The Barolo / Barbaresco / Nebbiolo thread

[winetastic]

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.

100% this.

I bought and read O'keefe's book prior to the trip - it was definitely useful for someone going in as a rank novice. However I learned more about the recent history/politics of the region in 2 hours talking with Olek Bondonio than I did in months of reading.

[swirler]

A fish has been spotted in water nearby, but nobody has had a bite here.

[JamieBahrain]

Massolino Barolo 1969- Very dark for a 45 year + wine, though talking to locals this can be a product of vintage. I've seen it before in a line up of 40's to 70's Barolo and the "darkies" we thought may be fakes until we tried them and they showed an old Barolo typicity.

This wine showed the classic, old nebbiolo juxtaposition, where aromatics and palate expressiveness are poles apart prior to aeration. Initially, there was no nose yet the palate was youthful and voluminous, with massive concentration prior to a trail of brassy/mineral acidity and tannin with more typical tertiary flavor persistence.

I retreated to a glass of Tyrells 2003 DB 24 and left the Massolino to breath for a few hours which brought out very pleasant aromatics of chestnuts, faint truffle and old hardwood notes. Pried open with air, dark fruits, still in great concentration, with tertiary development now dominating the back palate and finish.

Great old Barolo.

92pts

[JamieBahrain]

A fish has been spotted in water nearby, but nobody has had a bite here.

What do you mean? Has this treasured thread become political?

[Bobthebuilder]

Man that look like a young Aussie Barossa Shiraz or Coona cab in the decanter!

[tarija]

Jamie,

Have you had any experience with A&G Fantino? A Fantino was supposedly the winemaker at Bartolo Mascarello for 20 years...however don't really hear much about A&G Fantino, even on berserkers.

[JamieBahrain]

No I don't but thanks for the tip I want to visit three or four new producers in October. I'll have a chat to these guys.

[Hunter]

Anyone considering purchasing new release Sottimano barbaresco ?

[winetastic]

Anyone considering purchasing new release Sottimano barbaresco ?

I certainly would if the pricing was reasonable. Tasting their single vineyard barbaresco at the cellar door was a real treat, they follow a philosophy of making the wine that the vineyard gives them (a lot of producers say this, but in this case I believe it), and the specific characteristics really shine through.

[JamieBahrain]

Off the top of my head Sottimano have a number of Crus- Cotta, Cura and the other escapes me. Now, I did see they have a new riserva that I never did get around to buying.

[winetastic]

Off the top of my head Sottimano have a number of Crus- Cotta, Cura and the other escapes me. Now, I did see they have a new riserva that I never did get around to buying.

I should have said "single vineyard barbarescos", and yes, there were 4 at the time I was there, Cotta, Curra, Pajore, Fausoni.

[Hunter]

I'm going to grab a few Fausoni. Pretty reasonable reviews. I usually wouldn't fork out this much for barb tho. Should mix it up and get a variety

[JamieBahrain]

2010 Sottimano Barbaresco Riserva was on my buying radar and I just forgot about it. Seems to have inflated! $1800 AUD for 12 bottles seems a little rich.

[Matt@5453]

has anyone had experience with Fontanafredda?
I have a relative bringing some bottles back later in the year (2010s I think), they are raving about them.

[Ian S]

has anyone had experience with Fontanafredda?
I have a relative bringing some bottles back later in the year (2010s I think), they are raving about them.

Decent(ish) commercial - apparently lifting their game on the single vineyard wines in recent years. At lower levels, not bad but not exciting - buy if cheap (< £15 for the base Barolo is worth a punt here), however if you see some 1950s bottlings then do get more excited!

[winetastic]

On the subject of Australian Nebbiolo...

Many of you would have seen the review of the Domenica Nebbiolo 2013 (Beechworth, VIC) on the wine front - the way it presents is remarkably similar to a Nebbiolo from the Barolo region - I got pine aromas, cranberry, violets and later a whiff of rose perfume, lovely unfurling length and nice chalky tannins. At $45 I think its excellent value.

I have purchased and enjoyed other local nebbiolo such as Luke Lambert, which is wonderful in its own right, however tends to present more to me like a pinot (stalky/sappy).

I had a brief email exchange with the winemaker Peter Graham, figured I would share:

I've never had a response to a review anything like this, MB is clearly well regarded by people who collect!

The large format is a1600 litre Allier (french forest) botti, made by the Italian cooperage Gamba. I have two, this particular one is around 8 years old. The wine is matured in this until I consider it ready, there is no particular rule - for example, the 2014 will take longer than the 2013, perhaps three years. I'm looking for some aromatic softness, and some bricking of the colour. It also allows the abundant tannin to be approachable in youth. This isn't so much a concern to me as it is the customers, a reality of australian wine is that people are expecting wine they can enjoy immediately. I'm more interested in nebbiolo that is true to the grape, which means it's at the beginning of a long journey at this point.
Maceration time is actually not ridiculously long, around 21 - 28 days, determined by activity and level of extraction. A suitable site provides ample tannin, and from experience, I've found the only addition provided by long maceration is green (seed) tannin. This seems to come at the expense of the more delicate aromatics. Essentially it's done by taste and instinct.
2013 was outstanding for my site. There are characteristics of the wine that I'm not entirely satisfied with, but I think every winemaker would say that about every wine they ever made. Suffice to say the fruit was as good as I could ever want.
If you follow the nebbiolo in future vintages, you won't find two the same, it shows dramatic differences from year to year, just as you find in Barolo or Barbaresco. 2014 will be less soft, more structured (barolo - tar), 2015 lighter (barbaresco - flowers, mineral) but still very structured, 2016 early days but very fruit driven, probably more like 13, but hopefully better.
Hope that helps!

I imagine all of the 2013 will be sold out within a week, definitely worth grabbing a few bottles even for pure curiosity. I managed to secure a case, pretty chuffed.

[rooman]

Has anyone tried the Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere? I'm interested in anyone's thoughts?

[JamieBahrain]

I'm no expert though I have a put a few cases of 2008 and 2010 in cellar in an effort to boost my holdings of Monforte Baroli which deliver in the shadows of more lauded communes.

The Gramolere I've had seems typical Monforte with a tarry concentration, depth and commanding structure- though a good balance made them appealing in both the 08 and 09. Should be well priced.I actually have a six pack of 2010 in front of me ready to be shipped to Oz.

[rooman]

I'm no expert though I have a put a few cases of 2008 and 2010 in cellar in an effort to boost my holdings of Monforte Baroli which deliver in the shadows of more lauded communes.

The Gramolere I've had seems typical Monforte with a tarry concentration, depth and commanding structure- though a good balance made them appealing in both the 08 and 09. Should be well priced.I actually have a six pack of 2010 in front of me ready to be shipped to Oz.

So Jamie by the sounds of it, worth trying?

[rooman]

Jamie,

Have you had any experience with A&G Fantino? A Fantino was supposedly the winemaker at Bartolo Mascarello for 20 years...however don't really hear much about A&G Fantino, even on berserkers.

Looking through the Decanter review of Barolo last year, A&G Fantino was number seven in Decanter's review for the year - I initially wondered if they were the winery i was asking about above. A&G stand for Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino. From Bussia, Monforte if I understand the Italian regional analysis correctly.

[Gary W]

Jamie,

Have you had any experience with A&G Fantino? A Fantino was supposedly the winemaker at Bartolo Mascarello for 20 years...however don't really hear much about A&G Fantino, even on berserkers.

Looking through the Decanter review of Barolo last year, A&G Fantino was number seven in Decanter's review for the year - I initially wondered if they were the winery i was asking about above. A&G stand for Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino. From Bussia, Monforte if I understand the Italian regional analysis correctly.

The A&G Fantino wines are good. The 2010 Disobedient and 2008 Riserva in particular.
Fontanafredda, generally, uses too much oak. Their traditional wine unit - Mirafiore - is terrific, especially in 2010 with Paiagallo and Lazzarito both exceptional.

[rooman]

Jamie,

Have you had any experience with A&G Fantino? A Fantino was supposedly the winemaker at Bartolo Mascarello for 20 years...however don't really hear much about A&G Fantino, even on berserkers.

Looking through the Decanter review of Barolo last year, A&G Fantino was number seven in Decanter's review for the year - I initially wondered if they were the winery i was asking about above. A&G stand for Alessandro & Gian Natale Fantino. From Bussia, Monforte if I understand the Italian regional analysis correctly.

The A&G Fantino wines are good. The 2010 Disobedient and 2008 Riserva in particular.
Fontanafredda, generally, uses too much oak. Their traditional wine unit - Mirafiore - is terrific, especially in 2010 with Paiagallo and Lazzarito both exceptional.

GW

Have you tried the Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere?

Mark

[Gary W]

Have you tried the Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere?

Mark

No.

[marsalla]

Have you tried the Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere?

Mark

No.

Maybe try reviews on TheWineFront, they might have it

[rooman]

Have you tried the Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere?

Mark

No.

Maybe try reviews on TheWineFront, they might have it

Sadly tried there without any success.

Mark

[JamieBahrain]

I'm no expert though I have a put a few cases of 2008 and 2010 in cellar in an effort to boost my holdings of Monforte Baroli which deliver in the shadows of more lauded communes.

The Gramolere I've had seems typical Monforte with a tarry concentration, depth and commanding structure- though a good balance made them appealing in both the 08 and 09. Should be well priced.I actually have a six pack of 2010 in front of me ready to be shipped to Oz.

So Jamie by the sounds of it, worth trying?

Yes depending on price- it is a bargain even in 2010. And not forgetting provenance- Italian logistics terrible.

[JamieBahrain]

Cappellano Pie Rupestris Barolo 2000 & 2009- After a grueling week in urban China, I needed a producer to bring a celebration of humanity into my mid-week drinking. So I pulled the cork on a couple of Cappellanos, an amazing producer I buy annually regardless of vintage debate. 2009 and 2000 which I felt had similarities.

Barolo often delivers a sucker punch; pull the cork and there's explosive aromatics that frustratingly subside as aeration begins it's mysterious play. The initial aromatics were strikingly similar differentiated by a freshness of youth. On return from the initial, amazing kaleidoscope of both, the 2000 shows a light toffee, sour cherry/earth on pungent Serralunga minerality versus a ripe spectrum of complex dried florals, light aniseed/dark cherry and wet earth/cedar notes of the 2009.

In the mouth the 2000 has a powerful throw, with a front palate opulence and smoothed over texture, very long length and still a commanding tannin rise on the finish. The 2009 is incredibly approachable with the vintage delivering high levels of fruit and tannin ripeness - though neither over done. Just delicious Barolo and I can see why it's served by the glass at one of our top restaurants here in HKG.

I'll report further as I alchemize the wines- the 2000 will be left overnight and decanted for many hours tomorrow. The 2009, well I will drink most tonight and leave a glass to see how it fares overnight.

Teobaldo Cappellano never wanted mere mortals to associate points with his wonderful wines so I'll just say China is now a much better place after a few generous glasses.

[winetastic]

Bravo

[michel]

2008 2010 2010
99/100 100/100. 98/100

The Montfortino is astounding- structure & length & church windows

Cerbaiona is purity & one of the greatest wines since 1985 Sassicia

Costanti has some incredible fruit tannin structure& needs another 5 years to evolve

[JamieBahrain]

That's amazing the Monfortino so approachable from 2008 which is a very classical vintage.

With the expotential rise of Burgundy collectables, Monfortino seems to have doubled in price in 3-5 years. For me, it was a regrettably tentative purchase, foolishly so, when two to two and a half bottles could be had for the price of a Grange or HofG.

The other wine of Francia, though appreciating, may be where the smart money is off to next.

Wow! Cerbaiona that good ! I was offered the wine but thought vintage hype and its since appreciated significantly!