Ep 234: The Greats -- Barbaresco and Barolo

This week: The Greats Barolo and Barbaresco of Piedmont, Italy. These two wines are both 100% Nebbiolo, and are fragrant, tannic, acidic, and outstanding. We cover the similarities and key differences between these greats and why each is a force in its own right.   Here are some key show notes:  Barolo King of Wines and Wine of Kings Production Zone in Province of Cuneo: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, parts of Cherasco, Diano d’Alba, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello, Roddi, Verduno Production must be on hillsides: no valley floors or humid, flat areas nothing with northern exposure – mandated by 2010 law  The soils and mesoclimates vary slightly, subtle differences but also winemaking plays a big role Until mid 19thc Barolo was SWEET -- 1835, Paolo Francesco Staglieno published a winemaking manual about how to make wine stable for transport – fermenting dry was one of the ways. The Barolo wars: Traditionalist v Modern  Modern: “international style” fermentation is 10 days (less tannin), age wine in new French oak barriques (smaller, more oak flavor). Very different flavors – fruitier, more new oak, doesn’t age as well. May illegally put in Barbera, Cab, Syrah… unproven as of yet Modernists producers: Elio Altare, Domenico Clerico, Robero Voerzio, Angelo Gaja, Renato Ratti    Traditionalist: Extended maceration, long cask aging, less fruit requires age and patience. Traditional producers: Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, Giuseppe Mascarello, Capellano, Marcarini, and Giuseppe Rinaldi    Barolo wine aromas/flavors: Classic: light in color, smells like tar and roses, very aromatic – dried fruit, mint, leather, licorice, plum, tobacco, herbs, truffles Standard Barolo must be aged for three years — two in cask and one in bottle.  Riserva: Aged for five years upon release — three in cask and two in bottle. Barolo Chinato -- digestif   BARBARESCO Barbaresco -- immediately to the east of Alba – communes of Barbaresco, Trieso, Neive plus part of San Rocco Seno d'Elvio Vineyards on Tanaro river, go up northeast of Alba, closer to the river (the Tanaro), with higher fertility in the soil Slight maritime climate – warmer, drier, milder than Barolo Barbaresco Communes: Barbaresco: 45% of Barbaresco production, largest wineries  light in color and body, well structured and aromatic. Best cru: Asili, Martinenga, Montefico, Montestefano and Rabajà  Neive: 31% of Barbaresco's production Powerful and tannic expressions of Barbaresco if closer to the commune of Barbaresco, to the east, more sand, lighter wines Albesani, Santo Stefano, Bricco di Neive, Gallina Treiso South of Barbaresco, highest altitude sites in the area, constant breezes, great diurnals lightest in body, perfumed, higher acidity Pajorè is best site San Rocco Seno d'Elvio: floral with finesse   Barbaresco History Cantina Sociale di Barbaresco was founded in 1896 by Domizio Cavazza: he died early in 1915, not until the late 1950s that Barbaresco was reignited -- with Bruno Giacosa and Angelo Gaja leading the way Local parish priest, Don Fiorino Marengo, founded Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative cellar, the best co-op in Europe Wines Grapes ripen earlier, less tannic, need less aging Aromatic – spicy, perfumed, floral with rose and violet, cherry, truffles, licorice, fennel, leather tar Normale: 2 years of aging, 1 in wood Riserva: four years of gaining, two in wood  Best producers and vineyards: Gaja, Bruno Giacosa, Ceretto, Produttori del Barbaresco, Roana, La Spinetta, Rizzi, Marchesi di Gresy, Punset    BAROLO V BARBARESCO: Size: Barbaresco is smaller and more consistent Altitude: Barolo is higher than Barbaresco Weather: Barbaresco gets less rain and bad weather. Tannins: Barbaresco is better at an earlier age and lighter body than Barolo. Barolo is a better bet to hold for long periods. Soils: in Barbaresco, the roots of the vines do not have to go as deep as with the thinner soils found in many parts of the Barolo zone -- less aggressive tannins for many Barbaresco.  On or the other is NOT BETTER: they are DIFFERENT    Thank you to our sponsors this week: YOU! The podcast supporters on Patreon, who are helping us to make the podcast possible and who we give goodies in return for their help!Check it out today: https://www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople     Vivino You can use the Vivino app to scan and keep track of wines NOW -- Shop through their web store, which has great prices and a huge inventory! 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For a free trial, support the show and go to my special URL www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/wine        ______________________________________________ Addendum: the Cru of the regions Barolo Barolo: Bricco Viole Brunate Cannubi Cannubi Boschis Rue San Lorenzo Sarmassa Via Nuova   La Morra: Arborina Brunate Cereguio Gattera Giachini Marcenasco Rocche dell’Annunziata   Castiglione Falletto: Bricco Rocche Fiasc Mariondino Monprivato Parussi Pira Rivera Villero Monforte d’Alba Bussia Cicala Colonnello Dardi Ginestra Mosconi Munie Romirasco Santo Stefano   Serralunga d’Alba Falletto Francia La Serra Marenca Marenca-Rivette Margheria Ornato Parafada Vigna Rionda   Barberesco  Barbaresco’s Cru: *Asili Ca' Grossa Cars Cavanna Cole Faset *Martinenga Montaribaldi Montefico Montestefano Muncagota Ovello Pajé Pora *Rabajà Rabajà-Bas Rio Sordo Roccalini Roncaglie Roncagliette Ronchi Secondine Tre Stelle Trifolera Vicenziana   Nieve's Cru's Albesani Balluri Basarin Bordini Bric Micca Bricco di Neive Canova Cottà Currà Fausoni Gaia Principe Gallina Marcorino Rivetti San Cristoforo San Giuliano Serraboella Serracapelli Serragrilli Starderi     Treiso's Best Cru's *Pajorè Ausario Bernadot Bricco di Treiso Casot Castellizzano Ferrere Garassino Giacone Giacosa Manzola Marcarini Meruzzano Montersino Nervo Rizzi Rocche Massalupo Rombone San Stunet Valeirano Vallegrande     The Cru of Barolo... Barolo: Bricco Viole Brunate Cannubi Cannubi Boschis Rue San Lorenzo Sarmassa Via Nuova   La Morra: Arborina Brunate Cereguio Gattera Giachini Marcenasco Rocche dell’Annunziata   Castiglione Falletto: Bricco Rocche Fiasc Mariondino Monprivato Parussi Pira Rivera Villero Monforte d’Alba Bussia Cicala Colonnello Dardi Ginestra Mosconi Munie Romirasco Santo Stefano   Serralunga d’Alba Falletto Francia La Serra Marenca Marenca-Rivette Margheria Ornato Parafada Vigna Rionda Get the back catalog on Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.