Life is too short to drink bad wine

Article copied from Decanter magazine. Bruno Giacosa, one of the leading lights of Piedmont for several decades, has died in hospital at the age of 88. Bruno Giacosa, a pioneer of Italian wine. Credit: Armit Wines TAGS: Highlights Bruno Giacosa  died during the night of Sunday 21 January, in Alba’s San Lazzaro hospital, aged 88 years old, according to  Italian news outlets . He had reportedly been burdened with ill health for some time. Giacosa had attained legendary status in Piedmont – as well as across Italy and beyond – having been part of a new wave of winemakers in the region. ‘One of Italy’s greatest wine producers of all time’ He had bought fruit and bottled Barolo and  Barbaresco  wines since the 1960s, but Giacosa acquired his own vineyard in 1982. His Falletto vineyard in  Serralunga   d’Alba  would go on to become one of the finest crus of the Langhe. He would later buy Barbaresco vineyards, mostly in...

Super lovely Barolo by Falletto produced in Bruno Giacosa cellar. 2005 is a "kind" year in Barolo with wines that are approachable early on.   Quite a medium red colour with red brown rim. Great smell of raisins, chocolate, cigar and some flowers. Well balanced wine with integrated tannins and a very long finish. Some cherries on the palate and medium + acidity. All notes above were done in a blindtasting. (Score 18.6) A great wine! Barolo 2005 Falletto Ca 80€

This is the 2013 addition of this Barolo by Borgogno with No Name. It was not classified as Barolo in 2005 so in protest Borgogno has kept the No Name label since 2007 on this Barolo with grapes from Cannubi and Fossati. Medium red colour with hints of red brown rim. Ripe dark fruit on the nose with hints autumn leaves, tar and some spice. Surprisingly approachable taste with quite soft tannins and acidity. It will improve with ageing, but it's drinking very well already now. No Name 2013 by Borgogno Barolo Ca 20€ or 280 NOK

Gaja is one of the top producers in Piedmonte and that shows in this classy Barolo from 2007. This Barolo comes from two great family owned vineyards located in La Morra and Serralunga. In both sites, the soil is primarily calcareous clay and marl. Fermentation and maceration take place in stainless steel tanks for 3 weeks followed by 12 months ageing in barriques and an additional 12 months in large oak casks. The resulting wine is an harmonious and intriguing expression of two great Barolo terroirs with an intense, d eep dark colour with a very distinct red/brown rim.   A very rich bouquet of red berry fruits with attractive floral notes, tar and some smoke. The wine has a beautifully and  refined structure with superb length. Lovely stuff and drinking well now. Requires food.... Barolo Dagromis 2007, Gaja Ca 40£

This is a highly unusual wine from the Valle d'Aosta DOC (or Val d'Aoste DOC, in French ) located in the northwest of Italy. Surrounded by the Alps , the Valle d'Aosta is home to the highest  elevated vineyards in all of  Europe. The principal winemaking region of the Valle d'Aosta is found along the eastern banks of the Dora Baltea(fr, Doire baltée ) river with the city of Aosta serving as the central winemaking location. Donnas is a local co-operation who has created this silky and well balanced  Alpine Rosso. A blend of 85% Picotendro (the local name for Nebbiolo) and the rest split up between local varieties Freisa and Neyret. This wine complements its demanding tannins from the Nebbiolo grape with pure red fruit, provided by the other two components. Grown in rocky soils on steep slopes, this Rosso is considered to be the Barolo or Barbaresco of Vallee d’Aosta. Aged for at least two years in 25 HL oak casks, the wine gives a beautiful nose full of ...

Barolo wines are high on alcohol, tannins and acidity and can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Food is thus required. This single plot Barolo from the "Le Vigne" by Sandrone is just wonderfully balanced with a sublime taste. Notes of dried fruit, autumn leaves, liquorice and rose. Absolutely delicious. The taste is equally beautiful and is balancing on a shoe string. Sandrone is perfectionist and this just shows is this wine. 2005 is drinking perfectly now. It would be great to compare this one to the Cannubi by Sandrone, maybe some other time. Barolo "Le Vigne" 2005 Sandrone High price

Borgogno did not get this wine classified as a Barolo for some obscure reasons so he decided to call it "No Name" as a protest. Quite a groovy protest in a way as this is a classy Barolo from among others the Cannubi and Fossati plots in Barolo. Lovely medium dark colour. Great smell of rose, wood, red fruit and flowers. The taste is surprisingly balanced with lots of fruit and a long dry aftertaste. Great wine despite no name. No Name Borgogno Barolo Ca 25€ or 270 NOK

Sandrone is an excellent producer of various wines from Piedmonte. I found this Barolo Cannubi at the "Bottega del Vino" in Verona. This restaurant has the most amazing winelist with more than 26.000 bottles in their cellar. A truly great place for wine lovers. This Barolo from 2003 though is pure heaven with an enormous length and balance. It's balancing on a knife edge without giving any scars except for a wonderful experience of great pleasure. Barolo Cannubi Boschis 2003 Sandrone Ca 50€ or 110€ in a resto

This is a Barolo from one of the top plots which is called "Cannubi". The wine is surprisingly forthcoming to be such a young Barolo. Cherries, plums, tobacco and hint of liquerice on the nose. The taste is surprisingly smooth with well integrated tannins. It's of course a big wine but less rustic than many other Barolo. But careful it carries a massive 15% alcohol! Barolo "Cannubi" 2008 Damilano, Ca 25€ Should go well with game

So inspired by the wonderful 2004 Barolo Triumviratum we decided to have the 2001 for dinner. Garnet red colour with orangey rim. Great nose as the 2004, but it did not open up as expected as it was perhaps a bit too warm. Lovely balanced taste with a long velvety finish. Not very often my wife drinks Barolo but this one went down easily! sign of quality!!! Barolo Triumveratum 2001 M Chiarlo, 120€ Great and elegant

Barolo from Cannubi fermented 15 days in oak barrels and matured 2 years in 55 hl oak barrels. Garnet colour with brick red rim. Bouquet packed with blackcurrant, liquorice, tobacco and mint. Great balanced taste packed with fruit, acidity and elegant tannins. Great structure and complexity. Barolo Cannubi 2009 M Chiarlo, 55€ Perfect with red meat, game and hard cheese.

The Cherequio is carefully selected with 50% green harvesting. Pale garnet red colour and a very complex nose of ripe fruit like blackcurrant, apricot and cherry. Same aromas on the taste with a long firm tannic finish. Surprisingly drinkable at this stage. Probably slightly better than Cannubi (breaks my heart to say that ) Barolo Cerequio 2009 M Chiarlo, 55€ Ripe hard cheese and red meat/game

What I can say? Just as I thought I had been drinking the peak of Barolo they served a Barolo Reserve made from the three vineyards Cerequio, Cannubi and Sarmassa. A wine that is produced only in the best years and matured for three years in large barrels and another three years in the bottle. Garnet red colour with orange reflections.  Complex smell of dark berries, raspberries, spice and tobacco.  Rich body with very elegant tannins and a well balanced, long finish.  A truly great wine. To be drunk between 10 and 20 years old. Barolo Triumviratum 2004 M Chiarlo, 90€ Big and wonderful

Blindtasting Revheim May 2013 Wine #4 Medium deep red colour with apparant brick red rim. Barolo? Smell of autmun leaves, dried fruit and rosebush. Typical Nebbiolo flavours. Elegant taste with pronounced acidity and some dark berries. Firm wine and tannins. Definitely Nebbiolo! Barolo 2007 Renato Corino, 25€ "Tjære deg det lukter roser" Score 18.20

Second wine in an adhoc tasting. Medium dark red with hints of brown rim. Very dry bouquet of oak, dried fruit and cassis. Challenging dry taste with lots of tannins, not easy to drink without some food. A very masculine wine. Panel dithering and maybe Cabernet... Barolo 2005 "Tenuta La Volta" by Cabutto A tough dry Barolo indeed... Score 16.90

Gaja is one of the very top producers in Piemonte well recognised for his stunning Barbarescos. This is however another Nebbiolo from Barolo which has undergone Gaja's ruthless selection of fruit in the vineyard. The style of Gaja is also ruthless: Big, dense and fruitpacked wines with firm but elegant tannins and a long, very long aftertaste. Masculine style but oh so good! Barolo 2006, Gaja  ca 100€ in the Osteria Vignaiolo Stunning stuff!

This is simply a stunning Barolo made by Giacomo Conterno. I had this one at the Osteria Vignaiolo close to La Morra in Piemonte and had to put it in an ice-bucket due to the warm weather (36c). Wonderful expressive nose of  delicious rose, dried fruit, tar and summer flowers. Exceedingly long taste and wonderful elegant tannins. One of the best Barolos I have ever had! Barolo Cascina Francia 2006 by Giacomo Conterno Stunning stuff!

Red Wine - Camere Rooms Zimmer This guest house is located in Annunziata just downhill from La Morra and 3km from Barolo. It has 6 nice rooms out of which 5 have a terrace and view over the Barolo vineyards. The RedWine is a bit misleading as the host does not speak English, but there is a lot of red wine in the area.... The rates are reasonable with prices varying from 80 to 100€ for a double room. Just close to the guest house you will find the Ratti producer as well as a very nice Osteria with a very good wine selection. In fact you can see both from the swimming pool....

Barolo for lunch while you are in Barolo is just right isn't? Cannubi is one of the best plots in this wonderful place and together with the food at the Osteria Vignaiolo (Santa Maria) it was a wonderful experience. This is a superb wine with a very long aftertaste and some enormously balanced tannins! Beautiful red berries and rose on the nose. A truly lovely wine for 65€ in this great Osteria! Barolo Cannubi 2006 by Pira What a great experience... Home | Ristorante in La Morra (CN) - Italy | L'Osteria del Vignaiolo

A couple of days near Barolo in the town of La Morra. Two restaurants well worth visiting: one in the hillside of La Morra and the other one in Santa Maria just down hill from La Morra. The one in Santa Maria has the most amazing list of Barolos plus food to die for at a very reasonable price. It's very popular for dinner so booking in advance is an advantage. Home | Ristorante in La Morra (CN) - Italy | L'Osteria del Vignaiolo The other one is called Ristorante Bovio and is overlooking the slopes of Barolo. Fantastic view (similar to the picture) and wine list again. Ristorante Bovio Enjoy!