So we had talked about tastings of Alto Piedmont and Lombardian Nebbiolos, and of Piedmont Grapes other than Nebbiolo. We decided to combine and a nice group (one person didn’t know was coming!) gathered at my house for a night of:
Langhe, but Not Nebbiolo
and
Nebbiolo, but Not Langhe.
Gravlax, assorted charcuterie, smoked mussels and bay scallops, cheeses (Robiola, a truffle toma, Ossau Iraty, Camembert and a Val d’Aoste Fontina), chips, etc.
2007 Corbon Blanc de BlancsGrand Cru Champagne
Apple, pear, lemon pie, fresh and chalky. A-
2019 Ch Feuillet Petite Arvine (Val d'Aosta)
Candied lemon drops, melon, honey, fun flavors but I found the texture a bit heavy and thought it just a touch hot. B-
2019 G. Rinaldi Freisa
Dark berries, anise-y herbs, perfumed. Group differed on preference for 16/19,I think I was in minority. B+
2016 G. Rinaldi Freisa
Heavier and just a hint of syrup, black plum and red strawberry fruit with a little smoked meat note.B
I didn’t find either Freisa “Totally repugnant” (Supposed Parker quote)
2012 Burlotto Dolcetto d’Alba
Low acid, a bit hot, with an ashtray note on finish. B-/C+
Sasha’s Blind Wine
Tangy., floral, cherries and a little tarry note. Pretty sure no one was in Oregon!
2017 Cameron Nebbiolo. B
Jay’s Blind Wine (not blind to me, not quite on theme but I ruled permissable)
Purple color, a bit lifted, red fruit and sandalwood, don’t love the flavor profile but nice light texture and good finish. Someone got CA and Barbera eventually. B-
2023 Extradimensional Shake Ridge Barbera
2016 Burlotto Barbera d’Alba
Good acids but a little alcoholic heat, herby finish. B-
2016 Oddero Barbera d'Asti Nizza
Tasty, young, raspberries and pomegranate molasses, good finish, good brightness, B/B+
2001 G. Mascarello Barbera d’Alba Codana
I found the nose unpleasant, both lactic and oxidized, and the palate not very attractive as well. Someone kept pressing me to try again (and again), it did get better, but not to point I wanted to drink it. Unsure if bottle or wine. C+
1997 Pelissero Freisa
This is apparently in the vivace (spritzy) style like Bartolo M used to make, but any effervescence was gone (it was decanted for sediment), but I enjoyed what was left. An interesting/singular profile of sour cherry/raspberry with a perfumed/floral note. Some really disliked, they were wrong! B++
2018 Marguet “La Grande Ruelle” Champagne
I think I understood that this is Blanc de Noirs. Apple pie, peanut skin, chalk, good finish. I enjoy this a lot, but less so on a revisit later in evening, it seems to be advancing rapidly (while the Corbon is still singing). But at its best B+/A-
1971 Barbacarolo (Lino Maga) (cork fell in, so served from a Chilean SB bottle)
Not quite on theme, as Lombardia but not Nebbiolo. But we’ll take it! Sour orange, red cherries, forest floor/mushrooms. Touch of brown sugar on finish. Interesting. B+/B
OK, on to the Nebbiolo. I served dinner about here - manzo/brasato in red wine, risotto with mushrooms, broccoli rabe, and morcilla for the intrepid.
(both Lombardi Nebbiolos were mine, both especially the Inferno seemed DOA at decanting, the miracle of older Nebbiolo)
1990 Rainoldi Valtellina Superiore Inferno
I found this bright and delicious, with cherry fruit overlaid with citrus zest, leather, and balsamic notes. Does tire a bit at end, but at peak B+
1985 Rainoldi Sassella
Quieter, faded fruit, leather and rose petals. A light caramel note. I liked, in an elegant old dowager way, thought it actually reminded me of old Sangiovese more than Nebbiolo. Some thought it improved in glass. B
1971 M. Mascarello Nebbiolo d’Alba (also technically a bit off theme)
Still some good fruit, lovely nose with incense and tar, tangy mineral finish. A-/B+
1967 Antoniolo Spanna Santachiara
Dried cherries, rose petals, tar. Nice to start and pIcks up steam . Complete and complex, elegant. A-
1964 Antoniolo Spanna Santachiara
Saddle leather and cherries, a little pine needle on nose, nice length. B
1964 Fiore Spanna
One person found this corked, but no one else. I liked- red plums and desiccated cherries, mushrooms, quite mature but not tired. B
1964 Fratelli Beccaro Ghemme
This is both mature and a bit tired, but there’s a nice soulful pensioner here. Little fruit left, more forest floor and mushrooms, but I still found interesting. B
1961 Nervi Riserva del Titolare Gattinara,
Comes across a bit thin at first but really picks up weight. Sour cherry, orange zest, white flowers. Long finish and is at its best at end of night while cleaning up. A-/B+
That’s it for the Italians! While I prepared a couple of blind wines, Rahsaan poured the
2017 Rebholz Ganz Horn Riesling Grosses Gewachs. Powerful but balanced, white nectarine and grapefruit, flint/smoke. Quite long, and my end of table is discussing how we need to buy Rebholz! A-
There was also a 2002 J.J. Christoffel Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ** as one designated driver only drinks low alcohol wines, but when I saw it at end of night it was too warm to try.
So I served 2 off theme blinds to finish off:
Blind # 1- Immediate Bordeaux, followed by St Julien (I said good guess if wrong). First guesses for vintage were 1989 and 1990, then 1978, then I think John got 1970. Once someone guessed Haut Medoc, John and Sasha guessed La Lagune at same time, A very nice showing. Still some structure, but the soft ripeness/plushness of the vintage is there as well. Cassis, red cherry, cigarbox, mushrooms, and just a hint of bell pepper. Nicely balanced, classic. 1970 La Lagune A-
Blind #2 - this took longer, everyone was on Left Bank for a while. Once they got to Pomerol, I said you’re not going to think of this estate, which led to some fun guessing of obscure properties before I ended the pain. Red cherries, citrus zest, Earl Grey tea, fallen leaves. Solid and tasty, if not exciting. Good showing for an almost 60 year old 4th tier Pomerol. 1966 Beauregard. B+/B
Jay had brought cookies that were well received. Funnight- interesting wines, nice people (who were friendly to the poorly behaved hound). Especially Jay
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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.
