the normal Italian language version to assist in learning the language especially the specialist wine terms. Published by the professional body for Sommeliers, the Italian language edition also has the added advantage of enoteca/restaurant listings where wine is taken seriously.

Beyond that, I've been lucky to be able to taste quite a bit in the region, which is always going to be more useful than someone else's opinion in print.