Well we have had three fantastic days today we head to Calabria and Sicily. As well as seeing all our producers we represent in Australia via Mondo Imports, we had some great tasting at some of the best producers in the Langhe.
The highlights included a tour and tasting with Roberto Conterno from Giacomo Conterno (trying the 2010 Monfortino out of barrel) and dinner last night with Gaia Gaja over a bottle of 78 Barbaresco.
Sorry for the absence of posts in the last couple of weeks. Building works have started and as usual they are taking up more time than previously anticipated.
During the week I will post full notes on this dinner plus a major update on our building works.
Late last year I was approached to organize an Italian dinner featuring some old and great bottles of Barolo and Barbaresco from decades past. Getting the wine was not a problem, as in Italy, there are still many cellars with access to these great bottles. However, buying old bottles does not always guarantee success and it is as much about the cork as it is about vintages, producers, etc.
However on Friday night. The goddess of Italian wine was definitely shining on us, with some of the best examples of aged Barolo and Barbaresco I have drunk in my lifetime. Also Scopri as always did a fantastic job with the food.
Here are my thoughts on the wine:
Zeppole Al Formaggio
Ca’ Del Bosco Franciacorta ‘Anna Maria Clementi’ 2001
Lovely well rounded palate. Someone made the comment of lemon sherbet and it is probably the perfect description for the wine. Also fennel/anice, bright acidity and fantastic length. Years ahead of it.
Quaglia Arrostita con fichi in pancetta
Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino 1941
An old wine, just a shell of it’s past but still distinctly Nebbiolo. Fantastic nose, still vibrant and alive.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino 1952
Lovely wine, still amazing, still living, breathtaking palate that ticks all the boxes when it comes to Barolo. Roses, violets, vibrant acidity. Incredible.
Spiedini di cervo con marmelata di cipolla rossa
Borgogno Barolo Riserva 1955
Again still alive, lovely fragrance and length. Amazing acidity.
Borgogno Barolo Riserva 1962
Great length, amazing palate. Wow!! Still so young an vibrant. Colour still scream Nebbiolo.
Risotto al radicchio, vino rosso e provola
Mario Minuto fu Giovanni Barbaresco Riserva ‘Fascetto’ 1964
Lovely feminine wine. Still some primary fruit with fantastic texture and length.
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Canale 1967 (released for Alba Truffle Festival 1976
Hints of caramel, mocha, acidity. It is old in age but still plenty of years left in it.
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva ‘Rabaya’ 1967
Perfumed and fragrant, the palate still has amazing length and character.
Tagliatelle al ragu leggero di vitello
Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Ovello 1970
First bottle corked, second bottle not as complex as previous bottles. Balanced but without any drive or complexity.
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco 1976
Initially amazing, so balanced and complete. Layers upon layers of fruit. However, within 5-10 minutes this wine really died in the glass to leave just a shell. Drink quickly!!
Brasato di agnello al Barolo
Borgogono Barolo Riserva 1976
Dirty wine, milky and unpolished. Almost like the fruit and tannins have been melted together. However a wine a like. Love richness of fruit.
Ceretto Bricco Rocche Barolo Brunate 1986
Sound wine, but not my style. Old school, a touch simple and outclassed in tonight’s’ line up.
Testun di Barolo
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 1974
Corked.
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 1974 (Jeroboam)
Awesome, still years ahead of it. Deep colour, vibrant palate, in the prim of it’s life. This is why I love Produttori so much.
Crostatina ai frutti di bosco
Paolo Saracco Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2011 (Magnum)
This has really settled down in the last few months. Intense, not overly rich but it has amazing drive through the palate. Great way to finish the night.
Overall it was an amazing night and I was so happy with the way the wines look. A dozen great bottles drunk with a dozen fantastic people at one of Melbourne’s best Italian restaurants. Pretty hard to beat.
In a few days time, a group of twelve Italian wine lovers will head to Scopri to try some of Italy’s great producers stretching back to 1941. Over the last couple of years I have access to some pretty amazing bottles of Barolo and Barbaresco and it will be good to showcase these wines in one sitting.
This is the line up of wines on the night:
2001 Ca Del Bosco Anna Maria on arrival.
Bracket One
MONFORTINO 1941 G.CONTERNO
MONFORTINO 1952 G.CONTERNO
Bracket Two
BAROLO 1955 RISERVA G.BORGOGNO
BAROLO 1962 RISERVA G.BORGOGNO
Bracket Three
BARBARESCO 64 RIS. FASCETTO MINUTO
BARBARESCO 67 RIS.RABAYA’ PRODUT.
BARBARESCO 70 RIS. OVELLO PRODUT.
Bracket Four
BARBARESCO 1974 PRODUTTORI
BARBARESCO 1974 JEROBOAM PRODUT.
Bracket Five
BAROLO 1976 RISERVA G.BORGOGNO
BARBARESCO 1976 BRUNO GIACOSA BAROLO
1986 BRUNATE CERETTO
To finish:
PAOLO SARACO MOSCATO D’ASTI 2011 (Out of Magnum)
It should be a great night and fingers crossed that all the wines look good. It will be fascinating to see Monfortino at seventy years of age. Same goes with the number of back vintage Produttori and Borgogno. Each flight will be matched with a dish and knowing how good the team at Scorpi are, it should be a match made in heaven.
On Sunday, I will give a full wrap of the wines and the night.
il vino da tavola 