- Location
- London
Always excited when Piedmont comes round on the WIMPs calendar; my first wine region that I visited (many years ago)
A smorgasbord of vinous delights is Piedmont in a nutshell, and over on "Novara" we had an eclectic mix of varietals to enjoy I'm pleased to say. A really enjoyable afternoon; a fun table of fellow forumites to share a great lunch with. Alex's escapades of driving /encounters with the Thai police in particular a highlight of conversation
. Many thanks to Don for pulling all this together, and my fellow dining companions for their company/generosity
A real treat to have two Whites to start proceedings
2020 Azienda Agricola Pugnane Langhe Chardonnay 12.5% DOC (100% Chardonnay)
A late replacement for the Arneis that was listed. Pale lemon colour with some floral /toasted hazelnut aromas. Quite light in style, fresh, delicate some buttery flavours. Good apertif style. Very pleasant.
2018 Vigneti Massa Derthona "Montecitorio" 14.5% VDT (100% Timorasso)
I'm a big fan of Timorasso and Massa is the benchmark producer for this variety. This is a cru vineyard Timorasso; 1.6ha parcel planted at 300m on marl/calcareous soils, stainless steel fermented and aged in steel and concrete. Deep gold tones. Fragrant aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, mandarin orange and honeycomb. Big, broad, textured and rich to taste; this is still very youthful and plump at this point in it's development. However this is not some fat, overblown variety as it's counterbalanced by the searing acidity which is characteristic. It's heady, waxy, and concentrated but with a stony/mineral undertone lurking in the background which will emerge with further cellaring (10 years+ easy). Stunning even at this point.


Next up a Dolcetto and Barbera pair from Rinaldi
2019 Giuseppe Rinaldi Dolcetto d'Alba 13.5% DOC (100% Dolcetto)
Now I'm not a fan of Dolcetto for the most part, but in the hands of Rinaldi it's a wine that really appeals. This is a Dolcetto with complexity and layers. Aromatically enticing with notes of graphite/pencil shavings, black/red cherry fruit, vanilla, aniseed and wild mushrooms. This is so light on it's feet, bright, fresh (the acidity is so on point). Crunchy fruit flavours, fine tannins. Just lovely (probably my Red wine of the day).
2015 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barbera d'Alba 14% DOC (100% Barbera)
After the Dolcetto this is tough, more angular, chewy, muscular. More in the Black fruit rather than Red fruited spectrum. Love the turbo charged acidity in this though.


Nebbiolo based wines next and a great Barbera
2012 Colombera & Garella Bramaterra 13% DOC (80% Nebbiolo, 10% Vespolina, 10% Croatina)
A bit funky initially. Bottle is quite evolved with vegetal, dried fruit, bacon fat and spice notes. Red fruited. Did wake up with time in the glass although possibly a bit "clipped"
2010 Famiglia Anselma Barolo Mosconi 14.5% DOCG (100% Nebbiolo)
Meaty. Minty top note. Attractive brick red tones. Still very youthful at this point in it's life-cycle and the oak quite dominant. Dry, bitter finish. Saying that though I thought that there is a great wine there (currently hidden, except for a few sneaky flashes of the riches that are lurking).
1998 Pio Cesare Barolo 14% DOCG (100% Nebbiolo)
The biggest surprise of the day for me as it seemed to constantly change over the course of the lunch (very much in a good way I might add); initially hard/impenetrable (reminded me of Marcarini) but although it didn't seem to lose that edge throughout, some sweeter fruit flavours and earthy/mushroom notes emerged as well as some freshness. Really interesting.
1997 Braida Barbera d'Asti "Ai Suma" 14% DOC (100% Barbera)
What a pleasure tasting some aged Barbera and still drinking so beautifully. Mix of primary/tertiary notes still in play; dark berry fruit coupled with forest floor, expresso coffee and porcini. Rich and round, silky tannins and fresh acidity. All elements perfectly integrated.




2015 Bartolo Mascarello Langhe Freisa 12.5% DOC (100% Freisa)
On reflection I think that moving this to the end of the meal, chilling it and pairing it with the dessert was a mistake. Ordering a Moscato or Brachetto off the list would have been a better bet. As a result I though that the chilling of it rather dulled it's aromatics and general flavour. Felt quite hard to drink; a shame.

A smorgasbord of vinous delights is Piedmont in a nutshell, and over on "Novara" we had an eclectic mix of varietals to enjoy I'm pleased to say. A really enjoyable afternoon; a fun table of fellow forumites to share a great lunch with. Alex's escapades of driving /encounters with the Thai police in particular a highlight of conversation

A real treat to have two Whites to start proceedings
2020 Azienda Agricola Pugnane Langhe Chardonnay 12.5% DOC (100% Chardonnay)
A late replacement for the Arneis that was listed. Pale lemon colour with some floral /toasted hazelnut aromas. Quite light in style, fresh, delicate some buttery flavours. Good apertif style. Very pleasant.
2018 Vigneti Massa Derthona "Montecitorio" 14.5% VDT (100% Timorasso)
I'm a big fan of Timorasso and Massa is the benchmark producer for this variety. This is a cru vineyard Timorasso; 1.6ha parcel planted at 300m on marl/calcareous soils, stainless steel fermented and aged in steel and concrete. Deep gold tones. Fragrant aromas of apricot, honeysuckle, mandarin orange and honeycomb. Big, broad, textured and rich to taste; this is still very youthful and plump at this point in it's development. However this is not some fat, overblown variety as it's counterbalanced by the searing acidity which is characteristic. It's heady, waxy, and concentrated but with a stony/mineral undertone lurking in the background which will emerge with further cellaring (10 years+ easy). Stunning even at this point.


Next up a Dolcetto and Barbera pair from Rinaldi
2019 Giuseppe Rinaldi Dolcetto d'Alba 13.5% DOC (100% Dolcetto)
Now I'm not a fan of Dolcetto for the most part, but in the hands of Rinaldi it's a wine that really appeals. This is a Dolcetto with complexity and layers. Aromatically enticing with notes of graphite/pencil shavings, black/red cherry fruit, vanilla, aniseed and wild mushrooms. This is so light on it's feet, bright, fresh (the acidity is so on point). Crunchy fruit flavours, fine tannins. Just lovely (probably my Red wine of the day).
2015 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barbera d'Alba 14% DOC (100% Barbera)
After the Dolcetto this is tough, more angular, chewy, muscular. More in the Black fruit rather than Red fruited spectrum. Love the turbo charged acidity in this though.


Nebbiolo based wines next and a great Barbera
2012 Colombera & Garella Bramaterra 13% DOC (80% Nebbiolo, 10% Vespolina, 10% Croatina)
A bit funky initially. Bottle is quite evolved with vegetal, dried fruit, bacon fat and spice notes. Red fruited. Did wake up with time in the glass although possibly a bit "clipped"
2010 Famiglia Anselma Barolo Mosconi 14.5% DOCG (100% Nebbiolo)
Meaty. Minty top note. Attractive brick red tones. Still very youthful at this point in it's life-cycle and the oak quite dominant. Dry, bitter finish. Saying that though I thought that there is a great wine there (currently hidden, except for a few sneaky flashes of the riches that are lurking).
1998 Pio Cesare Barolo 14% DOCG (100% Nebbiolo)
The biggest surprise of the day for me as it seemed to constantly change over the course of the lunch (very much in a good way I might add); initially hard/impenetrable (reminded me of Marcarini) but although it didn't seem to lose that edge throughout, some sweeter fruit flavours and earthy/mushroom notes emerged as well as some freshness. Really interesting.
1997 Braida Barbera d'Asti "Ai Suma" 14% DOC (100% Barbera)
What a pleasure tasting some aged Barbera and still drinking so beautifully. Mix of primary/tertiary notes still in play; dark berry fruit coupled with forest floor, expresso coffee and porcini. Rich and round, silky tannins and fresh acidity. All elements perfectly integrated.




2015 Bartolo Mascarello Langhe Freisa 12.5% DOC (100% Freisa)
On reflection I think that moving this to the end of the meal, chilling it and pairing it with the dessert was a mistake. Ordering a Moscato or Brachetto off the list would have been a better bet. As a result I though that the chilling of it rather dulled it's aromatics and general flavour. Felt quite hard to drink; a shame.
