Hello, wine sippers.
When I was cutting my wine teeth, and well beyond that time, I had a hard time with the wines of Piedmont. Figuring out Barolo and Barbaresco, Barbera d’Alba and Barbera d’Asti is a difficult task, for a multitude of reasons. Yes, they’re wines that you don’t get the opportunity to taste very often- they’re not often served by the glass outside of an Italian restaurant. Yes, they’re referred to by a mix of nomenclatures: Barolo and Barbaresco are appellations, but Barbera and Dolcetto are varietals. Yes, they can be pricey- who can afford to taste bottles that you mostly see only in restaurants for $80 or more?
So we thought it might be fun to have a small Piedmont Primer. This Sunday, January 30th, we’ll be tasting six Piedmontese wines with Allen Rodgriguez of Classico Fine Wines. The tasting is, as usual, at 3:30 pm. As usual, it’s $25 to attend. As usual, there will be discounts on the wines you decide to purchase. And as usual, the price includes tasty snacks paired with the wines. To reserve a spot, call us at 326-9363 and we’d love to have you at the tasting.
Piedmont Primer
2010 Castello di Neive “Montebertotto” Langhe Arneis, Langhe $17.00
Hints of anise and celeriac greet the nose initially with citrus and green almonds not far behind. A light, refreshing and savory palate follows.
2007 Boroli “Madonna di Como” Dolcetto d’Alba $19.00
The colour is deep ruby red with purple tints while the bouquet displays sweet fruity aromas such as violet, marasca, wild blackberry. This wine is consistent and mature and it offers a harmonious and complex balance of tannins and a good acidity, followed by a long appealing finish with typical hints of almond. It is ready for drinking but it can be kept in the cellar for a few years. It is matured in steel for 6-9 months and refined in bottle for 6 months.
2007 Castello di Neive Barbera d’Alba Santo Stefano $22.00
Intense ruby red Barbera with tinges of purple, the Santo Stefano offers substantial red fruit and complexity with plenty of spice on the nose. Persistent, fresh and structured with integrated acidity to balance the boldness of fruit.
2006 Stefano Farina Barbaresco, Barbaresco $42.00
Ripe berry and plum aromas, with hints of spices, lead to a full-bodied palate, with sweet fruit and hints of vanilla, cinnamon and honey. Long and flavorful. Delicious already, but maturing through 2016.
2005 Boroli Barolo, Barolo $51.00
Very aromatic, with roses, tar, and dark ripe fruits. Full-bodied, with big, round and chewy tannins and lovely sweet fruit. Long and delicious, with excellent depth.
2008 Casalone “Mariposa” Brachetto $18.00
With a rose-petal color and rose petal on the nose, with hints of raspberry, this partially fermented must of Brachetto offers a clean, clear dose of fruit balanced with a rich, creamy texture.