Nebbiolo Prima

[Jim Hanlon]

originally posted by VLM:
As an aside, the Piedmontese tend to like to drink their wines younger than we here would think of doing, IME. Curious.

Not to drift a cool thread, but I've encountered this is France as well, including Burgundy.

 

[MarkS]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:

BTW, interesting how several of the pictures show sandy soils, as in pie franco sandy. Any conversations about ungrafted experiments?

The Cappellano cantina is super close to the Brea vineyard, for reference.

These are shots of the soil at Brea, specifically where the old vine parcels start:

Looks like vines would be the only good thing to plant here.
Certainly doesn't look productive for anything else.

 

[MarkS]

I totally misrepresented the 2005 to people many several times, as I understand now.

You are absolved, my son. Go in peace.

 

[Levi Dalton]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Levi Dalton:
I figured out that I had totally misunderstood the Bartolo Freisa up till now. It is supposed to be vivace (fizzy), like a lambrusco. I missed that somehow. I think because I tried in the past a vintage that was older (2005) and decanted. Basically, I think you are supposed to drink it young. I certainly preferred the 2009 on this night to the 2007, solely because of the freshness. It is hard to know these things when the wine isn't imported to the country you live in. I totally misrepresented the 2005 to people many several times, as I understand now.

I had always thought of Freisa as a wine to drink young, until I was introduced to an aged Vajra.

I'm not sure that I had Freisa wrong, just that my experience was a sample and did not encompass the universe of Freisa. I still tend to like it young.

As an aside, the Piedmontese tend to like to drink their wines younger than we here would think of doing, IME. Curious.

Both 1989 Vajra Freisa and 1995 Coppo "Mondaccione" have shown that Freisa can age wonderfully. It is a matter of what someone is going for combined with the vine age involved and site they have to work with, I think.

It's possible that my original read of the 2005 Bartolo Freisa was somewhat akin to my read on Graziano 2005, which is a Lambrusco from Modena: as the vivace lessened and the wine "broke down" in a way, all of these interesting mineral tuffaceous notes came out against the backdrop of still strapping acidity. But I didn't fully understand what was happening before. Certainly a halfway place between super young and fresh against the developed mineral notes that could come with time is the least interesting place to be. So by this logic the 2007 Bartolo Freisa would be less interesting than the 2009. As I found it to be. Or so I think at this moment about this subject. Again, it is hard to really know without a lot of exposure to the wines, which are not imported. Maria Teresa said the only country that gets some of her Freisa besides Italy is Japan.

Italians are okay with bitter flavors, like tannins, would be my explanation of why they might be somewhat more open to drinking young Nebbiolo.

 

[Levi Dalton]

Mr. Masnaghetti, the mapmaker.

He was stopping by the Bartolo Mascarello cantina to pick up some bottles.

 

[Tom Glasgow]

I thought this was the "signature" taste of Italy?

 

[Levi Dalton]

 

[Levi Dalton]

This restaurant is basically right under the tower of Barbaresco.

 

[Levi Dalton]

This is the view from the Agricultural School, where there is an experimental vineyard.

This is nearby the hotel where I stayed in Alba.

This is near the Savona Hotel. The pink flags were up to mark the path of a bike race that had recently taken place.

 

[Levi Dalton]

 

[gregory dal piaz]

 

[MarkS]

originally posted by gregory dal piaz:
Levi Enjoying Piedmont

Life is good, isn't it?!

 

[gregory dal piaz]

 

[Levi Dalton]

Thank you, Greg.

For the picture, and also for the introductions, and for the translations, and for letting me take the front seat of the Fiat.

Huge thanks also to Jamie.

And to Darling.

 

[Levi Dalton]

 

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

I like this one. What is this the view of?

 

[Levi Dalton]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:

originally posted by Levi Dalton:

I like this one. What is this the view of?

It is look towards the vineyards of Barolo and La Morra from I'm not exactly sure where. But if I understand correctly, Brunate would be over to the left and far into the distance, while the Belvedere in La Morra is far back on the right side. Probably I took this shot from the side of a road. Sorry I can't be more specific. Given how far away this is from the Belvedere, this could be approaching towards Monprivato in the near range of the camera. Or not.

 

[Levi Dalton]

 

[Levi Dalton]

 

[Levi Dalton]