Young Barolo vs. Brunello
Haslams House
Tasted December 18, 2010 - December 19, 2010 by CWilliam with 1,601 views
Introduction
We put together a tasting of young (2000 - 2006) Barolo and Brunellos at the Haslam's house. Olives, cheeses & grilled skirt steak (salt & pepper rub) were served with the wines. We tasted in 4 flights of 2 - wines were served blind and we revealed each set of wines after tasting them. Unsurprisingly, there was no clear cut winner between Barolo or Brunello and both of the favorite wines of the night were from the 2000 (Barolo) and 2001 (Brunello) vintages. Given these wines were young some of the higher rated wines did not show as well as their professional rating would suggest. All of the wines were enjoyable but the group's two favorite wines of the note were the Poggio Antico - Altera 2001 (Brunello - the WOTN) and the Rocche Dei Manzoni Vigna d' la Roul 2000 Barolo. There was one ringer, a 2004 Chiati Classico Riserva that showed very well (Fattoria Le Fonti) and was received more favorably than the Brunello (which was very good) that it was tasted against.
Unless noted, all wines were decanted for 3+ hours prior to the tasting. Additionally, my notes were a little lacking towards the end of the tasting. All ratings are mine and not generated by the group.
Flight 1 (2 notes)
Red
2001 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Altero
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Looked young - beautiful nose - rose petals / tar / high acidity / medium body / very long finish with grippy tannins - For tasting group, wine of the tasting. I intitially guessed it was a Barolo. Buy more from this producer. 92-94 range.
Red
2001 Prunotto Barolo
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
6/7 people preferred the Poggio Antico to this wine. On nose, very fruit (cherry / black cherry) dominant - almost new world. Palate was more restrained with cherry and earthy elements. Medium body with medium+ finish. 89-91 rating.
Flight 2 (2 notes)
Red
2004 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Wine 3 of 8. Decanted for 5 hours before tasting (note to self - drink remaing bottles 2014+ as this wine is closed down). Medium red color. Beautiful nose - rose petals / floral / raspberry. Medium body (dark cherry / forest floor on palate). Long finish - lots of tannins. I preferred this to the '06 Vietti but 5/7 in group preferred the '06 Vietti Rocche to this wine. I wrote down 94+ but that was more based on potential than where it is today - 92+ today.
Red
2006 Vietti Barolo Rocche
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Wine #4 / Notes started to go south - big nose (black cherry / cherry / tar) - full bodied, high acids and surprisingly approachable now (was decanted for 6 hours before tasting). 92++.
Flight 3 (2 notes)
Red
2000 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Vigna d'la Roul
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Wine#5 / Out of 8 wines, group voted this as runner-up in the tasting. Clear meniscus / nose was relatively closed (this bottle was opened as the tasting began which drove this) - beautiful on palate - classic Barolo - long finish. 92+
Red
2004 Cascina Lo Zoccolaio Barolo
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Wine #6. Dark red color. Nose was great (rose petals / sour cherry / earthy) but palate was a let down from nose. Tasted pretty new world (fruit dominated) on palate with heavy tannins and medium finish.
Flight 4 (2 notes)
Red
2004 Fattoria Le Fonti Chianti Classico Riserva
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
The Ringer - This wine surprised everyone as it held it's own in this crowd (and was preferred to wine #8 which was a very good Brunello from the same vintage). Decanted for ~ 2 hours before the tasting. Consistent with prior notes - tobacco, dark cherry / herbs on the nose. Palate similar with medium to long finish with nice, drying tannins.91-93 rating. Note to self - buy the '07 Riserva from this producer.
Closing
Special thaks to the Haslams for hosting this event.
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