If you love Giacosa Barbaresco but

WINE TALK
41

Thanks all for your recs! I’m going to grab some of these soon.
Craig

42

IMO Giacosa puts his stamp on a wine, but lets the terrior shine through, so you’d almost have to match vineyard by vineyard.

Obviously since Castello di Neive is the sole owner of Santo Stefano and the only other producer, that is your only shot. Fortunately, their wine is getting closer and closer, and is still more reasonably priced.

For Villero, you have far more choices (though not Giacosa any more). I think Vietti’s Villero Riserva may be the equal of Giacosa’s, but it costs more than twice as much so . . . However, G. Mascarello and Brovia both make excellent Villero which is less money than Giacosa.

For Asili, Giacosa’s plot borders Rabaja, and I think the Produttori Rabaja is more similar to Giacosa’s Asili than is their Asili. Roagna Asili may be somewhat similar, but they are all so young now, and I think they will not be making it in the future.

For Fallletto and Rocche del Falletto, those are monopoles, so you are stuck. I can’t really think of anything quite similar.

43

Re Castello di Neive Barbaresco, and especially the Riserva, where are you guys finding this to buy? Does it sell out in an instant in classic vintages? '07s aren’t my first choice and would like to find some '06 or earlier. Any suggestions?

44

Matt, Castello is very poorly distributed stateside, thus the difficulty you’re having finding it. There must have been a complete distribution void around the 2006 vintage, but there is certainly plenty of 2007 in the market, so perhaps they’ve got somebody behind the brand at this point.

Ken, et al, matching terroirs is one thing, but I think the singularity of Giacosa is the winemaking magic and the question at hand. Whose style is similar? I voiced my opinion early on in this thread, but perhaps Mick Jagger summed it up best: “Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good?” [wink.gif] Is there a more singular, defining aspect of Giacosa’s wines, one that seperate them from quite literally every other producer?

45

I don’t know, Rico. Our buddy, Tom Maskell, once used the descriptor “fruit cake” and to me that captures the distinctive flavor of Giacosa wines better. But it’s not just the flavor, it’s the quality. As you say, he’s a magician.

46

That is certainly what I centered upon. I need solar capacity myself over there…

47

This is an interesting descriptor, one that I have used on more than one occasion – and is therefore kind of loaded for me (speaking strictly of wine here LOL). The closest thing to “fruit cake” in a beverage that I know is Pyrat rum (delicious!), but I certainly think I can envision what it means in a spicy, Giacosan Barbaresco…

48

I’m not quite sure “fruit cake”, as a generic descriptor, best captures the essential Giacosa thumbprint in my view, especially given how many grotesque, candied, artificially colored and preserved fruit cake recipes there are (reminds of the one your Uncle gives you every year that eventually becomes a book end), but in a broader sense I get what Tom’s saying. Various Giacosa addicts characterize it differently and I’ve heard Christmas spice cake, marzipan, caramelized sugar and of course Mick Jagger’s “brown sugar”. You know what I’m talking about Ken.

Re: Giacosa’s Asili plots, there are two groups of them, the ones he has always bottled as Asili and the group that sit directly uphill from Martinenga that he used to bottle as Rabaja, but were included in the recent boundary changes as part of Asili. In my experience they produce very different wines.

Re: Santo Stefano Barbaresco – in addition to Giacosa and Castello di Neive there are also two other Barbaresco produced: Piero Busso’s & Cantino del Bricchetto, I don’t know if either are imported to the States.

49

Matt,Zachys is having a big sale now and has the 07
Post Wine & Spirits also usually carries various CdN,but don’t know what their stock is now.

50

I picked up an '06 Marchesi di Grésy Barbaresco Martinenga today and am opening it tonight. Just planning to pour in the Burg glass and go. I’ll open it soon. Thanks for the rec.



51

Disclaimer: I import Roccalini into the US.

I wanted to add a tidbit to the the story that may be of interest based on the theme of the thread. As Ian mentioned, Paolo Veglio (Proprietor of Roccalini), supplied Bruno Giacosa with Dolcetto, Barbera, and Nebbiolo for a number of years. In 2004 Giacosa approached Paolo and proposed making a Cru of Barbaresco from his grapes. There was a disagreement over the use of the Roccalini name and they agreed to go their seperate ways. Scaglione has been involved since the 2005 vintage and will remain so going forward.

52

Bill – I realize you were addressing the other John (G.), but here are some TNs I posted after a visit in June. Bear in mind my caveat that I’m stingy when it comes to points.

I haven’t tracked the Rizzi wines over time, I confess. I need to go retaste the 01 Boito and Fondetta, which, like many 01s, were absolutely delicious in 2005-06. Thanks to a mispricing by the distributor, I picked up a bunch at $27, which made them all the more attractive. :slight_smile:

A bottle of the 04 Pajore that Greg brought back from Italy and served 18 months ago was over the hill for some reason. That was very disappointing since the wine was stunning from tank in late 2005 and Enrico thought then that it was the best wine he’d made to date. I assume that was a bad bottle and not typical of Rizzi’s longevity!

They have very good sites, Enrico is very conscientious and he’s staying pretty traditional, so I’m optimistic that balance that you detect young will hold up with time.

53

I saw the Castello di Neive on the Zachys sale but the $35 Cortese Rabaja was an even better deal…

54

Agreed!

1 Like
55

Everytime I go ot buy something at Zachy’s the prices goes up $5. Now its $41 ( plus $6 since last night I assume)

56

Sign up for their emails - the sale price was in an email offer and should still be good.

57

I recently un-signed up for their email because their even their sale prices barely match – if that – retail at any other good shop. Sorry to rant off-topic, but I take their ridiculous pricing a little personally because I have purchased from them in the past and I want to like them as I have good friends in Scarsdale.

I know it is deadhorse

58

All I know is that this thread prompted a cellar reorganization with some Giacosas coming out of deep hibernation. They were intentionally hidden by me from me. [cheers.gif]

59

Where else are you finding 2007 Cortese Rabaja for $35 and 2005 Pertimali Brunello for $30?

60

This,of course,is mainly the reality of their marketing…however,once in a while they will have something that is the best deal around and usually in my experience it has been for mid level Nebbiolo and/or Burgundy,and with the 07 Cortese,as Keith mentioned,it’s a deal…
Don’t take it personal,it’s just business… [cheers.gif]