Piedmont (Piemonte)

This is always one of the top Arneis's.  It comes from northern Italy where the Giacosa winery is one of the top wineries.  Light golden in color.  The nose has a nice minerality along with some peaches and a hint of melon.  On the palate, the melon is more dominant with underlying minerality.  A lovely texture with enough acidity to carry everything.  This is delicious, too.  It will work better with food although it drinks fine on its own.  A nice match for a fruit salad or seafood.  This should be consumed in the next five years.  

This is really drinking well.  If not at peak, pretty damn close.  Light ruby in color with some orange bricking at the rim.  The nose is very pretty with cherries, slight dried cherries, slight roses and hints of hot tar.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Light tannins.  Cherry fruit layered with earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  This has a contemplative quality for drinking alone, but works great with food.  Pasta and mushrooms are perfect.  It won't get better but should drink well for seven to ten more years at least.  

Purple in color, ruby at the core.  The nose is dusty with light cherries.  On the palate, this is simple.  Sweet ripe cherries.  Soft texture.  Enough acidity.  Easy finish.  This is good but not what makes Barolo special.  It seems to be at peak now.  It probably should be consumed in the next five or so years.  A nice wine with pizza or pasta.  

My first time trying this wine.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is very tight at first.  With air some dried cherries emerge.  On the palate, this is soft.  It has a nice complexity to it.  At peak.  Layers of cherries, dried cherries and dried roses.  Good acidity.  Some depth.  Solid finish.  This should be drunk in the  next three to five years.  It needs food.  Casseroles would be good.  

Purple in color.  The nose is clean with black cherry fruit. Dusty.  On the palate, black cherries with some dark chocolate.  Very modern in style.  Delicious.  Light tannins.  I think this is about as good as it gets but no hurry.  It should have ten to twelve years at peak drinking.  This will go well with pasta in mushroom or cream sauce.  

This was an off bottle.  It clung to the last vestiges of life.  Oxidized with dried flowers and fruit.  A bit better on the palate.  I would certainly drink a glass but not two.  I am not sure if this was an original release or not.  

Looking back over old notes, I see I had this bottle in 2010.  It is nice to revisit.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with cherries and slight mint. On the palate, this has a voluptuous texture.  Plenty of cherry fruit with slight underlying forest floor.  Still persistent tannins.  At age 20, there is still some development probable.  It has aged slowly and stubbornly but is still an outstanding bottle of wine.  Given where it is, it should easily have another decade.  More, for well stored bottles.  This will go well with Osso Buco.  

A great showing for this wine.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  On the palate, medium tannins.  Cherries and tart cherries.  Some complexity.  Good finish.  This is closing in on peak but still has a bit to go.  Still, it is drinking quite well.  It is a more feminine take on a Barolo but that is not to say light or weak.  It will easily go another ten to twelve years.  This will work well with roasted fowl.  

This is always a great value in Barolo.  Of course, this is still quite young, but this is drinking well.  Ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and anise.  With air, a bit of rose comes out.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Plenty of cherry fruit.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This will surely continue to develop for five to ten more years but I am not sure if it gets better.  It will work well with cassoulets and roasts.  

One of my favorite Barolos.  Still, slightly to the modern side (as that distinction means less and less).  At age 11, this is still young but drinking great.  Ruby in color, purple at the core.  The nose has tar, black cherries and cherries.  With air, some dusty rose notes.  On the palate, this has a lovely texture.  Still tannic.  Lots of cherry fruit, some black cherries with some underlying spices.  This wine is very lively.  Long finish.  It is drinking well but may still improve a bit.  Either way, it should be good for another fifteen years at least.  It will work great with mushroo