Popped & poured. Color is translucent reddish purple, with bricking around the rim. Slightly reticent nose of menthol, balsamico & cherry fruit. Sweet cherry fruit on the entry bracketed by acidity - nice on the mid-palate, with a tannic finish. While enjoyable, this still strikes me as young for a pop & pour operation. We’ll see if it comes around during dinner, but off the first taste I’d say this wine needs a couple of hours decanting before you try it (or extended slow-O, depending on your preference). Still, I like the fruit and structure of this wine, and I think it shows a lot of potential for additional development over the next decade. Bottle # 15402 of 15733, 14% alcohol.
any recommendations on a barbaresco that is drinking well now, that is relatively easy to find?
Bob. Thanks. Just had the 97 rabaja from produttori. Very nice and can be found for about $40
Tim, if you like a young nebbiolo on release, I would think that a lot of places still have the '04 riservas from Produttori available somewhere around $50 a bottle - I don’t believe that these have begun to shut down yet, but would defer to someone with more recent experience.
To be honest, I think your money is better spent short-term (as you’re already aware given your posts) buying things like the '07 or '08 Nebbiolo Langhe or the '05 Normale from Produttori. I’m guessing the '05 riservas will be out this Spring.
In terms of buying older, “ready-to-drink” nebbiolo, I think you just have to have confidence in the wine merchant you are dealing with. Not to turn this response into a commercial for one particular vendor, but I could suggest that you check out Chamber Street Wine’s website as a start (link below). At a minimum, it will give you some idea on what is out there (and the related price tag), and I also know from previous experience that Jamie is very dedicated to finding sources of mature nebbiolo, so it will also provide some idea on what is available in the market.
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Great advice, Bob. What you explained above regarding Nebbiolo Langhe is expressly why I purchased half a case of it - so I can get my Nebbiolo fix while my Barolos and Barbarescos are developing.