Sunday, December 24, 2017

Ca Bianca Barolo, 2003; i Tres Merli Gigi Rosso Barbaresco, 1999

This is about as perfect a pair of Piedmont classics as you could hope to find. The Barolo is from 2003 but not showing any negative signs from the warm vintage. The Barbaresco is from the excellent 1999 vintage, bottled by Gigi Rosso for a former Italian restaurant in New York city.

As to be expected, the Barolo is dark and powerful but with the lovely Nebbiolo bouquet of rose petals, black licorice and dark cherries. Perfect weight on the palate and an elegant finish for a warm vintage wine. Textbook Barolo.

Many at the table were charmed even more by the Barbaresco. Lovely floral bouquet that jumps from the glass. And the flavors are at least as tempting. Lighter tones, less tannin than the Barolo, but that's what Barbaresco is all about. When the restaurant was operating, this was an expensive wine by the glass; when the restaurant went caput, the bottles went up for auction, and I snagged several at an unbelievable price.

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