(It's a new week! What did you think of the Barbaresco? We had it all weekend... Max's comments below. Share your comments, and vote below. A new wine recommendation comes in on Thursday.)
Name:Produttori del Barbaresco
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Price: $24.99
Stores: Astor Wines & Spirits (12 Astor Place), Aulden Cellars, a fine wine store located within Sotheby's but without a web address, (1334 York Ave between 70th and 71st Street) and PJ Wine (4898 Broadway between 204th and 205th Street)
This week's suggestion is inspired by the great sale happening at Astor Wines & Spirits. Selfishly, I am going through a Nebbiolo kick; collectively I wanted something with plenty of availability so that we could all take advantage of the discount. ($18.74 down from $24.99)
Amanda, the unassuming Italian Wine Diva at Astor, helped steer me towards a wine that fit both my criteria. Together we chose the 2002 Produttori del Barbaresco.
Nebbiolo is considered to be one of the world's greatest grapes. In fact it is so highly coveted by the Piedmontese that very few cuttings ever make it out of Italy. Nebbiolo is the sole grape of Barolo and Barbaresco; Barolo is considered to be the king of Italian wine, with Barbaresco coming in a close (and more affordable) second. Nebbiolos should be dark ruby in color with some of the following flavor characteristics: earth, truffle, violet, cedar, dark black cherry/berry fruit and licorice. Sticking with the winter theme, these are wines that pair well with heavy meats and rich stews.
Amanda guaranteed me that there were a few cases in the back, so head down and pick up a bottle before it sells out!
very nice. actually ended up drinking the whole bottle - myself - between last night and today at lunch (i wasn't alone, it was just that i seemed to be concentrating more on this one bottle).
I also like this process. by drinking a wine that i read about i am remembering far more about the experience and *feeling* like i am learning about wine more. i am certainly connecting taste with name and grape far more than ever. Thanks, Jen!
ps. and considering drinking a bit of homework each weekend isn't a bad thing either....
Couldnt find this one in LA, but last week I sent my boyfriend to the Wine House to find something representative of Torino to celebrate the beginning of the Winter
Olympics, and under $20. He came back with Eremo Langhe from Fontanafredda, a blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo, which we liked very much.
We opened our bottle last night. At first I didn't like the wine, finding it tightly wound with tart fruit and none of the earthy leather that I like about Nebbiolo. I did the wine a disservice by pairing it with Butternut Squash soup (from last week's nyt - delicious!), this pairing was disastrous so we decided to pour the wine in a decanter and let it breathe for a few minutes while we finished our soup. Afterwards we tried it with some Chard sautéed with a bit of bacon. The fat in the bacon really helped soften the tart fruit and I began to enjoy it a bit more. In fact with a little air and time the wine evolved nicely and started to show more depth and complexity.
My overall opinion is that this is a good wine, but it is too young. Barbaresco is usually more accessible when young. I bet this wine could age for a couple of years. Regardless it wasn't a bad bottle and, as Max kindly pointed out above, it's fun to drink your homework over the weekend.
Someone once said that "a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous" but my instincts were correct about the way to approach this week's Barberesco. We opened the bottle and noticed immediately that the wine was very closed, chalky and tart. I suggested that we pour the wine into a decanter and let it breath. We swirled the wine around in the decanter somewhat aggressively and a few minutes later were drinking a different wine. The body was medium, the fruit flavors open with a little residual tartness. Very enjoyable with food but not a wine that will end up on my must have list.
good advice Raoul
wish I had followed it immediately upon opening
Saumur-Champigny "La Grande Vignolle", Filliatreau 2004
immediate impression: a fine French clay facial
this weekend's pick in the chez guido under $20 bin:
Boroli Barbera d'Alba, Bricco 4 Fratelli 2003
which was nice as a glass before dinner, and held up amazingly well against masaman lamb (curry with chiles, garlic, tamarind)
guess I did the wrong homework . . .
; )
i decided i wasn't going to buy this weeks wine b/c i was heading upstate to chill with my mom and my oenophile step-dad and wouldn't have time to try it
boy was i wrong!
sunday night is family meal night where my step-sis, her hubby and my goregous nephew come over to feast with us
my mom was bored with cooking, so she put me in charge (for once!) i made pasta w/broccoli rabe, sausage and caramelized onions and mushrooms
and what to my wondering eyes should my step-dad pull from the cellar??? BUT THIS VERY WINE! (well, not the exact one, he pulled the 2001!!)
it was FABULOUS!!
so balanced, so easy drinking and just enough body to stand up to the garlic-y, spicy pasta sauce i whipped up
what a nice surpirse :-)