2007 Barolo Prices

WINE TALK
1

I’ve been unpleasantly surprised at retail U.S. price of some of my favorite Baroli, especially B. Mascarello and G. Mascarello’s Monprivato. I’ve been able to get recent vintages of both wines–including the 2006s–at or below $80/bottle and yet the initital offerings here in the U.S. have both wines at well over $100. VinsRare, for example, just sent out an email offering the 2007 Monprivato for $110. I know the value of the dollor has declined in relation to the Euro and 2007 is likely to be a popular vintage, but this seems like too steep a price increase even taking these factors into consideration.

Any thoughs/knowledge as to whether these early prices are inflated as compared to what prices might be like several months from now? Are we witnessing the end of what I’ve seen as a golden era for Barolo buyers in which the price of top-flight wines (Conterno and Giascosa excepted) have been relative bargains compared to other age-worthy, world-class wines?

Perhaps the price increases for the two Mascarellos is a consequence of the apparent increased interest in more traditionally made wine?

2

I’m not sure if there’s a trend, except that the prices on the big names keep going up.

Meanwhile, Grapes in White Plains here sent an e-mail today with a bunch of deals on lesser Barolo (mostly De Grazia wines), and I just got a (very tasty) bottle of 04 Schiavenza at PJ’s for $36.

When I was in the region six weeks ago, I was surprised to find two producers I visited, Marcarini and Burlotto, had sold out of the 06s. I don’t know if that’s more widespread, but normally I’d think they’d still have some left less than five years after the vintage. So someone is buying.

3

Exactly my thought. Plenty of top-flight 2007 baroli prices are around and even below 2006 prices. The names that got the most attention for the 2006 vintage, however, are definitely up.

4

I think the pricing is riding on the heels of the vintage being talked up.

I tasted hundred of wines in May and do not agree that the vintage is a stand out, and in fact many of the wines were really disappointing. I am buying very little here.

I expect the prices will come down once they are met with flaccid demand.

I wrote up my impressions, sans tasting notes which I’ll publish soon, here: http://www.snooth.com/articles/2007-barolo/

There are still many producers whose wine don’t get the big hype, and are priced very fairly. Burlotto and Guido Porro for example, as well as the Schiavenza mentioned by John.

5

Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and thanks, Gregory, for the link to your assessment of the 2007 vintage. I’m eager to read your tasting notes.

The only 2007s I’ve bought so far are Marcarini Brunate, E. Grasso Ginestra Casa Mate, and E. Grasso Gavarini. I’ve liked these wines very much in previous vintages and was able to purchase them at below the cost of the '06s.

I’ll be curious to see how the market responds to the increased price for the B. and G. Mascarello wines and, especially, Vietti’s wines.

6

Good choice on the Brunate. It was a standout when I visited there. Here are my notes.

7

Interesting article, Greg. I found that same diffuseness, though I did like the Marcarini and Burlotto offerings. I didn’t get the sense that anyone there was talking up the vintage.

Where would you put it relative to 97 and 2000? I thought it was much better than 97, and I don’t have enough experience with 2000 to be able to make a comparison.

8

I wouldn’t worry.
Wait.
07 prices will fall and be much more attractive…if you like that form of Nebbiolo. [cheers.gif]

9

My 2007 barolo buys exactly… perhaps we were separated at birth. [cheers.gif]

I’m approaching the vintage with extreme caution. The only others in the buying plan are the Vajra Albe and Bricco Delle Viole and the F. Rinaldi Brunate and Cannubbio. Nice to see Gregory’s confirmation for at least 2 of those 4.

10

So far, I have not bought much Piedmont wine for 2007. There are some really good values in Piedmont still though…

11

And by the way, Brovia is on fucking fire, for the past 10 years their wines have moved from strength to strength and they have come out on top of these big blind tastings, at least for me, in each of the past 3 years. I bet they’re the next to break the $100 mark and price themselves out of my world, but while they remain affordable I’d go deep.

As far as vintage comparisons go, 2007 isn’t like either 1997, which it’s certainly better than, or 2000, which is shares some traits with but lacks the consistency that was the hallmark of that vintage.

2007 was an extreme vintage and it’s exceptionally variable at it’s worst. the best wines definitely deliver at a level 97 and 00 have not, but the rest of the pack ranges from disappointed to disastrous.

2000 really is a nice vintage in my opinion, it was only the 100pts score that made it too easy to laugh and the wine outpriced for their quality, but in the abstract many of the wines really are delicious and have matured relatively quickly while retaining a certain purity to their fruit.

In a general sense, and if I had to choose, I would have to say that I’d rather drink a 2000 than a 2007. I had many people in Piedmont tell me how great the vintage was. They were able to reference published reports even!

12

Anybody taste Giacosa’s 2007s yet?? Curious to know if they got it right or missed for the vintage.

13

People talked up 2000 or 2007?

14
  1. Many people were using published reports to support their claims that the vintage was special. This happened with some frequency.
15

What do you know about 2008, Greg? I gather it was a difficult year and I wasn’t very taken with the 08 barberas and dolcettos I’ve tasted, either there or here.

16

Not terribly much. Barbaresco’s showed better than the 07s, not as good as the 06s. A tough little vintage, I think the nebbiolo shows some good potential. For Dolcetto 09 seems to be the best vintage in my memory, I even called them the vintage of the year last year. http://www.snooth.com/articles/2009-dolcettos/

17

That was my reaction to the few I tried. And the 2010 dolcetto at Marcarini gave me great hope for those.

18

I tasted the 07 Falletto (sitting next to Greg). It was nice, but like the 06 Monprivato, hard to judge at this point. I believe it was actually made by Dante Scaglione since he didn’t take his “hiatus” until late 2008.

As far as the OP, I would definitely wait to buy these wines. I recall with some chagrin paying well over $100 for the 04 Monprivato when it first came out. I was later able to buy it for a quite a bit less.

I just picked up some 2005 Produttori Rabaja for $44!

19

I bought only Barbaresco in 07:Santo Stefano and Asili,which is not really the Asili to which we have been accustomed,but both of them,IMO,are spot on lovely Giacosa. [cheers.gif]…and,picked up the 04 Monprivato…after waiting,for $64… [drinkers.gif]

20

Thanks Ken & Bill.