What a producer to leave off! Both fixed.
Kind of strange that you have not had good results with G. Cortese. I did a tasting there a few years ago after tasting at Marchesi de Gresy. They are almost on top of each other. Much preferred the wines from Cortese. And on NYE I had the 2007 Cortese Rabaja opened next to 2008 G. Conterno Nebbiolo Cerretta and 2007 A. Conterno Colonnello. It was at least equal to or better than the Cerretta. With the Colonnello bring up the rear. To me the wines are great.
Gary
Indeed my impressions seem at odds with others, though interestingly Marchesi di Gresy is another I’ve not got excited about when I’ve tasted the wines. Not unpleasant, but I felt they were overpriced for how much I enjoyed them.
regards
Ian
I’ll add on Fratelli Barale.
Aside from a smattering of older vintages brought by others in various offlines and which I’ve always been impressed with, I’ve recently tasted Barale’s suite of top 2010 offerings, all very impressive very traditional stuff and now am in the hunt to buy them locally.
Guido Porro Barolo Lazzairasco, and turn the lights out…
I like:
Roberto Voerzio
Vietti
Produttori del Barbaresco
Pio Cesare
Marcarini
![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
What are your recollections of the straight barolo?
I would add:
E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis)
Other than that, all of my picks have already been mentioned.
In October we did tastings at Boschis, Brovia, Scavino, A. Conterno, G. Conterno, and Clerico. In no particular order, I’d put those 6 at the top of my list.
Did anyone mention Borgogno? I wouldn’t put them on my list of all-time faves, but I’m surprised they haven’t been mentioned.
Anyone have any experience, good or bad, with Aurelio Settimo? They make a riserva from their holdings in Le Rocche dell’Annunziata, a vineyard I’ve akways liked. O’Keefe says good things, “classic Barolos of elegance, restraint, and Nebbiolo purity”??
I ask as a store in the U.S. seems to have a reasonable quantity of the '04 at around $75 per bottle, pretty reasonable for an '04 Riserva!
But not if it sucks!
For those that like mature traditional Barolo at still quite reasonable prices (at least in the secondary market) then they’re a great option. I’ve really enjoyed a bottle each of the 1961 and 1971 Riservas, though another 1971 Riserva and the 1962 were both well past their best.
I just have 2 bottles left: 1961 and 1996 Riserva, but will keep my eyes open for older bottles to buy.
The word of warning is they are under new ownership (the same owner as Eataly) and feedback to date is mostly negative.
regards
Ian
Shhh…That is supposed to stay under the radar.
I don’t see Sottimano on your list. Just had the 2010 Cotta last night… very good, lots of finesse. I think I like Sottimano better than Produttori personally.
And many of the older vintages have been reconditioned. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that they used to use a different colour capsule for the reconditioned bottles, but have stopped doing so. I did a Borgogno dinner last year in Toronto with the new winemaker (the 20-something son of Oscar Farinetti of Eataly) where we tasted vintages back to 1961 and I thought it was remarkable how young and fresh many of them were… Until I learned about the reconditioning).
I haven’t tried any of the recent vintages, but I’ve read some good things. Apparently quality is improving in the most recent years. I picked up a few bottles of the 08 Borgogno Cannubi but don’t anticipate trying one for some time.
This is fun. Some new names to try. I haven’t had enough from most producers not on “the list” so I only have 3. But here they are.
- Produttori
- Oddero
- Vietti
And probably Paitin, which is what I am drinking now.
Jason
I didn’t get the memo…
Karin O’Keefe also didn’t get the memo!
Aside from the ones we are told to not mention: some traditional & some modern.
Brovia
Vietti
Scavino
Sottimano
Burlotto
Vajra
Paolo Conterno
Moccagatta
Mauro Molino
Bovio
And from Lessona:
Massimo Clerico
Kerin O’ Keefe has missed too many memos to count. Like the one conclusively proving that Brunello is a good, rarely great wine whose meaningful history is all of 40 years old, rather than one of the world’s legendary wines on a par with Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo and German Riesling! 
Roagna (Wonderful, very traditional wines. A steal. Specially La Rocca e La Pira)
Cavallotto (Love all the range, including the grignolino and Freisa. His Langhe Nebbiolo delivers amazing quality for the price)
Vajra (Bricco delle Violle)
Oddero (Easy to find old vintages at very good prices)
You asked about Barolo but i would definitely recommend Rivella Serafino Barbaresco Montestefano. Really really great wine still under the radar.