Vintage Barolo and Barbaresco Wine Tasting

"Good wine needs no bush."

(from: As you like It) William Shakespear 1564-1616 English Dramatist & Poet

Barolo is one of the world’s most age worthy wines, but there is very little of these older vintage wines available on the open market today.   I like to compare these Italian treasures to the great wines of Burgundy, another region that deals with harsh conditions with a varietal that is very finicky. Nebbiolo like Pinot Noir only produces great wines in the a few areas of the world.

Barbaresco has always been considered lighter in style than Barolo but today that is not necessarily the case.  It is a much smaller wine producing region and with less producers than Barolo so it is not as well known and therefor not as respected by collectors although the most famous producer in the Piedmont Angelo Gaja is from Barbaresco.  He is the one man that has brought not only respect but he has raised the bar for quality in this region and across the board the level of quality is very high in both Barbaresco and Barolo today.

Join us as we experience some of the best producers from both Barolo and Barbaresco all 10+ years old!  Chef Toni has created a special menu to accompany the tasting wines.  This tasting is limited to 14 tasters.  The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $225 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Vintage Barolo and Barbaresco Wine Tasting

Friday, July 17th

7:30pm

1998 Pelissero Barbaresco Vanotu

1999 Martinetti Barolo Marasco

2003 Pelissero Barbaresco Tulin

2006 Elio Altare Barolo

2006 La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano

2007 La Spinetta Barbaresco Starderi

2007 Poderi Oddero Barolo Bussia Soprana Vigna Mondoca Barolo

2009 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo

2009 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Montefico

2010 Icardi Barbaresco "Montubert"DOCG

2010 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Cannubi Boschis Barolo

Menu

Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie

Tagliatelle Pasta with Red Wine Wild Mushroom Sauce

Beef Shortrib with Hazelnut Cream and Natural Sauce

Chocolate Creme Brulee

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $225 + tax per person.  For reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

A brief History of Barolo

Barolo has a long history of wine production, the area was named some 400 years ago and probably came from the Celtic brolio or brol, meaning "wood" or "orchard".   The region of Barolo encompasses approximately 3,000 acres of vines situated southwest of the town of Alba, in all or part of 11 communes.  First is La Morra, with nearly one-third of the total acreage.  Following in decreasing order are Serralunga d’alba, Monforte d’Alba, Barolo, and Castiglione Falletto, and parts of six other villages.  One of the most famous and most sought after vineyards in Barolo is Cannubi. 

There are two main valleys in the Barolo production zone: the Barolo Valley to the west, and the Serralunga Valley to the east.  La Morra and Barolo itself are the major villages in the western valley, which also encompasses Cherasco, Novello, Roddi d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte are the major towns;  Diano d’Alba and Grinzane Cavour are also included in this district.  There are distinct characteristics that are indigenous to the wines of various area:  the wines of Serralunga Valley have suggestions of licorice and tar, the Barolos of Serralunga itself display camphor and mint; those from Castiglione Falleto have a pronounced licorice characteristic as well as nuances of spice, mint, dried peaches, and prunes; those from Monforte recall spices, mint hazelnuts, and almonds.  The wines from the Barolo Valley bring up underbrush and truffle, as well as licorice.  Those wines from the village of Barolo have less of a licorice character but more suggestions of underbrush, truffles, and mint.  The wines of la Morra, especially those from the slopes, combine nuances of white truffle, mint, tobacco, spices, cherries, and blackberries and those from Cannubi display