Barolo Barbaresco Winemaker Dinner Wednesday Feb 5 NYC UPDATED

I am writing today to gauge interest in a dinner I am proposing. I recently began working with the Voix de la Terre wine club, VDLTWINE.COM helping them select Italian wines for their portfolio. As you might know there is a huge Barolo and Barbaresco promotional tasting happening on Tuesday February 4th. Many of the producers I am working with will be promoting their wines at this tasting. I am hoping to corral them for a dinner on Wednesday February 5th. I was wondering if you would be interested in attending this dinner.



We are working on trying to keep the price to $150 all in, and still working with venues on that front. We will be pouring somewhere between 14-18 wines during the dinner, starting with 4 Chianti Classicos that are worth trying which will be followed up by several vintages of Barolo and Barbaresco. The Barolo producers are all from La Morra: Osvaldo Viberti, Cascina Ballerina, and Ernesto Molino with Manuel Marinacci’s Barbaresco coming from the sliver of Alba that was granted Barbaresco status. There are some stunning wines in the line-up, all of which are quite traditional as might be expected, which I truly look forward to sharing with you.



Obviously this is a promotional event, I hope to sell these wines,admittedly in very modest quantities, but this is also a chance for me to hear what consumers have to say. I know we all love Nebbiolo, and should love Sangiovese as well, but taking the leap from talking about wine to trying to sell wine is not to be taken lightly. I would look forward to your company at this dinner but also am interested in hearing what you have to say about these wines and their pricing, and frankly I also hope to show the producers that I can put together a group of truly top notch, educated and passionate consumers for their wines. They, with their halting english, are looking forward to introducing you to their wines more than I ever could.



Please let me know your thoughts regarding the dinner. If you could share this with your Nebbiolo loving friends that would be a huge help to me as well. I hope you can invite a group and join us for what should be a terrific evening. If you have any questions regarding the event or the wines being served, please feel free to reach out and ask. Gregory@Simplybetterwines.com





Thanks very much and I hope to see you soon!

I’m following up with further details regarding our Winemaker Dinner to be held on Wednesday February 5th. We’ve settled on Pietro’s in midtown as our venue. There will be a fixed menu that will include Appetizer, Salad, Baked Shells in Bone Marrow Sauce, Steak or Lamb Chops, and Tiramisu.

The cost is $165 per person all-in. Advanced purchase required.

Please share this with your wine loving friends. It’s a terrific deal and an opportunity to taste wines that we never see here in the states.

You can purchase tickets here: https://vdltwine.com/products/barolo-barbaresco-chianti-dinner-2-5-20

Here are the winemakers and wines scheduled to be on-hand:

Barbaresco
*Manuel Marinacci pouring his 2009 & 2015
*Ugo Lequio Gallina 2013

Barolo La Morra

*Sergio Molino pouring his Bricco Rocca 2014, 2016 & Riserva del Fico 2013

*Osvaldo Viberti pouring his Serra dei Turchi 2006, 2015 & 2016

*Cascina Ballarin Bricco Rocca 2011, 2015 & 2016

They will be preceded by:
*Fietri Chianti Classico Riserva 2012
*Montefioralle Chianti Classico Riserva 2016
*Pomona Chianti Classico Riserva 2016

Wines will be served in Grassl Tasting glasses. Each attendee is welcome to take one glass at the evening’s conclusion, compliments of CJF Selections & VDLT.

Some details regarding the highlights of the tasting include:

2012 Fietri Chianti Classico Riserva

100% Sangiovese, 400-600 meters above sea level, southern exposure, dark, iron rich galestro soil, aged in used tonneaux, 3000 bottles produced

Mature, coming from a warm vintage, though from one of the most sauvage, high altitude vineyards in Chianti Classico this is just a classic example of Chianti Classico Riserva.

2016 Pomona Chianti Classico Riserva

100% Sangiovese, 300-350 meters above sea level, southern exposure, calcium rich, albarese stony soils, aged in botti and concrete, 4000 bottles produced

Little know until recently, Bandini Villa Pomona is on a roll producing a rich, structured, eminently well balanced Chianti Classico Riserva that has started winning awards like the coveted Tre Bicchieri. Delicious now and decidedly age worthy, this is definitely a producer who we will be hearing much more of.

2016 Montefioralle Chianti Classico Riserva

90% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and Coloring, 320-350 meters above sea level, eastern exposure, clay and calcareous soil over limestone, aged in used barrique, 3000 bottles produced

The Corton of Chianti! I love these wines though they are unique, even a bit difficult early on with their muscular, chiseled tannins, that speak of the limestone that the vines sit on. A unique though thoroughly exciting example of Chianti Classico Riserva.

Manuel Marinacci

Commune of Alba, San Rocco Seno d’Elvio - 300-350 meters above sea level, southwestern exposure, calcareous blue marne soils, 30 months in botte, Slavonian oak,

Gorgeously aromatic, pure and playful for Barbaresco. This is simply delicious. Manuel has been quietly producing wines from his tiny family vineyard which they have been quietly consumed by locals in the know, until now. This is the lively, juicy style of Barbaresco that I prefer. Definitely not a baby Barolo, as it should be.

Ugo Lequio

Commune of Neive, 170-250 meters above sea level, southern exposure, Calcareous clay soil, 20 months in 25 HL botte, Slavonian oak

This is the Gallina vineyard plot previously used by Bruno Giacosa, though in a slightly different style. The sheer quality of the vineyard though is undeniable. Delicate, perfumed, red fruited and floral Barbaresco.

Ernesto Molino

Commune of La Morra, 230-260 meters above sea level, eastern exposure, sandy calcareous blue marne soil, Slavonian oak, fewer than 2000 bottles produced

Sergio Molino is a consulting enologist for 2 down or so estates in Italy. With just a few hectares of vineyard to his name he started producing tiny qualities of super classic, exceptionally expressive Barolo under 2 labels. His 2014 is simply put one of the wines of the vintage and worthy testament to his fastidiousness but the Riserva dei Fichi is on another plane. It is the best Barolo you’ve never had. Just a stunning wine produced in tiny numbers of fewer than 1000 bottles annually. No temperature control, Sergio takes risks in order to produce something special Undeniably a future benchmark.

Cascina Ballarin
Commune of La Morra, 230-260 meters above sea level, eastern exposure, sandy calcareous blue marne soil, 26 months in 10-20 hl botte, Slavonian oak,

I have always wondered why Casino Ballerina never gets any traction in the US market. Part of that reason might be it’s location at the base of the hill leading up to La Morra, shared by the way with Ernesto Molino. Well, times are changing and one can demonstrate the advantage of some of the sites in the face of global warming. On the other hand, Giorgio Viberti produces a range of styles here, some more modern than this traditional styled Bricco Rocca. It’s exquisitely La Morra, plush, rich, soft tannins, great fruit. The type of Barolo that please a broad array of palate and is perhaps more playful than serious, though always in a classic style.

Please purchase your ticket here: https://vdltwine.com/products/barolo-barbaresco-chianti-dinner-2-5-20

Interested. Thanks Gregory.

That sounds fantastic. I’m interested. Thanks.

I’m interested, thanks. Tom

Sent email, thanks

I’ve added details about the wines and producers. It’s a terrific line-up. I can’t believe that these have been overlooked in the US market and am excited to hear what folks think about them. Any questions, let me know!

I won’t be able to attend this dinner. Thank you.