Is there an order to taste the Produttori Crus in?

WINE TALK
1

I was thinking that at sometime in the not-too distant future, I’d like to sit down and do a Horizontal tasting of the Produttori Reservas. I’m wondering if there is a particular order anyone knows of that the winery or those with more experience may believe is the best?

Thanks in advance!

2

No Expert but we did 6 of the 2008’s alphabetically a few weeks ago and had a blast.
Have fun!

3

An Aussie in HK recently did the 2008s (along with the ‘lost cru’ a Martinenga from Marchesi di Gresy). This wines listed in order shown, starting with the standard bottling, then Pora, Pajé and so on

http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14787&p=148941&hilit=produttori#p148941

4

I don’t think it matters what order you do them in. The Rio Sordo is the only weak link. Depending on the vintage and the particular day, the others can show relatively better or worse against each other.

You’ll have great fun. I posted on a tasting of all nine of the 2011s back in November 2016. There’s some discussion in that thread of the relative merits of the different crus, and which show best young, if that’s helpful.

5

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Auto-biographically.

6

Alphabetically. Easier to keep them all straight towards the end of the tasting.

7

Aldo Vacca typically arranges them in this order for a tasting:

Pora
Pajè
Ovello
Rio Sordo
Asili
Rabajà
Muncagota
Montefico
Montestefano

He goes that way based on the power, weight, and accessibility of the wines, building towards the most powerful at the end. Which is something he sees as linked to soil type of the cru and other factors.

8

That’s what I would do, although you can usually skip the Rio Sordo.

9

I’m actually starting to feel a little bad for the Rio Sordo.

10

Well, if someone were going alphabetically as a tasting order, that definitely wouldn’t do any favors for the Rio Sordo.

11

Kind of the same way I feel about Pluto.

12

Thanks for the link. Been wondering when to open my 2008s, and sounds like the answer is now, but also buy some more. :stuck_out_tongue:

13

That is very useful information many thanks to all.

I took delivery in my case of 2007 late last year. I have drank all three of the generic Barbarescos and they were all brilliant.

But I have been agonising over the order of drinking of the premiers cru. I think I will start with Rio Sordo then do it according to the Vacca method.

14

Thanks, Levi. That’s very helpful.

[dance-clap.gif]

15

I think Levi’s idea to follow what the Produttori do in their tasting is best.

As for Rio Sordo, that really makes me so sad. It’s just an earlier drinking, spicier Barbaresco. Certainly a set up form the Normale.

16

Should’ve used an emoji. My suggestion of alphabetical to keep track of all the glasses was TIC.

17

Here’s how he ordered the 2005s at a tasting in March of 2010:
552192_4161589432609_1785300813_n.jpg

18

Thor – Which direction were you tasting? Right to left?

Also, what are the four wines in the distance? I can’t read the wines to the left of the Ovello.

19

Time for some new glasses John neener

To me it looks like Montestefano, Montefico, Moccagatta(Muncagota), and definitely Asili on the end (with a Langhe Nebbiolo after it)

20

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This was last week, tasting the 2013s with Aldo. It is the order I listed previously. I can also dig out the notes from when we tasted the 2011s together, my recollection is that it was the same order.

He also addresses the topic of the relative accessibility of the different crus in an interview I did with him not long ago, which anyone is free to listen to any time that they would like to.

Of course if there was a lot of replanting in a cru it might reasonably affect the tasting order for awhile.