Ken, you enjoy a pretty wide range of nebbiolo. You drink them all at about the same age or are some more intended as earlier drinkers compared to others?
Pat. I own some Vorezio, just don’t have any with enough age to really see where it’s going. Generally I bought the Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata as I’ve liked that vineyard when I’ve had it from other producers. I have some of the '00, '01, '04. Maybe I’ll try the '00 as it’s probably closest to ready to drink?
Michael. 3 out of the 5 don’t count! See OP. I like Vietti, esp the Rocche (I seem to like the more ‘Burgundian’ Piedmont producers). I’m surprised to see Clerico on your list! Thought all the modernists were banned from WineBerserker conversations! I own some and like it, though I haven’t had a really aged one…
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Peter, I spent four days in the Piedmont in 2001 and tasted at most of the top addresses, 1964 from magnum with Bartolo was magical but the tasting with Dominique was the highlight, popped 2004 Perchristina in Aspen and again at home in the past few months, truly magic juice. I think you should judge every wine on it merits and I don’t buy much into Modernist vs Tradionalist approach, experience has taught me that you will miss many great wines if you are too subscriptive
How are you dealing with the current Burgundy pricing? I have lost another 20% on currency, so happy, like you I loaded up the fort with far too many 2005’s, Potel Chambolle VV drank great last night MT
An attempt to find other producers, ones that are away from the ‘obvious’ top 5 or so. Everyone is going to pick Gaja and Giacosa and G Conterno and Bartolo Mascarello and Maybe G Rinaldi and G Mascarello, the Barolo equivalents of DRC/Leroy/Meo/Dujac/Rousseau/Roumier/Rouget/Mugnier. I’m looking for suggestions that go beyond that.
Which you have provided, thanks very much!!
Voerzio
Elio Altare
Clerico
Scavino
Bruno Rocca
Vietti
There are two schools of thought on when to drink nebbiolo. I generally sit in the school that says let them age forever and just when you cannot possibly wait any longer, wait longer.
However, if you want to try one of these earlier to see what the potential is, that can certainly be justified. I have done a lot of experimentation with young nebbiolo (by my definition, that is nebbiolo under 20 years) lately. One thing has become clear to me at this stage, and I expect this is going to be controversial. If you open young nebbiolo, drink it immediately. Absolutely do not decant a young nebbiolo without giving it a substantial tasting. There is something about young nebbiolo that makes it respond to air differently than many believe. On several occasions I’ve opened young nebbiolo to find it open and inviting at first, only to hide behind a thick wall of tannin and acid after exposure to air.
Specific examples of this phenomenon:
Recent blind tasting of two wines: The first was tight and tannic. The table universally agreed is was young and needed time in the bottle to open up. The second was open, fragrant and very enjoyable. Both were 2007 Silvio Grasso Barolo normale. The first was decanted six hours, the second was a pop and pour.
2001 Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera. Upon opening, the wine was absolutely gorgeous. An inviting and lovely example of nebbiolo. Within thirty minutes, the wine fell apart and offered only the acid and tannin backbone. Air throughout the night did not help. I’m told the wine remained static the following day.
2005 Voerzio Brunate. Pop and pour. A hauntingly tasty wine. It was just so fragrant. Somehow light on its feet but intense at the same time. A special wine. Didn’t last long enough to follow its evolution with air.
Another berserker hosted the tasting I reference above and was in agreement with these observations.
Nebbiolo is a fascinating grape and its response to air is something I’m still trying to understand. I’m not convinced old nebbiolo responds in the same way but don’t have enough personal experimental evidence to offer a strong opinion. My limited experience suggests air does help with properly aged nebbiolo. Communication with others suggest that extremely long decants are necessary for the wine to truly strut its stuff. Others will argue the exact opposite.
Hi Peter,
Definitely agree on Produttori, Vajra, Elio Grasso. I just picked up some 2010 Guido Porro Vigna Lazzairasco today but have not sampled Barolo from this producer previously. I have enjoyed Marcarini Brunate (the 01 recently from a 375 was very nice) but note the specific thread on this producer recently.
Good luck with your search.
Cheers,
Doug
Most of mine have already been mentioned, so I’ll add in the one that hasn’t been: Cigliuti Barbaresco Serra Boella
From my own cellar, I have only been drinking B&B that is 1990 and older, unless it is for a group tasting where something younger is appropriate or if I’m trying a bottle to see if I want to buy more. I am starting to look at my 1998’s, 2000’s, and 2003’s.
I have high hopes for the post 2010 Giovanni Rosso Vigna Rionda
After eliminating the ones from Post #1 the others would be:
Cavallotto
E Grasso
Brovia
Vajra
And then:
Benevelli
Brezza
E Cogno
M Marenga
Buy all the ones cheaper than your list of the ones you have submitted, and you have your answer!
I’ll throw another vote in the ring for Produttori. Not #balla wines, but very good quality for the price you pay, especially for the cru wines.
For Barbaresco I will add Giuseppe Cortese.
Gosh.
Vietti.
Einaudi. (Not usually named for anything but Dolcetto Vigna Tecc, but recent Barolos from Cannubi and Costs Grimaldi are excellent)
Brovia
Cavallotto.
Conterno-Fantino - tarred as “modernist” but the wines kill it.
Vietti
Brovia
Vajra
Cavallotto
G. Cortese
Paitin
Produttori
Einaudi
Cantina del Pino
Castello di Neive
I am a big fan of both Brovio and Giuseppe Cortese - houses which are both making really fine, elegant wines on either side of the Barolo / Babaresco divide. Glad that they have both gotten a mentioned.
That aside, Elio Grasso, Vajra and Ceretto have all given a lot of pleasure.
Here’s what we have so far. Apologies in advance for dups, or mis-spellings. Total of 49 producers.
No Picking:
Giacosa
G Conterno
A Conterno
Gaja
Sandrone
B Mascarello
G Mascarello
G Rinaldi
Cappellano
Others:
Produttori del Barbaresco
Brovia
Elio Grasso
Cavallotto
Burlotto
G.D. Vajra
Brezza
Scarzello
Congo
Gigi Rosso
G. Fenocchio
Oddero
Massolino
Pelissero
F. Rinaldi
Schiavenza
Mauro Molino
Renzo Accomasso
Albino Rocca
Clerico
Vietti
Parusso
Voerzio
Fratelli Alessandria
Paitin
Altare
Roagna
Scavino
Bruno Rocca
Marcarini
Cigliuti
Benevelli
M Marenga
G. Cortese
Einaudi
Conterno-Fantino
Cantina del Pino
Castello di Neive
Brovio
Cerrito
L Baudana
Cortese is an odd one for me. I’ve twice tasted a decent selection from their range, once at a big scrum tasting (never ideal) but also at the Festa del Barbaresco in the village itself (a much more pleasant & amenable setting). On both occasions I found them uninteresting, which is odd as they are generally held in good regard. Maybe it’s my palate, or maybe we over-rate our ability to appreciate wines at walk-round tastings (I know the latter is true).
regards
Ian
Bruno Giacosa is missing from the list. And I would put Luigi Baudana in place of others on the list.