Hola-

As a few good folk in here know... I've tasted Barolo recently for the first time... and I loved the stuff more than any other red.

My goal for 2004 is to focus most of my purchases on Barolo. However, I don't know very much about the region, what to look for n' whatnot. What are good deals, etc. I know the big names, but they're usually a bit too expensive for my budget.

So... if anyone would happen to have a Barolo Primer... that'd be absolutly schnazzy.

So which Barolo turned you on to Piedmont? Did it have a lot of bottle age, or was it a young Barolo? I'm with you in that in 2003 Piedmont was one of my wine discoveries - I'm no means an expert, but here's what my research has led me to find.

Piedmont Values (under $30)
Is there such a thing? Sure, if you can dig Dolcettos and Barberas. Dolcettos tend to be the lightest of the Piedmontese reds, and for me have a little bit of the cranberry element of it. Barberas are bigger and richer. Both tend to have a pretty high level of acidity, but the best ones have good typicity and Piedmont character that is worth trying. Try these wines:

Dolcetto from:
Sori PAITIN
Elio ALTARE

Barbera from:
Luciano SANDRONE
RIVETTI (aka La Spinetta) Ca di Pian
CLERICO Le Vigne (more oaky)

The only Nebbiolo that I've tasted for about $30 that I've loved is Sandrone's Nebbiolo Valmaggiore. Try a bottle of the 2000 - you'll find that it's a fantastic bottle of wine that is very accessible now.

Piedmont mid-range wines ($30-$60)
You'll find a lot more options in this price range. Have you considered Barbaresco? It is aged a year less in oak and tends to have good Nebbiolo character at lower prices (generally) than Barolos.

Barbarescos:
MOCCAGATTA - try the Basarin, Bric Balin or the Cole. Wait, that's their entire lineup!
ALBINO ROCCA - a more rustic Barbaresco producer

Barolos:
Domenico CLERICO - the Pajana bottling is usually available for $60.
Elio ALTARE - The Barolo La Morra (which is their "basic" Barolo) is very good - you can find it for $50.

Also, if you can find them, try a Barbera Gallina or Barbera Superiore from RIVETTI - it's an awesome Barbera. You can usually find them for around $50.

It was a `98 Grimaldi Le Coste that turned me on. I attented an Italian Wine Class a few months ago where I tasted it. I was told it's a pretty good representation of Barolo, and that it's still very young and needs about 3-5 more years... was decanted for about 3 hours before tasting.

Thanks for the info!

Try the 97 Grimaldi if you get a chance.

Does anyone have any experience w/ Cordero di Montezemolo Monfalletto?

DJH,

Ms. Winetex... always looking out for fellow posters, and knowing that I'm a Piedmont hound... suggested that I respond to your request. Hmmm... where to start...

First, eRobert gives the Grimaldi (which I've not tried) 90-pts. He refers to it as "classic" and "old style", with tar, cherry syrup, kirsch. Says it is "intense". So that is the starting point.

Personally, I think of Barolo and Barbaresco as "pinot noir on steroids". A good one, as you've discovered, will change your palate forever.

Unfortunately, "affordable" and "Barolo" don't really go very well together. But, look for sales. There are very wide variations in Barolo and Barbaresco prices. I've seen some great wine at pretty good "relative" prices. A great deal was recently offered by Winex on the Paitin V.V. (old vine) '99 Barbaresco. Not sure if there is any left, but if so, jump on it.

In case you weren't aware, Barolos stay in wood a year longer than Barbrescos, so current release Barberescos are 2000 vintage, current Barolo is '99.

Generally, there is "old style" and "new style", but these two dimensions are further magnified by vintage. For example, '96 was a great classic vintage; '97 was a very rich, accessable vintage. A traditional producer (Rinaldi or Conterno) from '96 won't be ready for years; on the other hand, a '97 from Ceretto (Prapo)-- is a delicious wine right now. All vintages from '96 to '01 are very good. '97 and '00 will be most immediately accessible. Also, if you run across any well-stored '95s, they are often good values-- for example, the '95 Silvio Grasso, Bricco Luciani is a wonderful wine, and the '95s are drinking well right now.

If you're serious about Piedmont, you must get the Gambero Rosso buying guide. Any 3-glass wine will be excellent. Try to find some '97s and '00s for accessibility now.

My favorites: E. Pira (Chiara Boschis is the emerging darling of Piedmont; her '97 is voluptuous and the '96 is stunning); '90 Ceretto Brunate and '97 Ceretto Prapo are awesome (consider buying a '90 Brunate or two at auction); S. Grasso's Bricco Luciani is always nice; Enzo Boglietti is a modern, rich, producer. '97 Oddero Rionda is really good. Clerico-- Pajana, Ginestra, and Perchristina (named after his 7-year old daughter that tragically passed away a few years ago)-- are all extraordinary wines but they need time. A recently consumed Clerico from the not-so-great '94 vintage was still young.

Perhaps some of the better values are in Barbaresco. They are (sometimes) a bit more delicate, but lovely wines: Albino Rocca is consistently great-- Ronchi or Loreto (but need some aging time); I like Paitin alot (finesse...); Moccagotta, Bruno Rocca, Sottimono are also good, but need time.

Dig in, enjoy, and know that if you are drinking an E. Pira or S. Grasso wine, they are made by a few of the nicest people on the plant.

Wow. Tremendous info here. THis just made post of the week!! Hope to see you back some more BH_V.

Revlis,

Thanks. I'll try; life's pretty-busy these days. Bottling the '02 BHV wine on 1/26, designing a label, a website, and then need to sell 500 cases... and this is my "hobby". The day-job gets in the way sometimes

BHV... You oughtta be able to knock those tasks out in a week or two.

Just offer your wines for sale to the forumites here - they'll be gone in no time!

Wow, thanks BH.

Good info.

I know that there really is no such thing as "Affordable Barolo". What I was referring to when I made that statement was the price range of 40-60 on average. Compared to the 100-300 you find for the high end stuff. 40-60 I can at least consider...

BHV - thanks for the info.

I had not tried a good aged Barolo until BHV brought one to dinner one night from his cellar. It really changed my mind about Barolos. Yum.

Thanks BHV for the primer, was always tepid about dipping the toe into the higher end italian waters, will do now

I would suggest trying Paolo Scavino Barolos Bric dël Fiasc, Carobric or Cannubi, all very nice.

Shark,

I agree, I also like Scavino, and his brother (I think) "Azelia"-- Bricco Fiasco-- is quite good too.

Phil,

Not sure you should thank me for getting you into "expensive Italian wine"... it is a very slippery slope. But in the "affordable" category, I also like Clerico's Arte quite a bit-- Nebbiolo and Barbera. Top quality wine at a reasonable price.

budman,

I'm counting on you forumites to help with my marketing dilemma; but first I need to get endorsements from Winetex, Board-O, and Duke Riley. If I can get these three to agree that it is good, then you'll know it's safe to buy! You can't trust me, I'm in a severe conflict of interest situation on this one!

Landshark, I have a few of these in the cellar from '98... You have a typical drinking window for these?

I just started drinking my ‘95s and ‘96s I would still give the ‘98s at least another year and or two.

Was `95 a solid year for Piedmont, regardless of the general low score (compared to `96-`98) that WS gave the vintage?

‘95 was not a particularly good year but there are some nice bottles out there that are drinking well now. Both WS and WA scored 30 to 45 wines of the ‘95 vintage 90 or higher. ’94 was the really tough year.

For Piedmont, the top vintages were / are 89, 90, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01. The thing about '95 is that the vintages from 91 - 94 were very poor, so that when '95 came out, it got very high praise. But when everyone started talking about '96 being the best vintage in decades, '95 was soon forgotten. That is why some '95s can still be found, and why they are comparatively inexpensive. From the right producers, they can still be very good wines, and they are drinking quite well right now.

It has been awhile since I'd had one, so I opened a '95 Silvio Grasso, Bricco Luciani last night. It was ever so slightly corked, but still drinkable, and all in all , not a bad wine. Having recently had several of the "plushy" '97s from several producers, I can say that the '95 is definitely more tannic and rustic. It has more of an "old world" character than a "new world" character. But on day two it has filled-out and become more approachable. This particular wine is still young; but if you're a bit used to the "enamal peeling" character of Italian wines, the Grasso Luciani is a pretty good bottle-- 92-ish, without the corkiness.

Great comments from everyone in this thread.

Personally, I think that most Barolo needs a MINIMUM of 10 years of age from vintage before you pop the cork to really get a taste for what Barolo is all about. If you want Nebbiolo a couple years younger, open a Barbaresco.