2007 Barolo & Barbaresco: View from the Top

Posted on November 13, 2011 by admin

There is nothing we love more than sharing our passion for Piedmont wines with our adventurous customers!

renato vacca head shot
Renato Vacca

Renato Vacca, CANTINA del PINO, Barbaresco

“Every wine from this small cellar in the center of Barbaresco is fabulous. I can’t say enough good things about Cantina del Pino. I never turn down a chance to drink these wines, as they are exceptional.” –Antonio Galloni, WA

We couldn’t agree more… how many different ways over the past 11 years have we emphasized how great, and what a tremendous value, are these wines from Renato?

In some ways, we feel that Cantina del Pino and VINTAGES have grown up together. We were first introduced to Renato Vacca and Cantina del Pino in 2001 by his importer Ideal Wine. This was the first vintage for Renato and his father Adriano (1997) after the decision to strike out on their own and leave the famous co-operative Produttori del Barbaresco. Since then, VINTAGES has purchased and sold every single vintage Renato has made, and his wines are so omnipresent in our stores, we fear our customers may possibly take them for granted. We hope not — we have been rooting for Renato’s success all along as a small winery of humble means that has approached, and in some cases surpassed, the quality of the most storied cellars in the entire Barbaresco region. And all along Renato has maintained a down-to-earth, self-deprecating, hyper-modest, as well as funny personality.

VINTAGES is proud to offer the 2007 Barbarescos of Cantina del Pino, the eleventh vintage in a meteoric rise to the upper echelons of Barbaresco hierarchy.

2007 CANTINA del PINO BARBARESCO “Albesani” $60 -95 pts.

The third vintage of the “Albesani” vineyard from Renato Vacca. “The 2007 Barbaresco Albesani is a big wine that captures the essence of this south-facing site in Neive. Despite its size, the Albesani shows remarkable polish and depth. Black cherries, menthol, licorice and mint are some of the nuances that are woven together in this intense, sensual Barbaresco. All of the elements come together beautifully. I can only wonder why there aren’t more wines like this being made in Barbaresco today. This is simply dazzling juice. 95 pts.” –WA

2007 CANTINA del PINO BARBARESCO “Ovello” $60 -93+ pts.

“The 2007 Barbaresco Ovello is another huge wine. It is quite powerful at first, but then finds its typical focus through the mid-palate and into the finish. Ovello is one of the coolest sites in Barbaresco, and that austerity comes through, even in 2007. Still the wine possesses terrific depth and sheer volume in its expressive dark red fruit, flowers and mint. There is every reason to believe the Ovello will turn out to be even better than this note suggests. 93+ pts.” –WA

Alex Sanchez, BROVIA, Barolo

brovia alex sanchez vines
Alex Sanchez

The new generation at Fratelli BROVIA carries the torch of a long and distinguished wine tradition (est. 1863). Giacinto Brovia’s daughters Cristina and Elena, and Elena’s husband Alex Sanchez continue the  traditions established by their father, while continuing to improve and differentiate the Barolos & Barberas that are part of their heritage. Blessed with superior vineyards in Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, Brovia takes inspiration from these tremendous assets to achieve even greater expressions of nebbiolo and barbera. Kudos to the keepers of the flame!

2007 BROVIA Barolo “Garblet Sue” $70 -95 pts.
“The 2007 Barolo Garblet Sue’ is another stunning wine. Smoke, tar, iron, roses and dark red fruit are woven together in a muscular, virile style that is striking. The finish shows fabulous intensity, drive and focus, virtually covering the tannins. It is simply dazzling. 95 pts.” –WA
2007 BROVIA Barolo “Villero” $82 -95 pts.
The 2007 Barolo Villero reveals tons of detail in its layers of sweet, mentholated fruit. Spices, licorice and myriad of other balsamic notes flow effortlessly; …a hugely promising wine. 95 pts.” –WA
2008 BROVIA Barbera d’Alba “Brea” $33
Made from the vineyard that is home to the famous “Ca’Mia” Barolo. Luscious, classy Barbera — truly one of the most coddled, pedigreed Barberas you’ll ever find!
FERDINANDO PRINCIPIANO, Monforte, Barolo

principiano photo
Ferdi Principiano

While Ferdinando Principiano continues to experiment with his great “Boscareto” vineyard in Serralunga, he has started making a fabulous Barolo from 70-year-old vines in the “Ravera” vineyard in Monforte d’Alba. This is a classic Monforte Barolo with deep blackberry fruit, deep, commanding tannins and a long, fine mineral finish. Ferdinando is another highly talented winemaker who in recent years has been more of an artist searching for meaning in his craft, and trying to create something distinctively his own in a wine region almost suffocatingly cloaked in tradition. Ferdinando is a free spirit who was courageous enough to take everything he knew and throw it on the scrap heap, and then start anew. Ferdi is one of the most commendable ‘New Generation’ Barolo makers who is not only running a business and creating a product, but who is searching for meaning in an agricultural endeavor, that in some cases borders on artistic expression. We salute Ferdinando Principiano as well as offer his new 2007 Barolo ‘Ravera’ exclusively at VINTAGES, Belmont and Concord.

2007 PRINCIPIANO Barolo “Ravera” $60
93 pts. VINTAGES EXCLUSIVE

“The 2007 Barolo Ravera is sweet, open and totally inviting. It shows gorgeous radiance in its expressive dark fruit. Hints of mocha, espresso, spices and licorice develop in the glass. Sweet floral notes add complexity on the nuanced  finish. This is another impressive showing from Principiano. 93 pts.” — WA
MARCHESI di GRESY, Barbaresco

As a young man just out of university, Alberto di Gresy began vinifying and bottling his own wines in 1973 from his family’s estatemarchesi gresy land

fruit in the Barbaresco zone.

Recognized since Roman times, the 11-hectare Martinenga is considered to be one of the greatest vineyards dedicated to the production of Barbaresco. With ideal southern exposure and the particular composition of the soil (blue marl), the pristine nebbiolo fruit is transformed into a Barbaresco of undeniable pedigree and finesse. “Martinenga” is the estate’s flagship wine, and is one of the benchmarks of Barbaresco.

2007 MARCHESI di GRESY Barbaresco “Martinenga” $45 -92 pts.

“The 2007 Barbaresco Martinenga emerges from the glass with a delicate expression of fruit that in essence defines the house style. The 2007 is a wonderfully open, expressive Martinenga laced with ripe red berries, flowers and spices, all of which come together on a weightless frame of notable class. This is a fabulous effort from Marchesi di Gresy. 92 pts.” -WA

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