Blind Nebbiolo (not Barolo) at Metro Vino, ending with the Bone Luge

Paul spearheaded this dinner, perhaps a less geeky one than usual with our wonderful spouses joining us to keep the conversation more diverse. The idea was to do Nebbiolo, but not Barolo. I took that to mean not Barbaresco as well, but we did have quite a few of those show up. Paul wanted to do his Gattinara flight blind, so we wound up doing the whole rest of them blind as well.

• 2001 Travaglini Gattinara 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara

  Nice meaty aromas, quite spicy, smelling of cranberries and minerals. Lean aromas, and that transfers to the palate, which is very lean and light in body. Quite hugely gritty. Really tart and puckering finish, which is also very lean. Gritty as hell an feels crazy young, with youthful tannins and intense grit. The fruit on this was very pretty and bright, but it was quite covered by the structure. Initially I thought this was the youngest of the bunch just due to how it was showing, but once it was revealed as a 2001 I could definitely see those intense 2001 tannins. This needs 15 years.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 Travaglini Gattinara 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara

  Much thicker aromas here. Lush, dark, and woodsy. Quite a bit softer and leaner structure on the palate. Nice and big, with some grit. Nice mellow fruit. The finish is lusher and still grippy, but this time with plenty of lush fruit. This was seeming very obviously 2003 with the softness of the fruit and tannins. Drinking well today, actually.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Travaglini Gattinara 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara

  I actually thought this was the oldest of the bunch, yet it was the youngest. The aromas were dusty, chalky, and thick. A bit of freshness to the fruit, which certainly feels heavier than the first wine (which wound up being the 2001). The palate is leaner than the 2003, yet doesn't feel as structured. Certainly has the typical Gattinara grippiness, but the fruit is mild and soft. Softer still on the finish, and showing some elegance. Creaminess. I think this just isn't as heavily structured a vintage than the likes of the 2001. Should drink well on the younger side, maybe 2020ish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1996 Gigi Bianco Barbaresco Pora 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  The aromas here are the tightest of this flight, and perhaps of the night. With some vigorous swirling it showed some poopiness and light fruit, but really never showed much. The palate is soft and lush compared to some of the others. Tart tannins build to some rich tartness. Softly textured, but not much flavor or complexity. Gritty, lean finish. Quite soft and not much flavors lingering. This was good and actually drinking pleasantly (hence the score), but just wasn't too complex. Based on the note and once the wine was revealed seeing the year, I'd suggest it's actually in a fine drinking place.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2004 Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Rabajà 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Holy cow, what high, thick volume on this compared to any other this night. This smells delicious and thick. The palate is very creamy and lush texture, showing lots of dried fruits (figs). Very voluptuous. Very good! The finish is soft, showing great creaminess and luscious soft fruit. Really delicious and lush. My wine of the night, and actually drinking well for its young age.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2010 Ettore Germano Langhe Nebbiolo Serralunga 67 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  I'm sorry, but this is truly truly wretched. The worst Nebbiolo I have ever had. Steve had joked earlier in the night that he had brought a "Three Buck Chuck" Nebbiolo and that is exactly what this tasted like. I was sure this was some monster production, generic wine, perhaps made in California. The aromas were of oak chips and disgusting fake jam. Very sweet, sickly so. This smells completely new world. The palate is similar new world disgustingness. Tastes mass produced and completely manufactured, no sense of place. Wow. Every sip this got more and more disgusting, and I kept forgetting how bad it was or what glass I was going to but was instantly equally disgusted every time. Horrible. First scored this 69, but had to lower it.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

• 2007 Azienda Pier Langhe Asnas 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Wow, odd, this smells like pineapple flavored protein powder. It even smells gritty. I couldn't get past that. The palate is big and very soft, though still showing some gritty tannins building. Quite rich fruit; big and lush. The finish is soft and showing elegant fruit. Very gritty, with soft, deep, darkening fruits. Very lush and delicious.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Sandro Fay Sforzato di Valtellina 87 Points

  Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Sforzato di Valtellina

  This was decanted for three hours before dinner. I suspect this may have been too much, as I did not care for the way it was showing. This smells like confit of some bird. It's a bit stewed and quite funky. Someone said Tamarind seed and that is spot on! I think it smells a little oxidized, too.. as the night went on it got yet funkier. The palate is lushly texture and funky again. Soft, with nice structure but very lean. Better fruit here. Very tart and grippy on the finish, and lots of funk. Very gritty tannins on the finish and feeling a little leaner. Strange how this smells over the hill, though. Not sure what to think of this showing. I think I'll try my next bottle sooner rather than later, but with less decant. 87 points I guess, due to the finish, but the nose is much less.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2008 Franco Serra Barbaresco 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  This smells just a bit new world again on initial pour, but that went away a bit as the night went on. Certainly fruit forward still, with nice sweet fruit. Gritty and tight palate, with nice ripe red fruits. Tannic. Very smooth fruit, though, and it's soft despite that grip and tightness. Very structured finish, with smooth red fruits. Very very grippy and tight, though. Too young, and not much complexities.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Really quite a lot of fun, and doing the bone luge at the end is always fun and just as delicious as it sounds. Having seen what showed up, I am kind of wishing I had brought a new world Nebbiolo, since one didn't show up. They usually don't taste very good, but it'd have been fun. ;-)