Piedmont (Piemonte)

This seemed a bit reticent at this point in its life cycle.  No doubt it will emerge soon but if opening soon, best go give this a  long decant.  Ruby/purple in appearance.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, and spice.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries with some black cherries.  Spice/oak with some forest floor notes.  Good acidity.  Moderate finish.  Right now this drinks better with food than on its own.  Mushroom Ragout would work well.  Hold for three to five years and drink for ten to twelve after that.  

This is a big, albeit young, wine.  Ruby/purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, some cherries, spice and slight tar.  Full bodied.  Nice texture.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, mostly black cherry fruit but some other fruits in there as well.  A bit of menthol on the finish.  Firm tannins.  This needs more cellaring, but is certainly enjoyable today.  Perhaps wait another five to seven years and drink for ten to fifteen after that and the score should go up by at least a few points.  A nice food match would be hearty pasta dishes

Fascinating to drink this side by side with the Ovello from the same warm vintage.  This is more muscular and dense.  Deep purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight but opens in the glass to show black cherries, cherries, slight mint and perhaps some balsamic.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins that are a bit drying.  Plenty of depth and complexity but tightly layered.  Much more open on the palate.  Black cherries with spice but also a hint of stewed fruits.  The later is not overwhelming but is more prominent in the finish.  This wine has excellent parts but one wonders if it

This was interesting, a cooler vineyard site in a warmer vintage.  The resulting wine was excellent.  Ruby in color with some browning at the rim.  The wine still retains a pretty nose with some floral notes to go with cherries, black cherries and a slight pine note.  A nice medium to full bodied texture.  Plenty of depth.  Light tannins.  On the palate, notes of black cherries, black currants, and some underlying tea leaves.  Long finish.  Good acidity.  While this drinks nicely on its own, it works better with food.  Braised short ribs would be a nice match.  

I believe that Pietro Conterno is Giacomo Conterno's father.  First time trying a wine with this label.  It was double decanted a few hours prior to serving.  Pale ruby with plenty of browning in color, clear although a bit muted.  Despite all of the air it saw prior to pouring, this still improved and got more youthful (to a degree) in the glass.  The nose is a bit nutty, but also has some dried cherries, slight mushrooms, and forest floor.  There is a nice complexity.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is past prime but does offer up some interesting notes of earthiness, mushroom and dr

This bottle was decanted for sediment about an hour prior to serving.  This bottle was fresher than one opened about a year ago.  It was purchased around 2009, and it is not clear if this is an original bottling or not. Light ruby in color, some browning, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, tar and slight smoke.  Perhaps a slight but of forest floor.  Complex and deep with layers or some fruit but mostly tertiary notes.  Cherries, slight gravel, forest floor and slight char.  Good finish.  This is certainly past prime and every bottle is different, but this bottle was just wh

Lovely Barolo at a great place.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, tar, slight roses and dust.  Medium bodied.  Medium to light tannins.  Layers of fruit and tertiary notes.  Cherries, and forest floor.  Nice balance.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but really needs food.  Pasta with truffles or mushroom in a cream sauce would be great.  It is at peak but there should be another 5 to ten more years of peak drinking.  

This is a sweet red sparkling wine from northwest Italy.  Low in alcohol (6.5%) and high in fun.  It is made from 100% Brachetto grapes.  Maroon in color, frothy, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with tomato paste, red peppers, tomato vine and some raspberries.  Easy to drink.  Sweet and tasty.  On the  palate, cherries and sour cherries.  Not too different than the Faygo Red Pop of my youth.  Refreshing.  Long finish.  This drinks nice on its own and will work with cheeses and perhaps a not too sweet chocolate dessert.  Drink now.  This bottle was Lot L211955.

This is one of those wines that remind me that wine doesn't always need to be serious.  This is a fun wine that is quite tasty.  It is "frizzante" or lightly sparkling and it is also sweet.  The grapes come from the Piedmont in northern Italy and include Moscato Bianco and Brachetto.  At 5.5%abv, this is easy drinking and refreshing.  Pale pink in color with a nice mousse of small bubbles.  The nose has cranberries and cherries.  Light to medium bodied.  On the palate, this is sweet but not cloying.  Lightly carbonated.  Nice strawberry notes with a refreshing finish.  Just plain fun and ea

One of the best Cooperatives making wine is the Produttori del Barbaresco.  Always good, but a few times every decade they nail it and 2006 was one of those.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, tar and spice.  Medium bodied with lighter tannins.  On the palate, this is complex, with good acidity and delicious.  Lots of cherry fruit and a nice earthiness.  At age 15, it is mature but with time left.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  This is nice on its own but will be better with food.  Pasta with a mushroom cream sauce will be great.