2002 Barolo?

WINE TALK
1

I didn’t know until recently that Monfortino was made in the 2002 vintage. I had purchased 6 heavily discounted 2002 Sandrone Le Vigne upon release. Has anyone had any recent experiences with 2002 Barolo? Do you think that the tannins will ever be resolved? Thanks.

2

I had the privilege of tasting the Monfortino 2002 last year and it was fantastic. Best wine I have tasted so far (in the same tasting there was also the Monfortino 2004, but I liked the 02 better).
I cannot say anything about other 2002 Barolo from direct experience, but can report what Roberto Conterno said last spring during a visit. According to him, were it not for the hail which simply destroyed most of the grapes, this would have been an excellent vintage. In other words the little fruit which was harvested was of very high quality and had the potential of making excellent and long lived wines. His advice was to try for myself whatever 2002 bottle of Barolo (or even Nebbiolo) I would come across.
But I haven’t been able to try any so far. So, please report back what you think about your Le Vigne.

3

Gilberto: Interesting perspective on the vintage (and I certainly hope that you are right) considering everything that I’ve read pretty much writes it off as being disastrous. I tried a test bottle before buying the 6, and felt that it would be a gamble as to whether or not they would mature favorably. I’ve been reluctant to open one,thinking the more time the better. Thanks for the response.

4

2002 was not a particularly great year in Italy, but the 2002 Monfortino is extraordinary. As Galloni said, in 2002 there were three profound wines in Italy in 2002: Conterno’s Monfortino, Soldera’s Brunello Riserva and Miani’s Merlot. I can certainly attest to the profoundness of the first two… (have not had the Miani).

5

From how I understood Roberto Conterno at a visit there last year the Cascina Francia vineyard was not hit by hail, while pretty much everything in Barolo, Castiglione, La Morra etc. was hit quite hard.

I have also been lucky enough to taste the 2002 Monfortino a couple of times and fully agree with Gilberto - absolutely an amazing wine. The nose of super refined and elegant grand cru Burgundy and all Barolo body and structure [cheers.gif]

6

2002 was a FANTASTIC vintage in the Valtellina so I would not be surprised if any vineyards in Piemonte that the hail missed were similarly blessed. We’ve already imported and sold through several.

7

It was not just the hail that was a problem, though the damage was widespread and significant, particularly from la Morra across the valley and through Bussia and Cannubi, the accompanying rains pretty much killed what was shaping up to a mediocre vintage following a cool, damp growing season. I’ve had a fair number of wines from the vintage, maybe 15 or so and almost to a wine they are washed out and already very mature, though Barbaresco fairer better than Barolo. What Roberto Conterno was able to achieve n the vintage is a testament to his skill, and patience, and good fortune as he was able to wait out the vintage having not suffered any hail damage. Besides Monfortino, and maybe Roagna’s Crichet Paje and Massolino’s Vigna Rionda I can’t think of any wines I would really be on the look out for. particularly when we are living through Piedmont’s golden age.

8

Yes, I was going to say that it was not just the hail but the very wet summer.

I was there in mid-September that year and the hail damage in La Morra and Castiglione was quite visible – whole vines stripped of leaves in some places in La Morra. But this was quite localized and didn’t hit Monforte or Serralunga. I remember Conterno saying his vineyards had fared OK, but no one seemed very optimistic about the quality.

9

Do you sell esoteric Italian wines?