The Barolo / Barbaresco / Nebbiolo thread

[JamieBahrain]

Paolo Conterno Barolo "Riva Del Bric" 2013- I enjoy this Monforte producer who does great things around Ginestra at very affordable prices. This wine is from younger vines not yet ready for Ginestra bottlings and it got a bit of hype from JS a few vintages ago I think- though I wasn't paying much attention. I do see the initial appeal of the wine but I can't say I'd see it going long range like Ginestra/ Ginestra Riserva.

6 bottles bought, one corked, one fine and no logistical spare capacity to get them down to the Aussie cellar, so they are a nice look at 2013 vintage - lasting as long as my wine fridges can spare the room.

Fresh red florals, dark fruit and underbrush which attenuate a strong citrus overtone. Svelte volume and silky palate spread, seems common in what little 2013 Barolo I've tried, the fruit smokey, dark and sweet at the core completing with earthy nuances and light menthol prior some fiery Monforte tannin. Beautiful and mellow day two, tannins fine and integrated suggesting an early pleaser.

92pts+


I drink a lot of dolcetto mid-week in our summer and this one is amazing. Quite full and ripe, no reductiveness and just a pleasure to drink for $10 Aussie internationally delivered !

[Gavin Trott]

I will be in Hong Kong this time tomorrow, for a few days stop over, en route to our time in Italy! Its come all too soon, and am very excited for our trip, our discoveries, and our exploration of the many wonderful wine and food regions of Italy!

Please, while I am away, make sure you all play nicely!! No arguments, no bad behavior etc, maintain standards at all times! :--)

.

[Hunter]

Safe travels gav !

[JamieBahrain]

May be stuck here ! Typhoon brewing again .

[michel]

Cool Gav
Leave the keys under the mat so I can look after your pad....

[Hunter]

Cool Gav
Leave the keys under the mat so I can look after your pad....

Are you still heading this way soon ?

[JamieBahrain]

Giovanni Rosso Barolo Serralung 2012- A lack of vitality left the overall impression of a wine developing a little fast. Red florals, melted licorice, sour red fruits that lend toward better red nuanced purity with aeration. Medium bodied and sweet flowing from the core, spices and a lot of cloves with red fruits in fresh leather completing the wine, that alternates between warm furry tannins to a more classical searing Serralunga back palate tannin rise.

Two bottles this week similar. I know the wine lauded over at WF which has me wondering about logistics here. Came from Cru in HKG whom I have a lot of arguments with.

91pts


B

[michel]

Cool Gav
Leave the keys under the mat so I can look after your pad....

Are you still heading this way soon ?

Ooh yeah

[michel]

Off topic but
2014 giacomo conterno francia barbera is in a gorgeous sweet spot atm
Try it asap with simple Italian food

[JamieBahrain]

I have these in magnums.

[michel]

I have these in magnums.

No one does a barbera as good as GC
I love them young with woodfired pizza

[JamieBahrain]

The age well and source G Rinaldi

[JamieBahrain]

Barbaresco Asili (Tasting and Dinner)

Location: Restaurant Whisk, The Mira Hong Kong, 118 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Date: 14th September (Thursday)
Time: 7pm
Price: $2,100 (members),

"Even out of a line up of dozens of Barbarescos, I can always pick out Asili, thanks to its intense floral perfume and its extraordinary elegance"
- Bruno Giacosa

Ever since we confirmed the above quotation from the great winemaker during our HKWS trip to Piedmont, I have been collecting bottles from this special Cru with an event on my mind.
So here it is, a tasting of all the significant producers of Barbaresco Asili.

Dinner wines will be served in pairs. First, we will compare two white wine (Timorasso), "Pitasso" from legendary producer Claudio Mariotto against the first vintage of Luca Roagna's Derthona Montemarzino. Next is the 1985 pair of Ceretto Barbaresco Asij and Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Asili, before we move to the battle of the Titans: 2007 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Reserva vs 2007 Roagna Barbaresco Asili VV.

Tasting Wines (single bottle)
2004 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Reserva Double Magnum
1995 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili
2003 Ceretto Barbaresco Bricco Asili (Magnum)
2004 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Reserva (Magnum)
2007 Ca' Del Baio Barbaresco Asili
2009 Ca' Del Baio Barbareseco Asili
2009 Roagna Barbaresco Asili VV
2010 Ca' Del Baio Barbaresco Asili
2010 Luigi Giordano Barbaresco Asili
2010 Michele Chiarlo Barbaresco Asili (donated by Roland)
2011 Luigi Giordano Barbaresceo Asili
2011 Roagna Barbaresco Asili VV
2011 Cascina Luisin Barbaresco Asili


Dinner
HAMACHI CARPACCIO, Wild herbs, Wasabi & Sansho Sauce

2012 Claudio Mariotto Timorasso "Pitasso"
2014 Roagna Derthona Montemarzino

***

BOTAN EBI RAVIOLI, Duck Foie Gras Cream, Braised Cabbage

1985 Ceretto Barbaresco Asij
1985 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Asili

***

BRAISED VEAL CHEEK, Burnt Onion, Kale

2007 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Reserva Magnum
2007 Roagna Barbaresco Asili VV

2004 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Reserva Double Magnum

***

SELECTION OF ITALIAN CHEESE, Paprika, Apple, Celery

***

PETIT FOURS

***

COFFEE OR TEA

*Map from Alessandro Masnaghetti and website https://vino.wongnwong.com/

[JamieBahrain]

I was very excited about this tasting. Asili ! I'll be there tomorrow. I'm in the jump seat on a B777 to MXP and Barbaresco is the best place to stay for the first night as it's closest to the airport, quiet and relaxed.

People are clever. Somebody drew up all the producers and holdings of Asili on the map below. Cerretto has the highest elevation, 290 m at the blue lined cross point but look at Roagna ! Beautifully perched !






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[JamieBahrain]

2007 Ca' Del Baio Barbaresco Asili- This was obviously a ripe Barbaresco vintage- more masculine than perfumed amalgam of red and black fruits with whiffs of mint and thyme. Medium bodied and a good volume of the aromatics sits well on the palate. Tannins are ripe and fine though dry and shorten the finish in austerity preventing top marks.

91pts+

9th for me 4th for the Group.

( Mixture of oak casks and barriques )

2009 Ca' Del Baio Barbaresco Asili- Again, obviously warm vintage with an inviting and ripe amalgam of red and black, airiness and sandalwood. Finely structured, slightly out of place tannins though the wine's aromatics are again nicely delivered in the laver profile and persistance.

95pts

4th for Me and 3rd for the Group.

( Mixture of oak casks and barriques )



2010 Ca' Del Baio Barbaresco Asili-Very elegant and on reflection typical of my experience with this vintage of Barbaresco which sits in the shadow of Barolo 2010. Red and black again, minerals and iodine. The palate is classical and delivers a great persistence with commanding power and austerity that will fill with complexity in time.

95pts+

2nd for Me and 5th for the Group.

( Mixture of oak casks and barriques )


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Ca' Del Baio Barbaresco Asili was a discovery for many ! I'll buy without reservation. It's not expensive.



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2010 Michele Chiarlo Barbaresco Asili- Oddly, mulch and sea weed/ truffle though air deepens the bouquet toward deeper anise/licorice and hints of cedar. Comfortably delivered and felt almost resolved in tonight's line-up.

Michele has hosted our Group a number of times and I hope to repay the favour by staying at his resort Cerequio between La More and Barolo proper in the next few days.

93pts

6th for Me 10th for the group.

( new and old average sized oak casks )

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2010 Luigi Giordano Barbaresco Asili- Classic 2010 fine and elegant Asili. Deepens beautifully and typically with air. Old fashioned and dusty/earthy and a crime to rate now, it just kept improving. Wines slow-oxed.

91pts

8th for Me and 6th for the Group.

( large oak casks )




2011 Luigi Giordano Barbaresco Asili- Showing well now, 2011. I think the 2010 will be better in time. Piercing Asili red and black, sweet and ripe fruit which carries on the palate too- sweet at the core, warm though a long, balancing carry distracts any negativity at this stage.

93pts

7th for the Group and Myself.

( large oak casks )


2011 Cascina Luisin Barbaresco Asili - Ripe and creamy- classic red and white soft confectionary you see in Burgundy in riper vintages. Quite the parade on the palate. Acidity helps- blueberry and bubblegum LOL. Global warming here we come.Kind of worked in the end.

90pts

10th for Me 11th for the Group.



( mixture of big and small oak casks )




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2011 Roagna Barbaresco Asili Veche Viti - This wine is classically understated, delicate and complex, perhaps lost in the brutality of a blind line-up. Florals, tar and roses emerge that sits posed and balances on a long, fine palate length- critically, perhaps the austerity a little hard, time will fix with Roagna.

93pts+

5th for Me 9th for the Group.

( large oak casks )


2009 Roagna Barbaresco Asili Veche Viti - Blind I felt this an old wine like Produtorri 85. I'd say the cork hasn't sealed as the development appeared significant for an 09 ! Red and black fruits though edged with ferrous minerality. Complete in texture though lightish, old tertiary notes. More than drinkable but hey, 2009 Roagna ? Voted well which I though odd.

88pts

12th for Me 2nd for the Group



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2003 Ceretto Barbaresco Bricco Asili en magnum- Shiraz like LOL. Exotic red and black fruits, Asili but riper. Exotic coconut oak and the fruit has a hot summer stickiness to it. Ripe oaky and sweet; coarse oak tannin.

89pts

11th for Me and 8th for the Group.

( Mixture of new and used oak )


Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2005-Very fine and elegant . Delicately perfumed yet muscular. Marmite base to the gentle floral and red fruited aromas.Saline and minerals run through the classically structured wine. Wonderful!

94pts

3rd for Me 12th for the Group.


2004 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva double magnum- Polished red and black fruits with amazing herbal, mineral and fruit complexity- ultra-fine and ultra-tight. Sublime power and poise. One of the greatest wines of the world.Too young though and very happy to have a six pack.

98pts+



( large oak casks )



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[JamieBahrain]

Dinner wines-

We got a look at two contrasting styles of Timorrasso including Roagna's inaugural vintage. Claudio Mariotto's 2012 Pitasso is round and slightly oxidative, develops sort of like Aussie semicolon though a brassy minerality. 91pts. Roagna's 2014 Derthona is delineated and focused with melon, hay and minerals on long lengths. 92pts







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Note the lighter colour of Roagna's Derthona.

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A Pair of 85 Barbarescos. 1985 Asij from Ceretto showed one good bottle and one bad- the better. Heavily leathered and gritty, a spike of fresh red fruits, spices and light acetone. I have had better bottles. 90pts. Produttori's Asili Reserve 1985 from a magnum was full and layered with dark evolved fruit and tertiary edged. Spiky acidity and improved with food. 91pts



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Roagna makes special, special Barbresco. Giacosa makes special, special, special Barbaresco.

We were all on high, food was great and company too. The Roagna 2007 Asili VV had more evolution than the Giacosa, crafted and polished, tar and roses though as usual, the bottomless depth mesmerising. 96pts+ Giacosa's Asili Riserva 2007 is clean and amazingly pure, the greatest of any 2007 My daughter's birth year and two cases proudly cellared. Distinctly Asili, tight and with depth limited by its palate precision. A structural masterpiece waiting to uncoil. 97pts +


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[JamieBahrain]

The Roagna Vecchie Vigne and Giacosa Asili Riserva 2007 both travelling well the next day. Vintage similarities apparent in both. Depth and balance still standout.

What's interesting is I have about half a bottle of these wines. Would have been tipped out otherwise. Tastings are ridiculously wasteful.

[Ian S]

Hi Jamie
That would indeed have been a waste.

At our old tasting group, we'd often use quite small pours in the tasting, often with half the bottle left over. After that first circuit we'd serve up some hearty food and it was a free-for-all to revisit the wines. At the end of the evening we'd still often have a few bottles with 1/4 to 1/3 of a bottle remaining, with these recorked and divvied out. At worst they would be useful cooking wine, at best they'd have opened out and be better the following evening.

Regards
Ian

[JamieBahrain]

There's not much interest in that approach here. I make no apologies for taking home amazing wines that often show better next day. Too much wine in HKG I think

[Ian S]

There's not much interest in that approach here. I make no apologies for taking home amazing wines that often show better next day. Too much wine in HKG I think

Is that a "I wanted to taste that, I have, so it's now ticked off the bucket list" mentality?

At our last tasting, we had an eclectic mix of Portuguese wines, including a Mateus Rose, sort of as a joke, but it's always interesting to revisit such wines and see what they are like these days. Certainly better than it used to be, though the modern glass bottle disappointed everyone who recalled student candle holders! Even it got finished off a few days later (a slight surprise it lasted the 3-4 days post tasting in the fridge).

[JamieBahrain]

Francone Barbaresco Riserva 2010- white pepper, funky mulch, cherries and plums. Rounded and simple , completes with good acidity and resolved tannins .

88pts

Welcome to Barbaresco ! Lunch at Nicolini, wine festival tonight at Neive all the while staying at Cascina Delle Rose during harvest .


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[Gavin Trott]

We will be in Piemonte tomorrow, in Barolo first, then move on to Barbaresco.

Getting excited already, with some great winery visit appointments made, and hopefully many more discoveries to be made!

Tuscany was beautiful, stayed in Montalcino, and Radda in Chianti, discovered so much more about this region, as I knew so little, and =tried some wonderful wines, plus unrepeatable experiences.

Loving Italy, so far exceeding my expectations!

.

[JamieBahrain]

G'day Gavin

Weather is lovely . We are just cruising . Very impressed with Cascina Delle Rose . No doubt we will bump !

[Gavin Trott]

G'day Gavin

Weather is lovely . We are just cruising . Very impressed with Cascina Delle Rose . No doubt we will bump !

Love to catch up, if possible Jamie, see how things all go.

We are staying at Burlotto first couple of days, then moving and staying at Giuseppe Cortese for the remaining part of the stay ... yourself?

.

[Ian S]

Will be interested in your views of Verduno as a base Gavin. It seems charmingly sleepy, which makes a nice contrast to Barolo & even La Morra / Monforte, though I suppose the fear is that it feels a little too quiet. Nice chap Fabio, seems to work very hard as well, and certainly makes a diverse range of wines.

Hope the Porcini are good this year.

[JamieBahrain]

Neive is one of the communes of Barbaresco and quite something. Beautiful, ancient town surrounded by vineyards .

The wine festival was great and I enjoyed a number of Barbaresco by the glass. Neive producers like their wood!

La Spinetta was lovely , needing time still thought did complete with splinters . The next producer in pic I haven't tried. Fuller and riper than the Starderi. Also tried Franco Rocca's 2013 Albesani which was pleasant with mixed oak influence and ripe expression.

My wife drank amazing Barbera. Sottimano's 2015 a standout !

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[Ian S]

Hi Jamie
We've yet to stay in or even visit Neive, but are quite keen to do so (despite the oakphilia!). Does Cascine delle Rose have apartments?

La Spinetta are something different. In a lineup at the Festa del Barbaresco in the Commune building, they stood out as being nothing like the rest of the wines, despite everything there being Barbaresco. Like you I enjoyed them, though at least back then, there was an argument that they weren't representative and conceivably should have been outside DOCG, such was the degree of difference. I believe more have edged towards them in time (and in the wine you tasted above, even beyond them!). Despite the enjoyment, they were priced ~ 2x was I felt they were worth. Not so for their two Moscato wines, which I think are very much near the top of the tree, yet not priced excessively at all.

Mainerdo a new name to me as well, though a visit to any of the villages will always reveal names that slip under the radar of the usual critics, who often seem to focus on very similar subsets of wines. Also new names come through, often with children branching off to do their own thing. Always worth a taste.

Regards
Ian

[JamieBahrain]

Quick vibes and apologies for predictive text etc as I thumb away in iPhone .

Beautiful weather here in Piedmont, Yesterday we strolled the vineyards of Rio Sordo in Barbaresco and watched the harvesting .

Soon after we ventured to Alba and found pricing of wines far more expensive then previous . Far cheaper my fortunate avenues to HKG .

Returned a few corked wines for exchange I brought from HKG at the Produttori del Barbaresco. I tried the 2014 Produttori del Barbaresco which was incredibly pure with all the expected characteristics in place . I wouldn't just say the wine is approachable , it's impressively gratifying and I can see why the positive US reviews. Easy 92pts+

Slipped next door to Rocche Dei Barrbari who only release via CD or mailing list . Grabbed a 2009 and 2010 to take to HKG after having tried 2005,2006, 2009, 2010 and being sufficiently interested . Their vineyards are tiny in the town and from the Tower are in the Neive direction


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On the way back to the car couldn't resist a stop by at the Enoteca del Regionale for a few souvineers and a quick tasting below - granted soil differences but just wanted to confirm my thoughts on 2013 versus 2014.

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We did a tasting at Cascina Delle Rose. Wonderful B and B with a small winery with a lineage of historically significant people in the tumultuous regional history . The son Ricardo is brilliant. The perfect host and he will organise tastings and dinner venues.

I'll report further on their wines I have the 2 x Crus still open .

Dinner at Taste in Tre Stelle. Walking distance from B and B and new place with good food but working through service issues .


Nadia Fiorenzo Barbaresco Rombone 2013- aromatically enticing, red florals and red fruits lifted by Alpine menthols and herbs, then layered darker fruit and gentle but evident barrique spice . Full and with good volume , finished with firey tannin and a little heat brought on by a myriad of dishes .

Better marks if decanted I'm sure but an approachable and early maturer!

91pts +


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[Ian S]

Hi Jamie
Very glad you walked some vineyards - such a treat that vineyards are open to all to walk through, and as the leaves start to change colour, the scenery really kicks up a notch.
Did you like the Batasiolo? Not a winery I hold in high regard, but maybe their presence in airport duty free and similar places prejudices me.
Regards
Ian

[JamieBahrain]

Gday Ian the Batasiolo was the only 2013 on offer for tasting and showed structural superiority over the Colla.

Vineyard walks are great here. Enjoying a little balance with some modest exercise . I'm supposed to be volcano climbing next week in the Phillipines to offset the great living here, but have just been advised my climb a no-go . May have to park myself here another week at 4000 calories a day .