Produttori del Barbaresco @ Braeburn Restaurant, NYC 8/23/2010

Produttori del Barbaresco
@ Braeburn Restaurant, NYC (8/23/2010)

This dinner is one in a series of Barolo dinners organized by Eric Guido and Leo Frokic.

For me, this was a second Produttori tasting in recent memory. The first was organized by Rare Wine Co., and included flights from the 1978, 1985, 1988, 1989, and 1996 vintates. You can read my notes from that tasting here. A third Produttori dinner was organized by Rare Wine Co in March 2012. My notes from that dinner are here. You can find much more information about the winery and its wines at the Fine Wine Geek's Produttori page.

The Restaurant

Braeburn was a very good restaurant, but sadly it closed in 2011. It was located at 117 Perry Street at the corner of Greenwich Street in the West Village of NYC. Chef Brian Bistrong has since moved on to Bouley Restaurant (163 Duane Street) in NYC.

Click on an image for a larger view of that image.

Leo and I arrive.

The Wines

Flight 1

1967 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Cavalieri del Tartufo Pajé - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
A little cloudy. Very mature appearance. Mature nose of mulch and black truffles. Fully mature but not at all over the hill. A special wine! (94 pts.)
1979 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Asili - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
A hint of TCA spoils this otherwise rich classic Barbaresco. (NR/flawed)

Flight 2

1988 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Trentennio - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Very earthy, almost dirty nose. Tannic, yet sweet ripe fruit. Should be drinkable for another 10 years, but will never be outstanding. (88 pts.)
1982 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Opened at 7pm. Served at 7:30.] Tight tar and leather nose. Good structure with sweet red fruit. Actually needs time and air. 92-94 points.
8:30: Glorious! Complex, long, and tannic. A terrific bottle of wine. 94 points. (94 pts.)

Flight 3

1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Pora - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Double-decanted at 6pm.] Earth, tannin, and red fruit nose. A big structured tannic wine, but the tannins are so integrated. Drinking beautifully tonight if you are a true Neb Head. (93 pts.)

Flight 4

1990 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Ovello - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Double-decanted at 3pm.] Sweet and sour cherry nose. Gorgeous in the mouth. Appealing sour cherry. Excellent. (92 pts.)
1990 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Decanted at 3pm.] Very dark, black fruit and tar nose. Wonderfully harmonious with great structure. Blind, I would think it was 1989, not 1990. Tremendous length. 93-95 points. (94 pts.)

Flight 5

1990 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Gorgeous mature nose. My favorite so far in terms of drinking tonight. Right at its peak! (93 pts.)
1990 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Moccagatta - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Dark black fruit nose. Rich and ripe. Loads of black fruit and tar in the mouth. More typical in terms of what I think of 1990 with lovely round sweetness. A gorgeous wine. WOTN for me. (95 pts.)

Flight 5

2006 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Lot #9.105.] Appealing medicinal cherry nose. Sweet ripe very appealing young wine. Excellent length. Very impressive for a base Barbaresco. (91 pts.)
2000 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Meaty plum nose. Has an exquisite ripeness. I like this wine a lot! (93 pts.)