A Big Wine Production Starring Nebbiolo

Fratelli Revello Barolo DOCG 2003
This is the Revello’s regional bottling and it’s no slouch. Tasted earlier in the year, I wrote: spot on for the price, with new world styling of chocolaty oak and ripe fruit along with massive tannin and classic licorice. Now in September this wine still shows its licorice in a very tannic package and fruit showing itself after 30 minutes. Estate Bottled in Annunziata di La Morra in Piemonted. 15% $47.50 at Traverso’s Revello

La Spinetta Barbaresco DOCG Vigneto Starderi 2003
Tasted earlier in the year, I noted, “Brilliant wine – extremely tannic and loaded with oak – still very tight. At least 30 minutes for the wine to unravel and the fruit to start showing. Again in September the profile is similar with an added hint of tomato. This is a very concentrated wine still in its infancy.Not cheap but the Rhino is included. Estate Bottled in Castagnole Lanze in Piemonte 14.5% $95.99 at Bottle Barn La Spinetta

A few days later on October 2 we opened Rivetti’s other top single vineyard wine, Gallina, in the same flight as the Revello Barolo.  Here are the notes.

La Spinetta Barbaresco DOCG Vigneto Gallina 2003
New world cherry fruit, tannins in balance with the sweetness of vanilla.  This wine is certainly more approachable at this point in time than the Starderi. Estate Bottled in Castagnole Lanze in Piemonte 14.5% $99.99 at Traverso’s La Spinetta

 

 

About RJ

Ray Johnson is the Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. He writes about food and wine, his travels and the business of wine. He makes his home in Sonoma County, California.
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