2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Piedmont Italy

2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Piedmont Italy

One of the most innovative, consistent and highly acclaimed cooperatives in Piedmont, Produttori del Babaresco produces exquisite, traditional Barbaresco(s) that are among the best examples of the appellation.

This storied cooperative in Piedmont dates back to 1894; forced to close in the 1920s because of fascist economic rules, it was revived in 1958 by the village priest of Barbaresco who recognized that the only way the small properties could survive was by joining their efforts.

Today the cooperative has 56 members and 250 acres of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation, which amounts to almost 1/6 of the vineyards of the area. In great vintages, nine single-vineyard Barbarescos are produced from 9 classic premium sites within the Barbaresco village boundaries; including established vineyards like “Pora”, “Moccagatta”, “Ovello” and “Rio Sordo”.

Following the classic and highly praised 2001 vintage, 2004 is also an excellent vintage in Piedmont which produced truly attractive Nebbiolo wines, like the 3 following gems:





2004 Produttori del Barbaresco "Moccagatta"Barbaresco Riserva Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $60-$70
Imported/Distributed by VIAS in NYC


Moccagatta is a 9.6 acres (3.88 hectares) single vineyard planted on slope at about 300 meters above sea level, with southeastern exposure and calcareous limestone soils. The first vintage was produced in 1967. The wine is aged for 36 months in large oak barrels and 8 months in the bottle before release. 10,000 bottles produced.

From another classic vintage, the 2004 Moccagatta is quite intense, aromatic and floral, yet delicate and gentle, somewhat feminine, and shares the same finesse of the Rabajà (single vineyard), but a lighter in body. Still quite young, the palate is focused and elegant with red and dark cherry fruit flavors, firm and present yet fairly integrated tannins that will need a bit more time to settle down. It is a keeper and will age nicely for the next 10-15 years easily. Pair it with fresh egg pasta dishes or mushroom risotto with black truffle shavings, but also with grilled red meat, game, venison and cheeses.





2004 Produttori del Barbaresco "Ovello" Barbaresco Riserva Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $60-$70
Imported/Distributed by VIAS in NYC

Ovello is a 16.25 acres (6.5 hectares) single vineyard planted on slope at about 290 meters above sea level, with east-southwestern exposure and calcareous-limestone with clay soils. The first vintage was produced in 1970. The wine is aged for 36 months in large oak barrels and 8 months in the bottle before release. 18,000 bottles produced.

The 2004 Ovello is quite rich and full-bodied, yet juicy and fresh at same time, which makes it really approachable now despite its youthful attitude. Here again, like for the Moccagatta, it is still quite young and promising, yet the palate is already focused with bright ripe red cherry fruit flavors, framed by firm and present yet fairly integrated tannins that will also need a bit more time to settle down. Fruit forward with good acidity and a long finish, it is a keeper and will age nicely for the next 10-15 years easily. As with the Moccagatta, you can also pair it with fresh egg pasta dishes or mushroom risotto with black truffle shavings, but also with grilled red meat, game, venison and cheeses.




2004 Produttori del Barbaresco "Rio Sordo" Barbaresco Riserva Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $60-$70
Imported/Distributed by VIAS in NYC

Rio Sordo is an 11.27 acres (4.6 hectares) single vineyard planted on slope at about 270 meters above sea level, with southwestern exposure and calcareous-limestone with sandy layers soils. The first vintage was produced in 1978. The wine is aged for 36 months in large oak barrels and 8 months in the bottle before release. 10,000 bottles produced.

Medium to full-bodied, the 2004 Rio Sordo is elegant and complex, with bright juicy fruit, expressive flavors, silky tannins and a long finish too, which makes it really drinkable now despite its youthful attitude. Here again, like for the Moccagatta and the Ovello, it is still quite young and promising, somewhat austere, yet the focused palate is earthy with bright ripe red cherry fruit flavors, framed by firm and present yet fairly integrated tannins that will need a bit more time to settle down. Fruit forward, focused with a long finish, it is a keeper and will age nicely for the next 10-15 years easily. As with the Moccagatta and the Ovello, you can also pair it with fresh egg pasta dishes or mushroom risotto with black truffle shavings, but also with grilled red meat, game, venison and cheeses.


These 3 stunning wines are beautiful examples of what Barbaresco has to offer and the level of quality aimed by this cooperative.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

Info partly taken and edited from the winery website at www.produttoridelbarbaresco.com
and the importer website at www.viaswine.com where you will find more info about these wines.

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2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont Italy

Produttori del Barbaresco Piedmont Italy

This weekend, I opened my last bottle of Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo 2007 vintage, a great, balanced, harmonious and juicy wine with a refreshing acidity. I’ll suggest that you buy yourself a bottle while available and before the 2008 arrive.

Produttori del Barbaresco wines are now classics amongst the wines that I buy from VIAS nearly every year. We just received cases of three out of their 9 single vineyard Barbaresco(s) in the 2004 vintage that represent some of the benchmarks of the Barbaresco appellation, and we still have some bottles of the 2001 vintage, both vintages are excellent and age worthy in Piedmont.

For Produttori del Barbaresco, it all started in 1894 with Domizio Cavazza, who realized the uniqueness of the Nebbiolo grape growing on the hills of Barbaresco. He gathered a few producers and created one of the first cooperatives to produce Barbaresco, called “Cantine Sociali”. The Cantine was closed in the 20’s for political reasons forcing the small growers to sell their wines in bulk to complement Barolo’s wines and to make Piedmont table wines.

In 1958, recognizing that the only way the small properties could survive was by again joining their efforts, the priest of the village of Barbaresco gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco. The first three vintages were made in the church basement, then in the winery built across the square where the cellar of Produttori del Barbaresco is still located.

Reunited once again after being separated during the fascist regime in the 20’s, the small growers continued the work started and inspired by Domizio Cavazza in 1894, producing only Barbaresco wines and enhancing both the reputation of the wines and the village. The proud past of Barbaresco and the dedication of its creators have made Produttori one of the greatest producers of this renowned Piedmont area.

Produttori del Barbaresco, founded in 1958, now has 56 members and 100 hectares (250 acres) of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation, which is almost 1/6 of the vineyards of the area. Each family is in full control of its land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with experienced skill and dedication acquired over the last 100 years of winemaking. The winery produces high quality Barbaresco D.O.C.G. wines, from a blend of Nebbiolo grapes harvested in different vineyards, and a simpler Nebbiolo Langhe suited for earlier consumption.

In great vintages, wines are crafted from nine single-vineyard Barbarescos, nine classic premium sites within the Barbaresco village boundaries:

• Asili,
  
• Rabajà,
  
• Pora,
  
• Montestefano,
  
• Ovello,
  
• Pajé,
  
• Montefico,
  
• Moccagatta
  
• Rio Sordo

These are the geographical names of sites where Nebbiolo grapes have always been cultivated. The names of the vineyards, the total number of bottles produced, and the names of the owners of the vineyards are marked on the labels. In a good vintage they are divided between Barbaresco (40 %), single-vineyard Barbarescos (40%) and Nebbiolo Langhe (20%).



2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $17.99-$21.99
Imported / Distributed by VIAS imports in NYC

Langhe Nebbiolo is produced every year; it ranges from 10 to 30% of the total production depending on the quality of the vintage (the better the vintage the less Nebbiolo is produced). It is somewhat a second label for Produttori del Barbaresco and it is made with the grapes from young vines or vineyards that produced less intense and concentrated juice. It does have the quality standard to be a Barbaresco, but the winery declassifies it and sells it to maintain the Barbaresco(s) complexity and quality as high as possible.

The result is an extraordinarily balanced, concentrated, juicy and harmonious wine with refreshing acidity that carries the fruit through the finish and adds brightness to the wine. The nose boasts intense wild berries and red cherry aromas with earthy, floral and mineral notes. The youthful palate is fresh, dense yet medium bodied and juicy. It combines, here again, earthy, floral and mineral notes intermingled with red and dark berries, liquorice and slightly yet integrated oaky flavors lingering for a while in the silky finish. Very approachable now, this wine may benefit from 2-4 years cellaring.

The 2007 vintage has been a success and I even wonder how I didn’t write something about it earlier. Due to the excellent quality of the 2007 vintage in Piedmont, if I was you, I will hurry up to find the last few remaining bottles that you can find. Pair this 2007 Langhe Nebbiolo with rosemary-flavored roasted lamb, garlic and parsley sautéed mushrooms.

Enjoy!

Ledom du Vin

Info taken from the importer website at www.viaswine.com and from the winery website at www.produttoridelbarbaresco.com

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2001 Batasiolo Barolo Cerequio Piedmont Italy

2001 Batasiolo Barolo Cerequio Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $80-$90
Importer / Distributor Boisset Family Estates

This excellent 2001 Barolo comes from a single-vineyard called “Cerequio” planted in La Morra, a little village next to Barolo, with an excellent ageing capacity. It is considered one of the most historical vineyards for the production of Barolo wine, which has also being called “The Petrus” of Piedmont. The wine was aged for 2 years in big Slovenian oak barrels and remained for a further 8-10 months in the bottle before release as a refinement period.

The resulting wine is superb, with an intense red garnet color. The nose exposes ethereal, rose petal and spice aromas with hints of tobacco, mint and chocolate. The palate is balanced, rich and elegant with rich plum flavors and a long silky finish. Pair it with roasted meat and aged cheeses.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

For more info visit the importer website at www.boissetfamilyestates.com

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LeDom du Vin: Piedmont, Nebbiolo's kingdom

LeDom du Vin: Piedmont, Nebbiolo's kingdom

Located at the most northwestern part of Italy, bordering France (to the west), Switzerland (and also Valle d’Aosta, to the north), Lombardia (to the east), and Liguria (to the south), Piedmont is the kingdom of the Nebbiolo grapes, producing some of the most sought after red wines in the world, like Barolo and Barbaresco. Three other red grape varieties reside also among some of the most preferred reds of Europe: Barbera, Dolcetto and the less recognized yet up-and-coming Freisa. Moscato, Arneis, Cortese and Erbaluce (to a lesser extend) constitute the main white grape varieties that also produce super friendly, versatile, everyday whites like Gavi and Roero Arneis on the dry side and Moscato d’Asti on the sweet, slightly fizzy, side.

Most Piedmontese wines are produced in the south of the region, roughly south-southeast of Turin, around the town of Alba, Asti and Alessandria, in a large area divided into 5 broad zones: Canavese (Turin, Carema and Caluso), Colline Novarese (Novara), Coste della Sesia (Vercelli), Monferrato (Asti and Alessandria) and probably the most well known Langhe (Roero, Alba, Barolo, and Barbaresco)

Piedmont possesses 45 DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) that are more local and rarely go beyond the border of Europe and ….

9 DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) that house some of the best wines of the northern Italy:

• Asti: two slightly sparkling fruity (off dry to sweet) white wines made from the Moscato grape variety: Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti (made with 2 different methods). Ideal as an aperitif or to complement a dessert like a fruit salad.

• Barbaresco: produced in the village of the same name (+ Nieve and Treiso), east of Alba, this Nebbiolo grape based wine is somewhat light in color and body yet fairly powerful, rich, flavorful, earthy, floral and very aromatic with great acidity, solid tannic structure and long ageing potential.

• Barolo: produced in the village of the same name, southwest of Alba, this Nebbiolo based wine as quite a few similarities in aspect, aromas and flavors with its equally famed neighbor Barbaresco, but in most cases, it usually is even richer, more powerful and some could say more masculine, with also great ageing potential. Barbaresco, being more delicate and in some way elegant, has a more feminine attitude, still with guts and character (don’t get me wrong).

• Brachetto d’Acqui or Acqui: crafted with the Brachetto grape, from vineyards around the town of Acqui, south of Alessandria, this wine is very aromatic, floral and earthy. It is a frizzante (slightly sparkling) red wine, generally medium-bodied, a touch sweet (some can be medium sweet) and low in alcohol.

• Dolcetto di Dogliani or Dogliani: is a fairly unknown to the US market red made with the Dolcetto grape, in the recently area of the same name, moved from DOC status to DOCG in Piedmont (a DOCG since 2005). To keep an eye on.

• Gattinara: produced in the village of the same name with the Nebbiolo grape, this wine is made primarily from the Nebbiolo grape variety (locally known as Spanna) with, in some cases, a touch of Bonarda di Gattinara and a drop of Vespolina.

• Gavi or Cortese di Gavi: produced in the province of Alessandria, close to the Ligurian border, this Cortese grape based wine is crisp, floral, mineral, with light white fruit and citrus flavors, food friendly and versatile, it is a pretty reliable pleaser that did have its hours of fame in the 80s and 90s (now overwhelm by the flux of other white wines from Italy).

• Ghemme: produced in the Colli Novaresi hills, this red Nebbiolo based is really pleasant, earthy, with very good acidity, a touch rustic and tannic yet food friendly. Like in Gattinara, it can be blended with a small dose of Bonarda di Gattinara and Vespolina.

• Roero: produced in the Langhe, north of Alba, in a hilly region known for its fruit (Peach and pear mainly) this Arneis grape variety based white wine is a delight. Crisp, mineral, light to medium bodied, fruity, well rounded yet with a great acidity, it is a mouthwatering choice as an aperitif or to complement seafood and white fish.

Here you go! The brief and simple above information should help you to make a better choice in your next Piedmont wine selection.

Continue to check my blog at www.ledomduvin.com for more notes and info on some of the Piedmont wines that I tasted recently.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

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Guidobono: friendly, approachable and affordable Piedmont wines

Guidobono

Dreaming of one day being able to produce Barolo, the Faccenda family purchased this winery in 2003. The vineyards lie just outside of Monforte d'Alba, a commune of the Cuneo province, located southwest of Alba. The vines are 30 to 40 years old for the oldest, planted on limestone soil.

Guidobono’s wines are textbook interpretations of the indigenous grapes of the Langhe. Bright, generous and well rounded for the Roero; fruit driven, juicy, soft and rich for the two Barbera(s); austere yet approachable for the Nebbiolo; and structured and traditional for the Barolo.

Overall, one can say that, Guidobono produces fruitier, more modern style of Barbera and Nebbiolo. However (and in my opinion), they still have one foot into the traditional style of Langhe, which makes them true to their terroir of origin and somewhat less intimidating for the fruit driven, rapidly evolving and trully eager to learn (young) American palate (think about all of these years of manischewitz or white Zinfandel.....lol...when I think that some people continue to believe that it is good wine....they don't know what they are missing).




2007 Guidobono Langhe Arneis Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $16-$18
Distributed by Jan d'Amore Wines in NYC

Made with Arneis grapes planted on clay-limestone soil, harvested in mid-September. The wine undergoes a Criomaceration (pre-fermentation cooling process*) then fermentation in stainless steel tank. Filtered then bottled in March of the following year. The wine is released about 6-7 months after harvest, to emphasize the freshness.

Lovely, round, well balanced, fleshy and fruity with peachy and zesty flavors complemented by a great acidity. Ideal for late afternoon drinks, as an aperitif or with Mediterranean flavored fish and white meat. A sipper and a crowd pleaser for party, and casual dinner.



2007 Guidobono Barbera d'Alba Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $16-$18
Distributed by Jan d'Amore Wines in NYC

Made with Barbera grapes planted on clay-limestone soil, with vines of 10 years old in average. The grapes were harvested in the beginning of October. The wine was then fermented in stainless steel tanks and matured for 6 months in large oak casks and used barriques where the malolactic fermentation usually takes place. It was bottled in July of the following year, and released about one year after harvest.

From the generous, and especially interesting in Piedmont, 2007 vintage, this Barbera possesses ripe red and dark cherry flavors, balanced by a great acidity and structured earthy tannins. here again, this wine is fleshy and fruity, in the same time round, soft and approachable yet it remains quite young and the tannins need a tiny bit of time. Decant it before serving to tame the finish or wait for it for another year or two.



2007 Guidobono Langhe Nebbiolo piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $17-$19
Distributed by Jan d'Amore Wines in NYC

Made with Nebbiolo grapes planted on clay and sand soil, with vines of 20 years old in average. This wine spent 5 days under maceration and fermentation in stainless steel casks, then matured for about 8 months in large oak casks. It was bottled in June of the following year and released roughly one year after harvest.

The 2007 vintage is bringing a lot to this Nebbiolo based wine, that has almost the richness of a baby Barolo. It is still very young and the earthy tannins in the finish really deserve a bit of time. But here again, a little decantation will allow a better expression of the dark berry fruit, floral notes and spice hints. It still fairly approchoable and enjoyable now, but it will surely benefit of a few years of rest in the bottle.




In conclusion, I will say that Jan d'Amore is a great, humble and gentle Italian guy (another one...) who has a small portfolio yet full of small undiscovered (in the US market) producers and wineries like Guidobono that really deserve a bit more attention.

See you soon at the store Jan,

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

Info taken from Jan d'Amore website at: www.jandamorewines.com

* - During a process called crio-maceration the grape musts (freshly and gently pressed white grapes still containing solids- pulp, skins, stems, and seeds) are cooled to a temperature of 40°F (4.5ºC) in stainless steel tubes or small tanks. The time and the temperature at which this process takes place greatly determine the texture and characteristics of the finished product).

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2007 De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont Italy

2007 De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont Italy

De Forville is definitely one of my favorite Piedmont producers for quality and value. I loved their 2007 Barbera and now I'm in love with their 2007 Langhe Nebbiolo. It taste like a baby Barbaresco and 2007 was such an interesting vintage in Piedmont that it brings even more depth and complexity to this little gem.

The DeForville family emigrated to Piedmont from Belgium in 1848 and established themselves in the village of Barbaresco in 1860. Here, the family started to grow Nebbiolo grapes. In 1907 Paolo Anfosso married into the DeForville family and took over the reins of the family business. For five generations, the Anfosso family has lived in the nearby town of Castagnole Lanze and, to this day, vineyards are maintained in Castagnole.

In the early part of the 20th century, the DeForvilles sold their wine in bulk directly to restaurants and to retailers who then bottled the wine. In 1940 the Anfossos bottled their first wine and now virtually their entire production is bottled at the estate. Valter and Paolo Anfosso, sons of Bruno, now manage the estate.

The 10 hectare Domaine is divided between holdings in the villages of Barbaresco (3.5 hectare) and Castagnole Lanze (6.5 hectare). Within Barbaresco, Nebbiolo is planted in the "cru" vineyards of Rabaja, Loreto and Pozzo. Dolcetto is also planted in the Loreto site and Barbera is cultivated within the "cru" of "Ca'Grossa".

These wines are particularly age worthy and, after receiving sufficient bottle age, develop the complex aromas of fruit, earth and flowers that can only result from wines that are vinified in this traditional manner. Beginning with the 1997 vintage a special parcel of old vines Barbera is vinified in small oak barrels.

2007 De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $15-$18
Distributed by Rosenthal in NYC

2007 De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo like their Barbera is a lovely, earthy, floral, juicy example of what a good traditional Nebbiolo taste like. Beautiful ruby color. The nose offers earthy, slightly smoky, floral notes with bright red fruit (cherry, raspberry) aromas with hints of spice. The palate is really juicy in the attack, exposing red cherry and unripe strawberry notes. The mid-palate expands gently toward the earthy, touch dry, finish. Hints of integrated oak and vivid acidity bring structure and freshness to this excellent, young Nebbiolo. Crisp and easy drinking yet young with obvious ageing potential. Decante it to better appreciate it or wait for it a few years, it should even get nicer.

Overall, here is what I think about this wine and this winery (and, in general, about all good wines and wineries):

"Year in, year out, a good winemaker will always be a good winemaker. More over, attentive, traditional and natural vineyard management mixed with careful selection, appropriate vinification and winemaking technique, great exposure, well planted vineyard and respect of the environment contribute a great deal to the rich yet not heavy texture, adding needed balance, harmony, complexity and depth to this earthy, fine tuned wine. And if the vintage is good to excellent, then the wine will even be greater, longer and surely have higher ageing potential."

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

Info partly taken from www.madrose.com

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1996 Luigi Pira Barolo "Margheria" Piedmont Italy

1996 Luigi Pira Barolo "Margheria" Piedmont Italy
Suggested retail price $75-$80 (seen at $110)
Distributed by Michael Skurnik Wines in NYC

Despite the fact that Robert Parker Jr. said: "One of Piedmont’s new superstars...", Luigi Pira is, for me, one of the great classic of Barolo's producers.Probably because it was established in the early 1950s, even if at first the estate only produced and sold grapes.

Therefore and although, they were not bottling their own wines, vinegrowing and winemaking were the two passion of this family own winery; which, somewhat, makes me feel that, even if fairly new as Barolo producer (since the early 90s), they produce complex, structured classic Barolos that have nothing in common with the jaminess of certain new Barolo's producers. But I need to admit, I'm in love with this winery and I really enjoyed most of their 2001s and 2004s Barolos, and found them more balanced and focus than other few New world oriented Barolo producers. (I'm looking forward to taste their 2007s).

However, let's get back to the winery. Later on, wine was produced at winery and then sold in bulk to local negociants. It is only since a few years ago that the estate started ageing and bottling its own wines.

Giampaolo Pira recently took the reins at his family’s eight-hectare estate, overseeing the cellars while brother Romolo and father Luigi maintain the vineyards.

Pira’s holdings are in the three most prestigious crus in the Serralunga commune: “Margheria,” “Marenca," and “Rionda.”

The first Barolo was produced only as recently as 1993, but since then, the family has racked up accolades and high scores from the worldwide press. Of the two Barolos that have been produced up until now, the “Margheria” (aged 30% in barrique) is more structured and full-bodied, while the “Marenca” (aged 50% in barrique) is beautifully sumptuous and rich at a young age but will develop over the next 10-15 years – it was called “flawless” by the Gambero Rosso.

Their opaque Dolcetto is one of the most intense and complex of all skurnik's Barolo-producing estates, featuring the telltale fine tannins of Serralunga and astonishing length, while their oak-aged Barbera is both fruity and powerful.

The 1996 Luigi Pira Barolo "Margheria" is a great classic of their debut. The robe of the wine is quite dark for its age and especially for a 96 vintage. It has some orange taint reflects in the rime, normal for this type of wine. The nose has great ripe red cherry and tertiary aromas, like forest floor, mushroom, black truffles, pencil shave, spice, earth and minerals. The palate follows with the same type of flavors. It is very focus, clean, with a vivid acidity and very good tannic structure. The oak tannins are very integrated and smooth. The finish is long, lush and bright in the same time with layers of earthy notes and mineral. Love it.

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin

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Most info taken from www.skurnikwines.com

Find more of my notes about wine, food and life in general at www.ledomduvin.com

2005 Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont Italy

2005 Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo Piedmont Italy

(suggested retail price $15.99-$18.99)

History: It all started in 1894 with Domizio Cavazza, who realized the uniqueness of the Nebbiolo grape growing on the hills of Barbaresco. He gathered a few producers and created one of the first cooperatives to produce Barbaresco, called “Cantine Sociali”. The Cantine was closed in the 20’s for political reasons forcing the small growers to sell their wines in bulk to complement Barolo’s wines and to make Piedmont table wines. In 1958, recognizing that the only way the small properties could survive was by again joining their efforts, the priest of the village of Barbaresco gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco. The first three vintages were made in the church basement, then in the winery built across the square where the Produttori is still located. Reunited once again after being separated during the fascist regime in the 20’s, the small growers continued the work started and inspired by Domizio Cavazza in 1894, producing only Barbaresco wine and enhancing both the reputation of the wine and the village. The proud past of Barbaresco and the dedication of its creators have made the Produttori one of the greatest producers of this renowned Piedmont area.

Present: Produttori del Barbaresco, founded in 1958, now has 56 members and 100 hectares (250 acres) of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation, which is almost 1/6 of the vineyards of the area. Each family is in full control of its land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with experienced skill and dedication acquired over the last 100 years of winemaking. The winery produces high quality Barbaresco D.O.C.G. wines, from a blend of Nebbiolo grapes harvested in different vineyards, and a simpler Nebbiolo Langhe suited for earlier consumption. In great vintages, nine single-vineyard Barbarescos are produced from nine classic premium sites within the Barbaresco village boundaries: Asili, Rabajà, Pora, Montestefano, Ovello, Pajé, Montefico, Moccagatta and Rio Sordo. These are the geographical names of sites where Nebbiolo grapes have always been cultivated. The names of the vineyards, the total number of bottles produced, and the names of the owners of the vineyards are marked on the labels. In a good vintage they are divided among Barbaresco (40 %), single-vineyard Barbarescos (40%) and Nebbiolo Langhe (20%).

Description: Langhe Nebbiolo is produced every year; it ranges from 10 to 30% of the total production depending on the quality of the vintage (the better the vintage the less Nebbiolo is produced). It is a second label for the Barbaresco and it is made with the grapes from young vines or those vineyards which produced a less intense and concentrated juice. It does have the quality standard to be a Barbaresco, but the winery declassifies it in order to sell it younger and maintain the Barbaresco quality as high as possible. The result is an extraordinarily balanced and concentrated wine with great acidity that carries the fruit through the finish and adds brightness to the wine. The nose boasts intense wild berries and red cherry aromas. The palate is fresh, dense and juicy and red fruit flavors linger for a while in the silky finish. Very approachable now, this wine may benefit from 2-4 years cellaring.

Food Pairing: enjoy it with rosemary-flavored roasted lamb, garlic and parsley sautéed mushrooms.

Info taken from their www.produttoridelbarbaresco.com

LeDom du Vin