BAROLO & BARBARESCO from VIETTI

VINTAGES tastes with Luca Currado of VIETTI winery (Barolo)
Small in size, but rich in cru vineyards!
VINTAGES’ Eric & Carolyn enjoyed a spectacular wine dinner last night at PREZZA in the North End with LUCA CURRADO of the historic VIETTI winery in Castiglione Falletto, Barolo. One unique and exciting aspect of VIETTI: they own parcels of 15 different grand cru vineyards in Barolo! Meticulous work in the vineyards and cellar optimizes the rich expression of each site’s distinctive character.

“I can’t think of too many estates in Piedmont that have raised the bar higher than Vietti has over the last decade or so. Virtually every wine that emerges from these cellars is outstanding, and many are profound. Winemaker Luca Currado and staff have taken the early groundbreaking work of Alfredo and Lucia Currado and built upon those successes, reaching an unprecedented level of consistency and quality across their entire range.” — Antonio Galloni, WA

The following VIETTI wines are available to order:

2005 VIETTI Barbaresco “Masseria” $90/btl (15% off six-pack = $76.50) 94 pts.
100% nebbiolo harvested from 40-year-old vines in the cru Masseria, located in Neive. The malolactic is done in barrique followed by 24 mos in Slovenian oak casks. Bottled unfiltered.
“I remember being blown away by the 2005 Barbaresco Masseria when I tasted it from barrel late in 2007. Now that the wine is in bottle it is every bit as impressive as my early tastings suggested. This is a Barbaresco that veers into Barolo territory in its scale, massive concentration and sheer opulence of fruit. An intense, super-ripe Barbaresco, it continues to improve in the glass, as its core of dark fruit gradually emerges from a wall of tannins. The wine shows utterly amazing integrity in its fruit and phenomenal balance, although patience is warranted. Vietti has produced yet another gem in the 2005 Barbaresco Masseria. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. 94 pts.”–WA

2005 VIETTI Barolo “Brunate” $100/bottle (15% off six-pack = $85) 94 pts.
100% nebbiolo from the famous “Brunate” cru in La Morra. “A brooding, mysterious wine that possesses a level of sheer concentration and richness that is exceedingly rare in this vintage. It is also an incredibly primary, full-bodied Barolo that will require significant patience, but all of the signature Brunate notes are in the glass, and this Barolo should develop into a splendid wine over the coming years. This is another awesome effort from Vietti. 94 pts.” –WA

2005 VIETTI BAROLO “Rocche” $100/bottle (15% off six-pack = $85) 95 pts.

One of VIETTI’s most traditional wines, “Rocche” in Castiglione Falletto is made from extremely low-yields, and aged 36 mos., most of that in Slavonian oak. “The wine reveals spectacular richness and clarity as layers of sweet perfumed fruit, menthol and spices emerge from the glass. The Rocche is an especially complex, multi-dimensional wine with tons of fruit and simply incredible balance. While this is easily one of the finest Barolos in 2005, the wine also appears to need at least a few years of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2035. 95 pts.”

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