2000 Barbarescos and older Nebbiolos
Tom's house in Palo Alto, California
Tasted Thursday, March 14, 2013 by europat55 with 518 views
Introduction
Notes for the organizer: "The red varietal Nebbiolo is grown almost exclusively in the Piedmonte, a region in northwestern Italy bordering the foothills of the French-Italian Alps. In the hills of Piedmonte, There, especially in the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) regions Barolo and Barbaresco, Nebbiolo produces some of the most majestic, longest lived red wines in the world.
The word "nebbiolo" means "from the fog", perhaps referring to the cool, often fog-bound slopes on which the vines grow in Piedmonte. The long, cool growing season there produces wines of intense character, combining blackberries, truffles, tarry notes, and over time, a distinct aroma of violets. The wines are often stern and tannic when young, but can develop beautifully with a decade or three of age.
The Piedmontese guard their varietal jealously, and few Nebbiolo vines have made it to other parts of the world. Over the years a few cuttings have gotten out, either with special permission or smuggled. Perhaps fittingly, it is also one of the most difficult varietals to successfully grow elsewhere. It is hard to capture that perfect harvest point where the fruit is ripe but not overripe, and yet the tannins are balanced with the structure and size of the wine. In the late 1980s, there were experimental vineyards planted in the Russian River and the Sierra Foothills, but the recent focus has been in the Santa Barbara region, where it is grown in the Stolpman vineyard and a couple others with considerable success.
Tonight, we'll have two flights, one covering four early California Nebbiolos (with a Nebbiolo d'Alba from a top producer as comparison). The second flight will be six top rated Barbarescos from the outstanding 2000 vintage."
Flight 1 - Pre-Tasting Wines (4 Notes)
Flight 2 - Flight #1 (5 Notes)
Flight 3 - Flight #2 (6 Notes)
2009 Fratelli Brovia Roero Arneis 86 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Roero
Strange nose. Good minerality. Tasted blind.
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2009 Marco Felluga / Russiz Superiore Collio Sauvignon 89 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Collio
Lemony citrus with a hint of tropical fruit. Nice acidity and minerality. Excellent. Tasted blind.
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2011 Barton Orchard Syrah 64%/Sangiovese 36% Ascona Vineyard 80 Points
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
Very strange nose. Quite unique, but not my style. Tasted blind.
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1998 Château Grandis 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Nose was outstanding (A-). Palate was excellent, but a little bit thin (B+). Certainly worth the current $20 retail price! Tasted blind.
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