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.

April 27

Need a red wine for changeable Spring weather and menu items? Renato Ratti, strange isn't it, Raats and Ratti the same day, 2008 Dolcetto for $15.99 is a winner. This overlooked Piedmont red is perfect for Spring and Fall, not too heavy, not too light, it's a dry red wine with some red fruit flavors, some earthy barnyard flavors and goes with food. You can serve it slightly chilled or room temperature. I don't like it with red sauce. This is a northern Italian red. It is delicious with a salami and cheese plate for snacking, but has enough weight for red meats.

I have a weakness for sausage, onion and pepper subs with Fontina. If you can get the real Fontina from Val d'Aosta, you will be very happy with the sub and the Dolcetto. Very Happy.

NASCAR, Born in the PIEDMONT

No, not that Piedmont. The real Piedmont is the Foot (pied) Hills (mont) of the Alps in northwest Italy on the French border. The Piedmont is home to Italy's best red wines, sorry Tuscany, but this is my blog.

The 2007 vintage in the Piedmont is legendary great!

Well, the best wines of the region, the Barolo and the Barbaresco have yet to be released, but the everyday Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto have been released and they are Wowyummy. Copyright Wowyummy.

Normally these wines rarely have enough fruit flavor to balance typical intense acidity. In other words, not enough sweet to pull off a balanced sweet and sour sensation. The 2007s are so wonderful and easy to drink and wicked tasty, sorry about using wicked as an adjective but I am Boston bred, they can please a New World wine drinker as well as the classic Europhile imbiber.
Tasty with northern Italian cuisine, (bag the red sauce), they show especially well with mushroom influenced dishes. This vintage with its lush fruit flavors, smooth balance and just enough acid to cut into a properly butter/cream dish, offers enormous value. Expect to spend in the 10-20 a bottle range for top quality wine. The few more expensive ones I have tried are properly more impressive. The Enzo Boglietti Barbera blew me away. You can drink it now but at least 5 years of cellaring will be rewarded.

As for waiting for the bigguns to be released, I have a hold on my piggy bank, but the hammer is ready and poised above the porcine Pinkerton.

Oh, these wines are just ok with barbeque, but would be fabulous with a salami and cheese sandwich or sausages cooked on the grill.