Thursday night my city group met at Marta in NoMad area for a Piedmont dinner featuring the 1978, 1988, and 1998 vintages. Nice if noisy restaurant. I had the (excellent) fennel/rosemary sweetbreads with duck liver. Then we shared some pizzas: stracciatella, funghi, & maccellaio (sopressata, guanciale, mozzarella, grana padano), I missed out on the testa (pig head terrine with cheese and arugula). We split sous vide pork rib chops with salad for main.
NV Bereche “Reflet d’Antan” Brut Champagne (several disgorgements ago).
Pears, mint, a little vanilla (oak?). Good crispness, long finish. B+
2016 Vietti Arneis
OK, citrus and pit fruits, moderate acids. A bit simple, others liked more. B-
Reds were double-decanted for travel
The 1978 Francesco Rinaldi e Figli Barbaresco & 1978 PIra Barolo Riserva were advanced/maderized.
1978 Ceretto Barbaresco Asili
Young, tangy, fresh B+/A-
1978 Fontanafredda Barbaresco
More acid than fruit, a metallic/brett note, uninspiring. B-/C+
1978 Fratelli Barale Barolo
Ripe fruit, rose, tar, I think I liked better than group,. B+
1978 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni (Valentino) Barolo Riserva
I thought this would be top ‘78, but fruit is a bit thin, with a caramel note. Gets more floral, but still only just good. B/B-
1978 Marcarini Barolo Brunate
Ready, gravel and tar, B
1988 Ceretto Bricco Rocche Barolo Brunate
Good freshness, balanced, rose petal and tar. B+/A-
1988 A. Conterno Colonello Barolo,
Lots of tannin, ripe/lush sweet red fruit, B+
1998 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo.
Young, sweet candied fruit, I expected to like this more. B
1998 Marcarini Barolo Brunate
Young, tannic, herby, flowers and tar. B+
(I had gotten this far Fri when I was interrupted. Somehow over weekend I lost notes, so this is from memory)
1998 Giacosa Falletto Barolo
Young, vibrant, lots of life left but surprisingly approachable. Long finish. A-
1995 Giacosa Gallina Barbaresco
Replacement for 1978 Rinaldi. Not sure I’ve ever had this bottling before, Less air time than others, decanted at restaurant. Nice showing, young and firm, violets and a little tar over solid red cherry base. B+./A-
Fun night
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.