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La Festa del Barolo (Los Angeles) Grand Tasting
Marino Restaurant, Los Angeles
Tasted January 28, 2023 by drwine2001 with 204 views
Introduction
During the first West Coast version of La Festa, this was a relaxed walkaround outdoor tasting on a beautiful spring-like day. It was wonderful to meet the men and women behind the wines. Because of the logistics, I found it hard to take detailed noted, so what follows are fairly brief impressions-apologies in advance.
Flight 1 - E. Pira (Chiara Boschis) (3 notes)
Red
Red
2018 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Cannubi
All tobacco and tar upfront, but then some nice sweet fruit at the end.
Red
Flight 2 - Elio Altare (3 notes)
Red
2018 Elio Altare Barolo Arborina
The same unappealing mix as in the Unoperuno with the addition of chocolate on the finish.
Red
Flight 3 - Francesco Rinaldi (4 notes)
Red
2018 Francesco Rinaldi e Figli Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata
Big, rich entry but more classic austere finish. Good potential.
Red
2013 Francesco Rinaldi e Figli Barolo Cannubi
Fairly closed. Light and tannic, but some citrus and spice on the finish. Not the time to be drinking this.
Flight 4 - Giacomo Fenocchio (3 notes)
Red
2018 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Castellero
Nice elegant weight and feel with with excellent interplay between fruit, soil, and spice.
Red
2018 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Villero
Light with delicious fruit, citrus, and spice. Beautiful for drinking now. One of the best 2018’s poured.
Red
2010 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo 90 dì Riserva Bussia
Light, subtle, and sweet with soil base, fennel, excellent acidity, and mineral finish. Not in a crowd pleasing, easy style, but this is complex and excellent. I’m not sure that this will last for decades though.
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Flight 5 - La Spinetta (Rivetti) (3 notes)
Red
2018 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barolo Vürsù Vigneto Campè
Very similar to the Garretti in its large scale and lack of focus, but with additional tar at the end.
Red
2013 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barolo Vigneto Garretti
More pleasing weight and elegance than the 2018’s but little complexity at age 10.
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Flight 6 - Luciano Sandrone (3 notes)
Red
2018 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Aleste
Oaky like Le Vigne, but lighter and more elegant. At least there is some wine here.
Red
2012 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Sibi et Paucis Cannubi Boschis
Lovely, open, and spicy. Vastly preferred to the 2018’s poured and very friendly and forward like many 2012’s.
Flight 7 - Paolo Scavino (3 notes)
Red
2018 Paolo Scavino Barolo Cannubi
More roundness and feel than the regular Barolo but little concentration or flavor interest.
Flight 8 - Piero Benevelli (3 notes)
Red
Red
2013 Piero Benevelli Barolo Ravera di Monforte
Light, savory, green, mineral, and tannic. So very different in structure compared to so many 2018’s tasted today. At least very good, classic style.
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Flight 9 - Poderi e Cantine Oddero (3 notes)
Red
2018 Oddero Barolo Brunate
Slightly more substance than the regular Barolo. Lovely sweetness of fruit and citrus leading to a gentle soil finish. Very good and a pretty 2018.
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Red
2016 Oddero Barolo Villero
Beautiful aromas, weight, and sappiness. Outstanding balance of fruit and tar elements with late spice and citrus. Classic dry, tannic finish. I retasted this and confirmed that it was one of my favorite wines of the day. Outstanding aging potential.
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Flight 10 - Vietti (4 notes)
Red
2018 Vietti Barolo Castiglione
Friendly, open, great fruit and spice. Lovely for drinking now. This is the sort of 2018 I’d definitely buy for short term enjoyment.
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Red
2018 Vietti Barolo Cerequio
More earthy, stringy, and high acid than the Castiglione. For me, not as good.
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Red
2018 Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione
Sappy. Terrific earth/fruit balance and depth. A more serious, ageworthy wine than the Castiglione and a clear step up in quality.
Red
2009 Vietti Barolo Riserva Villero
Garnet rim. Deeply fruited and very tasty with good tar for savory interest, but broad and a bit diffuse. Probably fully mature.