Barolo & Barbaresco
on Mark & Karrie's Rooftop Garden (8/18/2008)

People photos are here.

I didn't take notes at the time, but here are some impressions of the wines that I made afterwards.

Starter: 2002 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke Riesling Spätlese
A beauty! Everything I've grown accustomed to in a Dönnhoff Spätlese. Loads of peaches and cherries with a touch of pineapple and slate. Cascading waves of flavor. Just terrific. Also, it went brilliantly with the tasty thinly sliced salamis that Karrie put out.

Flight 1: 1974 Produttori Barbaresco Casotto
The surprise of the night. It was in excellent condition. A beautiful Barbaresco. [I have since found out that this was aspecial bottling from the Casotto Vineyard, which is viewed as a subsection of the Ovello vineyard in Barbaresco. You can read more about Casotto here.]

Flight 2: 1958 & 1974 Borgogno Barolo Riservas.
[The 1958 was an original release. The 1974 was a library release.] The 1958 was a gorgeous, elegant mature Barolo. The 1974 seemed quite young. I understand that this is topped up at the winery just before release.

Flight 3: Two 1971 Ceretto Barolos: Grignore and Pittatore.
The 1971 Ceretto Vigneto Pittatore Cannubi and the 1971 Ceretto Vigneto Grignore from Serralunga were fully mature and quite elegant.

Flight 4: 1989 Gaja Barbaresco, 1989 Altare Barolo.
The Gaja was gross in a way I don't think I've ever experienced before. The oak was so overt and unpleasant. It was just too young or maybe it was just an off bottle. I liked the Altare a lot, though it is still quite young.

Flight 5: 1988 & 1989 Giacosa Villero.
The 1988 Giacosa Villero is showing very well now and clearly outshown the 1989 Giacosa Villero, which seemed a bit young and oafish after the 1988. I'm convinced the 1989 Villero will be great one day, but not last night.

Flight 6: 1986 & 1990 Giacosa Falletto Riserva.
The 1986 and 1990 Falletto Riservas were somewhat parallel to the 1988 & 1989 Giacosa Villero. The 1986 is nearing its peak and is a great and glorious wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. The 1990 is terrific, but in an odd sweet state that I think many 1990s seem to be in recently.

Flight 6: 1978 Valentino (Rocche dei Manzoni) Barolo Riserva & 1988 Marcarini Barolo La Serra
I didn't have the stamina for these last two wines, and I heard nothing from the others that made me want to rinse the taste of Giacosa out of my mouth.


Mark and Karrie were great hosts! It was so nice it was to spend the evening out on their roof garden.

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All original content © Ken Vastola