Fenocchio

Giacomo Fennochio, I think, and his sister visited the store. He speaks no English, I can order a beer in Italian, so his sister did the translating.

No translating was needed in tasting 5 of his wines. They were all spot on, classic examples of Piedmont red wine. I bought 3 to offer for sale in the store.

For something to put in your cellar was the 2004 Barolo Bussia. 100% Nebbiolo grape from the famous and prestigious Bussia vineyard in Barolo, it is just starting to shed its hard tannic outer shell and already displaying the famous fruit and complex flavors of world class Barolo from a wonderful year. Retail on this beauty is $59.99 a bottle.

The normal Barolo from him is only $39.99 a bottle for the 2004. While this wine is no where near as big and complex as the Bussia, it is a great way to taste a more ready to drink Barolo today. This will age for another 10 years, where I would wait at least 10 more for the Bussia to show its best. Both of these wines should be saved for great cuts of red meat, roasted or braised.

The 2008 Dolcetto is fantastic. Drank a bottle with my bridge buddies tonight and all of them were wowed. Great fruit flavors, middleweight in body with just a hint of spice and tannin, it was delicious with honey roasted peanuts and 3 no-trump. $19.99 a bottle and not only will you think you are in the North End of Boston, you will believe you are at the sidewalk cafe nibbling on cheese watching the world go by.