Produttori del Barbaresco Rabajà Vertical & 1978 Horizontal
@ Del Posto Restaurant, NYC (3/9/2012)

The Rare Wine Co. set up this dinner, which included a vertical of Produttori Barbaresco Rabajà Riserva from 2007 back to 1978 intersecting with a horizontal of 1978 Produttori Barbarescos. The guest of honor was the managing director of the Produttori del Barbaresco, Aldo Vacca. I had the good fortune to be seated next to Aldo. On the other side of Aldo was Mannie Berk who runs Rare Wine Co. Here is the email announcing this dinner. The food at Del Posto was excellent and well-matched to the wines. The service was also excellent. All the wines were opened and double-decanted between 5 and 6pm. The dinner started around 7:45 and lasted till nearly 11pm.

This is the second Produttori dinner in NYC organized by Rare Wine Co. The first was at Convivio in January of 2009. Here are my notes and photos from that dinner. That dinner included the 1996, 1985, and 1978 Rabajà, all of which showed quite similarly to the way they did at this dinner. Additionally we had a flight 1978's which included the Pora and Montefico, which were the only wines missing from the flight of 1978's here. The 1978 Rio Sordo showed much better there than here.

I also participated in another Produttori dinner with another group in August of 2010. This dinner included the 1990 Rabajà missing from the vertical here and a bottle of the 2000 Rabajà which showed much better than the bottle at this dinner.

The Produttori del Barbaresco is a cooperative in the Commune of Barbaresco. You can find much more information about the winery and its wines at the Fine Wine Geek's Produttori page. Also, more detailed pictures of the bottles from this tasting.

For any image, click on it for a larger view of that image which may contain more picture.

Starter
With a variety of small apps passed around while folks chatted.



The Dinner

Del Post Wine Director Jeff Porter introduces Mannie.
Mannie Berk introduces the dinner.
Mannie Berk introduces Aldo Vacca.
Aldo discusses the wines and the winery and its history.


Flight 1: Rabajà 2007 back to 2000
With Tortello Puzzone with Taleggio Dolce & White Truffle Butter.

Aldo called this the "Global Warming Flight". He feels these were generally warmer years that produced more consistently ripe wines.

Flight 2: Rabajà 1999 back to 1985
With Veal Agnolotti with Truffle Powder, Tyrolean Speck & Grana Padano.


Flight 2 in my glasses.
Mark Connolly and his son.
Mannie chats with Aldo.
Paul Tortora takes notes on his iPhone.


Flight 3: 1978, Part 1
Broiled Veal Chop with Prosciutto-Wrapped Scorzonero & Rossini Sauce.

This flight and the next one contained the 1978 base Barbaresco and 6 of the 8 Crus that were made in 1978. Only Montefico and Pora were missing. I tasted the 1978 Montefico and Pora (as well as the 1978 Rio Sordo and Rabajà) at the previous Rare Produttori dinner. (No Paje was made in 1978.)

Aldo said this was a cool growing season until September and October when it was unusually warm. The wines have a body and thickness to them that is unlike any other vintage.
Flight 4: 1978, Part 2
With Chef's Selection of Artisanal Cheeses.


Aldo describes and discusses the 1978 vintage.


What a wonderful tasting! What a treat to have so many vintages of the great Rabajà followed by so many 1978s. It was also a treat to sit with Aldo Vacca and Mannie and Paul Tortora of Rare Wine Co and chat about the wines. This was a very special experience.

Notes posted from CellarTracker

 

 

 


All original content © Ken Vastola

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All original content © Ken Vastola