The Barolo / Barbaresco / Nebbiolo thread

[michel]

Last night had a 2012 Giacomo Conterno - Cerretta with veal cheaks.
This would have been the most powerful and structured wine we've had so far.

Cheers Con.

That looks like my cup of tea Con-the wine and the food.
I have a 2010 of this apparently only bottled in magnums.
I may have to open it next year for my birthday.

[Gary W]

2007 Traversa Sori Ciabot - good, rich, a bit rustic, plenty of fruit. Doing well.
2006 Benevelli Ravera di Monforte - lovely, in a good place.
2011 Serafino Rivella Montestefano - Nice, but a bit too squishy for me in texture.
2011 Giovanni Rossa Vigna Rionda - very fine for a 2011. Delicious. Approachable too.
2010 Anselma Vigna Rionda - needs more time. A bit sullen, like quite a few 2010 Barolo now. Beautiful wine though.
2011 Cappellano Pie Franco - no problems in 2011 for Cappellano. What a great bottle. Jam packed with fruit too.
2009 Pira Vigna Rionda - plush, almost chocolaty, shows some oak (barf), but thick and very tasty.
2012 Pira Vigna Rionda - bloody wonderful. 2012, I keep saying it, has some great wines and they really lay on the charm. Old oak only, it seems.
2013 Pira Vigna Rionda - hmmm. I thought bretty and not that great, but lets see...

[Ozzie W]

Looks awesome, Con. Very generous with the truffles in the first photo - can barely see the pasta underneath. We get shortchanged here.

[FredericoWines]

Seeking for tasting notes/opinions on Paolo Conterno Barolo Ginestra 2012, other than CT. Any one?

[michel]

Seeking for tasting notes/opinions on Paolo Conterno Barolo Ginestra 2012, other than CT. Any one?

PM sent

[JamieBahrain]

2011 Cappellano Pie Franco - no problems in 2011 for Cappellano. What a great bottle. Jam packed with fruit too.

I suggest to local Piedmont lovers, this is in the Bartolo Mascarello territory of a few years ago. There is considerable liklihood of signifcant price escalation and scarcity on the secondary market.

Grab a few bottles. Their wines from the 20's and 30's still drink well.

[michel]

2011 Cappellano Pie Franco - no problems in 2011 for Cappellano. What a great bottle. Jam packed with fruit too.

I suggest to local Piedmont lovers, this is in the Bartolo Mascarello territory of a few years ago. There is considerable liklihood of signifcant price escalation and scarcity on the secondary market.

Grab a few bottles. Their wines from the 20's and 30's still drink well.

2012 is pretty good
We found it on a winelist with a $20 markup
Obviously needs time

[tarija]

2011 Cappellano Pie Franco - no problems in 2011 for Cappellano. What a great bottle. Jam packed with fruit too.

I suggest to local Piedmont lovers, this is in the Bartolo Mascarello territory of a few years ago. There is considerable liklihood of signifcant price escalation and scarcity on the secondary market.

Hopefully not, as long as the wine critics keep up with not scoring the wines. Allow me to dream.

[Con J]

Last night had a 2012 Giacomo Conterno - Cerretta with veal cheaks.
This would have been the most powerful and structured wine we've had so far.

Cheers Con.

That looks like my cup of tea Con-the wine and the food.
I have a 2010 of this apparently only bottled in magnums.
I may have to open it next year for my birthday.

Yes, only 2000 magnums.
I believe the 2010 was the first Cerretta released by Conterno.

Cheers Con.

[Con J]

Last night I had a 2004 Massolino – Vigna Rionda barolo Riserva X Anni with Vitello Tonnato and Pigeon.

Sadly tonight will be our last night here then back to reality.

Cheers Con.

[Ian S]

One from a couple of weeks ago I didn't post before

• 2015 Casa Freschi Nebbiolo Ragazzi - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek (14/11/2017)
  Fair play, this is a pretty decent representation of a modest 'pranzo' / luncheon nebbiolo. Perhaps showing a little fat/glycerin texture, but this matches rather well to some smoky tar-like bitterness and there is enough acidity to carry it. Light/fine tannins. Oak is noticeable, including a hint of vanilla on the finish, but not excessive.
  
  Would I buy again? Maybe - perhaps most likely if spotted on a restaurant list. Would be interesting to try their other nebbiolo wine.
  [img]https://cdn.ct-static.com/labels/388213.jpg[/img]

[BHCC1]

Further to the comment above regarding Conterno Cerretta - my understanding is that 2010 was the first Cerretta labelled as Barolo but that he had the vineyard for at least 2 years before that and released the wines as Langhe Nebbiolo - Cerretta Serralunga whilst he was getting to know the site better. I had the 2008 recently and it was excellent.

[michel]

Further to the comment above regarding Conterno Cerretta - my understanding is that 2010 was the first Cerretta labelled as Barolo but that he had the vineyard for at least 2 years before that and released the wines as Langhe Nebbiolo - Cerretta Serralunga whilst he was getting to know the site better. I had the 2008 recently and it was excellent.

I have read that history as well
I am really keen to try his Cerretta
I love his deft touch on the Cascina Francia

[JamieBahrain]

I struggled with the raw youth of a Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2013. It had the hallmarks of excellent Barolo and was tamed by food.

I'm really wondering about this modern practice of drinking these wines young. You lose half the bottle on occasion.

[JamieBahrain]

Hi Con. great snap, is that Antine in Barbaresco? I love the "Anni" concept after seeing many trashed secondary market Barolos

[michel]

I struggled with the raw youth of a Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2013. It had the hallmarks of excellent Barolo and was tamed by food.

I'm really wondering about this modern practice of drinking these wines young. You lose half the bottle on occasion.

I purchased one from EEC a couple of months ago & travelled with it over 5 days in South Australia
I didn’t get much love at all

[Ian S]

I struggled with the raw youth of a Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2013. It had the hallmarks of excellent Barolo and was tamed by food.

I'm really wondering about this modern practice of drinking these wines young. You lose half the bottle on occasion.

Paired with the right food, and with flexibility on whether to decant / extended decant / just pour & drink, it is possible to drink many of them young. Not that many are the archetypal traditional style any more, but in recent times gone by wines such as those from Borgogno and Marcarini could be pretty brutal to drink on release, plus even a tasting of a range of fairly middle of the road Barbaresco wines would have you realising pretty quickly how assertive the tannins were after a glass or two. There is pleasure to be had, but it's not the same as a well-aged bottle, where there is less intensity, but at best the combination of delicacy and complexity is exceptional.

For me the trick is to get a range of styles, from finding a charming little nebbiolo d'Alba / Langhe Nebbiolo, through more modestly priced producers making reasonably approachable wines, through to more traditional wines / modernist wines that are well structured but need to lose the oak veneer. The first category can cover ~ 2-6+ years from vintage, the middle 4-15+ years from vintage, allowing the latter wines to be buried without the risk of being pressed into premature opening.

[michel]

2013 Rinaldi tre tine
Over a few hours
Thrilling perfume like church windows and long fine tannins
Possibly the greatest barolo I have ever tried
Maybe a shade better than 2010 Giacomo Conterno cascina

[JamieBahrain]

I struggled with the raw youth of a Vietti Castiglione Barolo 2013. It had the hallmarks of excellent Barolo and was tamed by food.

I'm really wondering about this modern practice of drinking these wines young. You lose half the bottle on occasion.

Paired with the right food, and with flexibility on whether to decant / extended decant / just pour & drink, it is possible to drink many of them young. Not that many are the archetypal traditional style any more, but in recent times gone by wines such as those from Borgogno and Marcarini could be pretty brutal to drink on release, plus even a tasting of a range of fairly middle of the road Barbaresco wines would have you realising pretty quickly how assertive the tannins were after a glass or two. There is pleasure to be had, but it's not the same as a well-aged bottle, where there is less intensity, but at best the combination of delicacy and complexity is exceptional.

For me the trick is to get a range of styles, from finding a charming little nebbiolo d'Alba / Langhe Nebbiolo, through more modestly priced producers making reasonably approachable wines, through to more traditional wines / modernist wines that are well structured but need to lose the oak veneer. The first category can cover ~ 2-6+ years from vintage, the middle 4-15+ years from vintage, allowing the latter wines to be buried without the risk of being pressed into premature opening.

I've opened four young Barolos to start the week. With a 74 standing up for when I'm in the mood. I think I'm fortunate enough to be in a good position to drink a lot of these wines but my drawback is buying 6 pack cases.

I wish I could buy a lot more basic nebbiolo but when all is said and done, the price differential between it and Barolo and Barbaresco is minimal with a little shipping included. For instance, I just ordered 12 x Produtorri Nebbiolo for 10£ a bottle yet 12£ onwards buys basic to Cru B&B if well sourced.



Michel

Rinaldi is really something. Still OK priced if young from restaurants in Piedmont.

[Con J]

Looks awesome, Con. Very generous with the truffles in the first photo - can barely see the pasta underneath. We get shortchanged here.

Hi Ozzie.

I don’t think we get short changed here.
You get what you pay for, most of the truffle dishes were 50 to 60 Euro each.

Hi Con. great snap, is that Antine in Barbaresco? I love the "Anni" concept after seeing many trashed secondary market Barolos

Hi Jamie.

Yes it is Antine in Barbaresco which was a highlight of the trip for me.
Agree on the Anni concept, I wish there were more producers that do it.



On our last night I had the 2013 Rizzi - Pajore Barbaresco with wild bore.


Cheers Con.

[Con J]

Hi Con
Looks like you are living the good life in Barolo at the moment. We are just back in Australia after spending the last month there. Had the 2008 version of the Conterno Cerretta one night and was very impressed.
Would be interested to know the name of the restaurants reflected in your photos but understand if you are keeping them quiet to protect the wine lists. You have probably worked out where you will be eating for the remainder of the trip but can I put in a suggestion for Agriturismo Iride in Roddino. A little out of the way but, from both a food and wine perspective, well worth the diversion

Below is the list of what we drank and where we ate.


2010 Massolino – Barolo.
2014 Produttori del Barbaresco – Barbaresco.
Locanda Cortiletto Alba. Food was good, wine list ordinary.

2010 Roagna – Paje Barbaresco Vecchie Viti.
Caffe Umberto – Alba. Food great, wine list great.

2012 Bruno Giacosa – Asili Barbaresco.
2015 Giacomo Conterno – Barbera d’Alba Francia.
Barolo Friends wine bar – Barolo. Food great, wine list great.

2013 Giuseppe Mascarello – Monprivato Barolo.
This was a BYO in Barolo.

2005 Brezzer – Sarmassa Barolo.
The Ristorante Brezza – Barolo. Food ordinary, wine list good.

2010 Cavaloto – Bricco Boschis Barolo.
Ristorante Le Torri – Castiglione Falletto. Food great, wine list great.

2011 Gianfranco Alessandria – Barolo.
Grappolo D’oro – Monforte d’Alba. Food ordinary, wine list ordinary.

2012 Giacomo Conterno – Cerretta Barolo.
Osteria La Salita – Monforte d’Alba. Food great, wine list great.

1990 Ceretto – Bricco Asili Barbaresco.
1995 Ceretto – Bricco Rocche Barolo.
Guido Ristorant at Fontanafredda – Serralunga d’Alba. Food great, wine list great.

2013 Piero Busso – San Stunet Barbaresco.
Campamac – Barbaresco. Food was great, wine list ordinary.

2004 Massolino – Vigna Rionda barolo Riserva X Anni.
Ristorant Antine – Barbaresco. Food great, wine list great.

2013 Rizzi – Pajore Barbaresco.
Ristorante Rabaya – Food good, wine list ordinary.

For me the pasta dishes in general were outstanding, while the rest were a bit hit and miss.

The picks of the restaurants were Antine, Guido and Cafe Umberto.

Cheers Con.

[JamieBahrain]

Lovely Con !

[michel]

Lovely Con !

I concur with Jamie
Well done Con
You will not regret the experience

[Ian S]

La Salita impressed us as well, but I do also like Le case della Saracca In Monforte as well, with a rather fine spread of food for aperitivi, plus a wide selection of bottles on tasting in enomatic machines.

Interesting seeing a positive review on the Rabaya - wasn't it there that someone posted on a truly awful pair of dishes?

[Gary W]

2013 Rinaldi tre tine
Over a few hours
Thrilling perfume like church windows and long fine tannins
Possibly the greatest barolo I have ever tried
Maybe a shade better than 2010 Giacomo Conterno cascina

The 2013 Rinaldi Brunate is better again...

[michel]

2013 Rinaldi tre tine
Over a few hours
Thrilling perfume like church windows and long fine tannins
Possibly the greatest barolo I have ever tried
Maybe a shade better than 2010 Giacomo Conterno cascina

The 2013 Rinaldi Brunate is better again...

Cool Gary W
Sell me one of your case

[JamieBahrain]

I opened these four Barolos on Sunday and finished the last tonight ( Friday ). It's a lot of fun nebbiolo. Each wine often delivers a number of experiences over the consecutive evenings and comfortably shows no negative signs of oxidation- I don't know another varietal that does this.


Ceretto Barolo 2013- I've heard they've wound back their oak which is welcome news as I've had some vintages decades old where the wood is sickly and drying.

Lively and fresh. Impressive ! Understated dark chocolate and rich violet fruit, some pepper and cedar-earth. Palate is rich and full, citrus infused acidity is fresh and keeps the wine interesting. Youthful firm tannin spreads and snap-off on the finish. The wine has a good carry of ripe fruit.

Over the week, the wine remains enjoyable and fresh, a little resin in the oak that melts and integrates with the chocolate fruit and citrus acidity- which hardens a touch.

92pts +


Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Cannubi 2013- There's an aromatic purity here versus an aromatic decadence. Pure florals and sandalwood versus cocoa and chicory - the only give from a generous layer of dark fruit. Medium to full, palate is youthful, poised and amazingly complete. So wonderful that I finished the rest of the wine on day two where the wine subsided toward a classic tar and roses experience with warm dark cherry and tobacco fruit- structurally focused and precise with emerging licorice/amaro/ herbal complexity infusing the finish.

Quite impressive for the price.

96pts+


Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Villero 2013- I guessed right this fellow would need more air and it was consumed over the whole week. Ripe blue floral notes, gentle cedar and malty dark fruits. Rustier than Cannubi. By day three its there- classic florals, warm and dark fruited nebbiolo amalgam with fresh menthol and seasoning. Fruit slowly unravels on the palate, encased in a rusty Castiglione structure of acidity and firey tannin.

95pts+



Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2013- Takes four days to become friendly and deliver. At it's best, it opens with precise scents in a complex dark mix, all gently lifted adding complexity. Palate easily fills out delivering the aromatics in flavour nuances as exceptional vintages do, completes with balanced and dry-spiced tannin. Well crafted wine, not overdome and the vintage is left to shine.

94pts+







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[BHCC1]

Thanks for the report Con, much appreciated. Sound like a great trip. We live the place and after three trips can’t wait to get back.

Our recent visit was based in Serralunga and whilst we prepared our own meals most nights we did get out and about a bit too. Some views on a few of the establishments we dined at:

Vinoteca Centro Storico - an absolute must for any one visiting Serralunga. Effectively became our “local” and over the month we ate there four times and dropped by for a wine on probably three other occasions. Knowledgeable and engaging host with mum in the kitchen. The food regionally typical, simple and generally quite good with the odd highlight. Freshly foraged Serralunga truffle was compelling. The winelist is outstanding. It becomes clear pretty early on that there is the “official” printed wine list and the informal wine list. So anyone visiting should speak to Alessio to find out what else may be under the counter. Had most of our good bottles here.

Trattoria della Posta - Probably the most highly regarded restaurant of those we ate at on this trip. Beautiful room and excellent winelist. The 2012 Monprivato, although years from being at its top was a beautiful thing. The food is rather artistically presented but to be honest the overall quality we found to be a little below expectation. The cheese trolley is outstanding though.

Restaurant La Rosa dei Vini - We ate there twice. The menu “typical” and the quality fair to good. The winelist is the attraction here with several gems at very modest prices.

Agriturismo Iride - The find of the trip. Outstanding menu driven by a very capable and passionate young chef. The food is strongly based on regional staples but with an inventive twist that provides a welcome change from the standard menus of the region. The chefs proud mother provides a warm welcome at front of house. Very good winelist and the Fratelli Allesandria 1996 Barolo and 2000 Monvigliero suggested that cellaring conditions are good.

La Paola - Not our first visit here but this time thought it rather bland.

Cascina Rosengana - A long way off the beaten track in Coccinato in the Roero. Good for lunch.

And a couple of closing thoughts:

As a generalisation, over the three months that we were away I appreciated the front of house style in Italy which is much less interventionist than here. It was so nice not to be hassled every two minutes by a waiter introducing themselves, wanting to know how the meal is mouthful by mouthful and my pet hate, removing one diners finished plate while others at the table are still eating.

And finally, without wanting to sound xenophobic - “we don’t know how lucky we are” to have such a range of eating options in Australia with a cuisine that has been shaped by such a diverse range of influences. Italian food is outstanding and we have had some of our best dining experiences in Italy but when you are in a particular region for a fairly lengthy period of time, menus can look a little one dimensional.

Wish I had the wherewithal to post some photos. Sorry.

[Ian S]

Restaurant La Rosa dei Vini

It does run the risk of feeling a bit dated, but we did enjoy the lunch we had here, and it was a very short walk up the hill from the apartment.

Will give Iride a go if we return to Serralunga (or nearby). Thanks for the recco

[JamieBahrain]

And finally, without wanting to sound xenophobic - “we don’t know how lucky we are” to have such a range of eating options in Australia with a cuisine that has been shaped by such a diverse range of influences. Italian food is outstanding and we have had some of our best dining experiences in Italy but when you are in a particular region for a fairly lengthy period of time, menus can look a little one dimensional.

I found that for years until I dined with winemakers and restaurateurs in the area in their family environments. The food around the family table is completely different to the famous tourist fairs of Piedmont. Far more vegetables and salads and animal protein less judicious.