Vintage Piedmont Wine Tasting back to the 1989 Vintage

"Good wine needs no bush."
 (from: As you like It) William Shakespear 1564-1616 English Dramatist & Poet

You know we can’t go very long before hosting another vintage Barolo and when I got in these two bottles of 1989 and 1990 Giuseppi Mascarello Barolo Monprivato that sell for $1000 a bottle I immediately put them aside to make them the cornerstone of the next vintage Piedmont tasting.

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.

Join us as we experience some of the best producers from both Barolo and Barbaresco all the way back to the 1989 vintage!  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 $395 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Vintage Piedmont Wine Tasting
Featuring Barbaresco and Barolo back to the 1989 vintage!
Saturday, May 15th, 2021
7:30 PM

1989 Giuseppi Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
1990 Giuseppi Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
1996 La Spinetta Barbaresco Gallina
1998 E Pira Barolo Cannubi
1999 Altare Insieme
2000 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche Del Falletto Di Serralunga D’Alba
2001 Altare Barolo Brunate
2001 Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche Del Falletto Di Serralunga d'Alba
2003 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
2004 Scavino Barolo

Menu
Cheese and Charcuterie Selections
Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Agnolotti filled with Mushroom duxelles served over Rosso di lago Crème Sauce
Barolo Braised Beef Shortrib with Vegetable Risotto

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $395 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservations if you have any food allergies and chef Toni will be happy to accommodate you.

A bit about Barbaresco

Barbaresco is a red wine produced in northwest Italy’s Piedmont region. Made from 100% Nebbiolo, Barbaresco, like its Barolo counterpart, is a highly tannic and acidic wine that needs years of cellaring to reach harmony. Prior to being released in the market, DOCG regulations require that the wines are aged for a minimum of 26 months, with at least 9 months spent in wood barrels; for the riserva bottlings, there is a mandated period of 50 months aging, with at least 9 months spent in wood barrels. Although Barbaresco and Barolo have much in common, traditionally Barbaresco tends to express a more feminine side, while Barolo is characterized as masculine and stately—but certainly exceptions exist. Expressive aromatically, scents of dried cherry, raspberry, licorice and rose petals are typical of the wine.

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 motes of white truffles, underbrush, raspberries, and black cherries.