Robert Parker Grand World Tour, Piedmont Masterclass

Robert Parker headed out to his first Word tour with the initial stop in Asia. Several wine events were held each in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Nebbiolo was the topic of the Singapore masterclass and Monica Larner who covers Italy for WA led through the session, together with Bob who chimed in. 200 attendees and Robert Parker's wife was there too. Very nice event, despite the big crowd Parker shared many personal stories and took all the time necessary for people who wanted to take photos with him and have books/bottles signed. A magical wine moment.

• 2010 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabajà 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Bruno Rocca is a traditionalist who pushed for quality in this famous vineyard when others were still asleep. Medium-light garnet. Expressive nose of spices, cinnamon, pine tree, quite distinctively spicy and minty, very aromatic overall. On the palate young and astringent but with deep fruit and excellent length. Lots of potential. Wait.

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• 2007 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Montefico 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  A traditionalist producer. Medium garnet. Nose of flowers, strawberry, tar and licorice and minerals. Quite soft in the mouth but a hollow mid palate. Decent length. Ok la, the Singaporean's would probably say to this.

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• 2004 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco Ovello 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Medium garnet. Nose of licorice, strawberry, tar and rosemary, quite clean and precise. On the palate very grippy, loads of tannins not drying but conspicuously masculine, take no prisoner style. Make sure you eat with this wine and make sure your dish is of the fatty/oily kind. Other than that, solid complexity and length

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• 2004 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva Asili 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  A traditionalist. Medium garnet. Reserved nose of dried fruit, earth, leather minerals. On the palate not very fruity but with soft tannins. Strong showing but more aromatic complexity is needed to score beyond 95.

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• 2009 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This is a moderate modernist as Monica Larner put it. Medium garnet. Reserved nose of red fruit with spices, oak and some leather. On the palate soft, round, complex and long. Very good package. I like the balance.

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• 2004 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Riserva 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A traditionalist. Dark garnet. Reductive nose of tar, mint and some leather, closed. On the palate old school tannic and tight, medium length. How much more time does this one need?

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• 2001 Massolino Barolo Riserva X Dieci Anni Vigna Rionda 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This is a half modernist, half traditionalist producer. From the Serralunga area which is know as a terroir for powerful wines. Dark garnet. Aromatic and forward nose of mint, dark fruit, leather, licorice, very Nebbiolo. On the palate strong and masculine but enough fruit to support it. Similar to the Cantina del Pino.

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• 2001 Vietti Barolo Rocche 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Medium-dark garnet. Expressive nose of herbs, cassis, tar, licorice and balsamico, very aromatic. On the palate medium bodied with good balance of fruit/acidity/tannins. Quite elegant and long. This is in the drinking window now.

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• 2000 Elio Grasso Barolo Riserva Rüncot 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  From the Monforte area. Elio Grasso is another moderate modernist who likes its wines softer and riper. Dark garnet. Expressive nose of distinctive sour cherry, dark fruit with some leather and toast. Very different than the rest, much like Voerzio. They both stood apart with their aromatic profiles that night. On the palate medium-full bodied with caressing tannins and good finesse. I really liked it, second best wine of the night by a margin to all others. FYI, unlike Voerzio this is very affordable. A must try Barolo.

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• 2000 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate 97 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Roberto Voerzio is a legend of low yields and new approach in Piedmont. This wine exists in Magnum only. Dark garnet. Expressive nose of dark fruit, plum, black berry, leather and mint. Very different than the other Baroli, more ripeness but not overripe/oxidative. On the palate medium-full bodied soft and round, easy to drink. Usually I am not a fan of fuller/riper wine but here in Barolo where sinewy and tanninc wines sometimes tend to be the problem, swinging the pendulum a bit more to the other side is actually a good thing. This was the WOTN for me. Impressive!

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Many great Nebbioli. It also showed (again!) how astringent these wines are. When Robert Parker made the remark half way through the tasting that these are wine to go with food everyone laughed with relief. I could see all the people who are not familiar with Nebbiolo struggling during the entire event. No wines for red wine beginners for sure. With Chateau Latour being one of my favorite wines I am no wimp when it comes to tannins but I must admit that in Barolo I clearly prefer the modernists who try to make softer wines.