WCC BAROLO & BARBARESCO BLIND at Yono's Restaurant, Albany, NY, 8/22/2013

My local group got together to taste Barolo and Barbaresco at Yono's. Dominick Purnomo did a terrific job of making sure the food matched the wines perfectly. I organized the flights and the tasting was blind to everyone but me. Dinner started at 7pm and lasted till about 10:30.

The menu starts with an Amuse Bouche of Smoked Salmon Roulade with Chive Cream Cheese and a Dot of House-Made Mustard.
Click on any image with a border for a larger view of that image, and in some cases more image.


Flight 1: 1990 Produttori del Barbaresco Single-Vineyard Riservas
Grilled Natural Texas Quail, Natural Juices, Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto, Black Truffles.

Five of the nine single-vineyard cru riservas produced by Produttori del Barbaresco in 1990. These wines showed the kind of delicacy, elegance, and earlier maturity usually associated with Barbaresco, as compared to the Barolos of a similar age in Flight 2.


Flight 2: 1988-1990 Barolo
Sausage & Fennel Ragu over Papparedelle with Grana Padano.


Flight 3: Younger Barolos
Barolo-Braised Black Angus Short Rib, Creamy Polenta, Grilled Summer Vegetables.
This dish is a real tour de force.


Conclusion
Taleggio, Grana Padano, Pistachios, Crostini, Summer Fruit Compote.

It was reassuring that the group overwhelmingly chose the 89 Giacosa Villero as the WOTN, by one of the largest margins ever.

I don't like to perpetuate stereotypes in any context, but Flights 1 and 2 clearly demonstrated the stereotypical view that Barbaresco is more delicate than Barolo and matures earlier. Part of that is due to the purity and simplicity of the winemaking at Produttori. I did not set up these flights with that goal in mind. Still, several people guessed that the first flight was Barbaresco and the second was Barolo.

Notes posted from CellarTracker


WOTN Voting (3pts each for #1, 2pts for #2, 1pt for #3)

RankPtsWine
1291989 Giacosa Villero
2111990 Produttori Montestefano
3101989 Scavino Fiasc
471990 Giacosa Villero
5(tie)4 1989 Parusso Mariondino
5(tie)42007 Corino Giachini
73 1990 Produttori Paje



People Pix

As you can see, these were taken before anyone had any wine.


 

 

 


All original content © Ken Vastola