Barolo 2017

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Piemontegirl

Barolo 2017

Below are tasting notes of Barolo 2017 in alphabetical order.

Altare Barolo
The Altare Barolo 2017 has a beautiful Nebbiolo nose. Floral, fruity and mineral; Just like a Barolo should smell. On the nose you’ll also find aromas of cherry, chocolate, tobacco and rose petals. A balanced and approachable Barolo with good length!

Andrea Oberto Barolo La Morra
A subtle but floral Barolo with aromas of red fruit. The tannins are present, but not in any way aggressive. In Andrea’s own words, it’s “molto morbido”, which means “very soft”.

Andrea Oberto Barolo Arbarella
The Albarella is even more subtle nose, with aromas of tobacco, spices and red fruit. The tannins are round, but a bit bigger than the La Morra.

Andrea Oberto Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata
Round, good bodied and balanced. A big and complex wine that might need some time to open up in the glass. My favorite out of the three 2017 Barolo’s from Andrea Oberto.

Burzi Capalot
A more concentrated Barolo with aromas of dark red fruit and berries with a hint of tobacco. Some floral notes as wel

Cascina Fontana Barolo 2017
Beautiful on the nose, big in the mouth with robust tannins. This wine will benefit from some time in the bottle.

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis
Beautiful nose with aromas of roses, herbs, red fruit and a hint of chocolate. Medium round tannins with a good finish.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Cannubi
The Cannubi is always more elegant than the Via Nuova and Mosconi. An attractive, voluptuous Barolo with good structure.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Via Nuova
The Via Nuova has slightly bigger tannins compared to the Cannubi. In addition to the aromas of red fruit there are hints of herbs and spices.

Chiara Boschis Barolo Mosconi
The Mosconi was very floral and slightly feminine on the nose. Also quite aromatic. But in the mouth it’s more masculine. A big Barolo.

Crissante Alessandria Barolo Del Comune di La morra
The Barolo Del Comune di La morra 2017 consists of 60% Rogeeri, 20% San Biagio and 20% Bettolotti. The wine ages for 24 months botte grande. The 2017 is quite concentrated and a bit war, with aromas of dark red fruit.

Diego Morra Barolo Zinzasco
Typical Barolo nose with aromas of red fruit, roses and spices. Well-rounded tannins and good balance. A beautiful wine.

Diego Morra Barolo Monvigliero
The Monvigliero is a bit “bigger” than the Zinxasco. Aromas of dark red fruit, spices and white pepper. Warm but not ripe. Big but balanced. A well rounded Barolo!

Ettore Germano Barolo Serralunga
A fruity, floral and fresh Barolo with a slight hint of mint. A more masculine Barolo with gripping tannins. Long finish. A very good wine.

Ettore Germano Barolo Prapo
The Prapo Barolo is a bit more concentrated compared to the Cerretta. Warmer fruit, also a tad warmer in the mouth. A more linear wine, straight to the point.

Ettore Germano Barolo Cerretta
The Cerretta Barolo is quite fresh, with good fruit. A bit more complex than Prapo, with good fruit and some mineral notes.

Francesco Borgogno Barolo Brunate
The Francesco Borgogno Brunate was not as concentrated as many of the other Barolo 2017’s I’ve tasted. A big but elegant wine. Leaves you wanting more.

Fratelli Revello Barolo
The Fratelli Revello Barolo 2017 has that beautiful Barolo aroma. As with other 2017’s, it’s more concentrated than 2016, with aromas of dark fruit. There are also floral notes, a feminine touch, typical of wines from La Morra. Quite structured in the mouth, with good balance. The 2017’s are very young, and will probably benefit from some time in the bottle.

Fratelli Revello Barolo Conca
The Conca is more masculine than the classico. But it’s also a bit fruitier with aromas of red berries, Big tannins and good structure.

Giovanni Corino Barolo del Comune di La Morra
A complex nose, with hints of fruit. A more concentrated Barolo with relatively big tannins.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Bricco Manescotto
The Bricco Manescotto is quite similar to the Barolo del Comune di La Morra on the nose. Aromas of fruit and tobacco. Fruity in the mouth, followed by tannins.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Arborina
An aromatic Barolo with good concentration. Floral and fruity on the nose. A balanced wine with good tannins. Nice length as well. A great Barolo 2017!

Luigi Pira Barolo Vignarionda
The Luigi Pira Barolo Vignarionda is considered Pira’s top wine. Aged for 24 months in a mix of barrique, tonneau and botte grande. Floral and fruity on the nose, with hints of mineral and we earth. The Vignarionda is a big, but the tannins disappear quickly, and you’re left with a well-balanced Barolo.

Marengo Barolo
The classic Barolo is a bit concentrated, similar to many other 2017 Barolo’s. The tannins are big and a bit more chewy, especially compared to the 2016, but the wine is good!

Marengo Bricco Delle Viole
The Bricco delle Viole has a beautiful floral nose with aromas of dark fruit. Also quite concentrated. Very easy to drink with lots of fruit and good length.

Marengo Barolo Brunate
The Brunate was a little bit closed at first, but opens up in the glass and becomes the Brunate we all know and love. A big but elegant wine with hints of tobacco and leather.

Mauro Veglio Arborina
The 2017 Arborina is perhaps a bit more masculine than the 2016. Aromas of darker fruits, flowers and a hint of tobacco. A very approachable Barolo.

Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia
The Nadia Curto Barolo La Foia is made exclusively with grapes from the Arborina vineyard. The 2017 was quite aromatic with notes of red fruits, flowers and a hint of tobacco. A good example of a 2017 Barolo!

Nadia Curto Barolo Arborina
The Arborina 2017 is a bit warmer than the Barolo La Foia 2017, with notes of darker red fruits and berries.

Principiano Barolo
An austere Barolo with aromas of leather and wet earth. Spicy in the mouth. A very interesting wine.

Roberto Voerzio Barolo del Comune di La Morra
The Roberto Voerzio Barolo del Comune di La Morra 2017 is quite concentrated. Aromas of red fruits with a hint of tobacco. Floral aromas of rose petals and violets. Feminine but concentrated. Develops in the mouth: Starts big, mellows out. Long finish.

Trediberri Rocche dell’Annunziata
The Trediberri Rocche is very inviting. Fruity and floral with aromas of red fruits and cherry. Perhaps a hint of licorice as well. Good balance and good length. An approachable wine.

Vietti Castiglione
A very fruity Barolo with a spicy nose. Perhaps a hint of mint? Balanced, approachable but also a bit austere. A very complex wine.

News at Vinmonopolet

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Piemontegirl

Elio Altare Dolcetto

It’s a pleasure to see the Dolcetto from Altare on Vinmonopolet.no. For as long as I can remember it has been my go-to Dolcetto, and even with Covid screwing up prices, it’s still below 300kr.

Luigi Pira Barbera Superiore Magnum 2018

The Barbera Superiore from Pira disappeared at record speed after the last release, but is making a comeback in Magnum!

Alberto Viberti Barbera

Mr. Viberti is the new kid on the block! This young man, who works at the family winery Cascina Ballarin, decided to forge a new path for himself and now makes his own wines!

Trediberri Nebbiolo

Yes, Nicola’s wines have been available in Norway for quite some time BUT for the first time the Langhe Nebbiolo will be on the shelves in most stores across Norway!

La Vedetta Swanti

Swanti combines the best of Barbera and Nebbiolo, and the result is amazing. I find I really like blends. I also know you will just love the woman the wine is named after!

Cascina Fontana Barolo del Commune di Castiglione 2015

As Mario says: “It’s not that I release my wines late. The others release theirs early.” And with that I welcome his Castiglione Barolo 2015 to Norway!

Trediberri Bricco Mollea

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Piemontegirl

Trediberri Bricco Mollea

Introducing: Trediberri Bricco Mollea & the new vintages! It’s always exciting when the new vintages are released, and we are all eagerly anticipating the 2016 Barolo’s. But I have to say I am also really excited for the new addition to the Trediberri family – a Dogliani Dolcetto!

The Bricco Mollea vineyard is located in Vicoforte, far south in Langhe. Dolcetto’s from Dogliani tend to be more intense than Dolcetto’s from La Morra, and if you combine the terroir with the 62 year old plants, you get a complex and intense Dolcetto. Note, when I say intense it’s not intense in a bad way. Quite the opposite actually. The Trediberri Bricco Mollea Dolcetto is fruity and rich; a beautiful expression of the grape variety.

Please, every sip you drink, be happy
Nicola

Trediberri Lineup, including the Trediberri Bricco Mollea

Trediberri Bricco Mollea Dolcetto 2019

The Dolcetto grapes grow in Vicoforte, near Mondovi, in the southern part of Langhe. The vines were planted in 1958, which mean the plants are about 60 years old. It’s a 100% Dolcetto, fermented in concrete.

The first thing I notice is that beautiful Dolcetto nose. And explosion of dark berries. The 2019 vintage seems to be a bit more intense than 2018, and the intensity continues in the mouth. It’s still a fresh and fruity Dolcetto, with a pure expression. A wonderful first edition of this wine.

Barbera d’Alba 2019

Trediberri’s Barbera is 100% Barbera, fermented in concrete tanks. Barbera is known for being lush and bold – it likes hot weather, it likes concentration, it likes being big. But the Trediberri Barbera is more pure. It’s less bold, with a fresh fruitiness. There’s also a very good acidity.

Langhe Nebbiolo 2019

The grapes in the Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo come from the Berri vineyard, from a vineyard in Alta Langa, and 10% of grapes from Roero to give a hint of perfume.

Consistent with other 2019’s I’ve tasted, the Langhe Nebbiolo has an explosive nose. Very fruity, floral and fresh. Red fruit dominated, but there are notes of roses and tobacco. Firm but elegant tannins that disappear quickly.

Barolo 2016

The Nebbiolo grapes go through a 3 week maceration in concrete tanks. Trediberri Barolo 2016 has a typical Barolo nose: tobacco, tar, roses. It’s a little subtle at first, and needs time to open up. A big wine yet elegant at the same time. As Antonio Galloni said, “This is an especially potent vintage for the straight Barolo, and there is clearly so much going on in the glass; it is a superb wine in the making.”

Celebrating?

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Piemontegirl

Norwegians are gearing up for Constitution Day. Many are graduating from school this spring. Perhaps some of you are getting ready for a birthday or an anniversary? And what better way than to celebrate with some good wine!

Champagne

I personally celebrate with Champagne. There’s something about bubbles that puts me in a festive mood. And I have a few “regulars” that I go back for. Bereche Brut Reserve 495,00kr is one of them. A very fresh and crisp wine, with subtle bubbles, just the way I like it. Agrapart Terroirs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 568,10kr is another great wine. It’s a little more expensive, but worth it if you want to celebrate a little extra!

Pierre Peters Brut 399,90kr still has to be the Champagne with the best QPR. Even with the small increase in price, it’s still under 400kr and one of my go-to when drinking bubbly. But if I really want to celebrate, I sometimes get Philipponnat Royale Réserve Brut 559,90kr. After meeting Charles Philipponnat at a winemakers dinner many years ago it has been my favorite!

White Wine

Not a fan of bubbles? Not even Champagne? Don’t worry! There are many other wines in the world. White wine is a good alternative. Vietti Roero Arneis 249,90kr is perfect for summer. Goes well with seafood, salads and light dishes. And while we are in Piemonte, maybe try the Diego Morra Chardonnay 198,00kr. Although a Chardonnay from Piemonte is typically more mineral than a Chardonnay from Burgundy, it’s still juicy and fresh. But if Burgundy is more to your liking, try the Matrot Bourgogne Chardonnay 250,00kr.

Red Wine

After drinking some Champagne and white wine, red wine often becomes an obvious choice. Need something light that doesn’t necessarily require food? Dolcetto is the grape for this scenario. Just saw that Cascina Fontana Dolcetto 260,00kr arrived in Norway, and I had to run out and get a bottle. Luigi Pira Dolcetto 205,90kr is a good, slightly cheaper option. And I know we are all excited to see the Dolcetto from Trediberri!

Speaking of Trediberri, his Barbera at only 189,90kr is still the best buy in Norway at the moment. There are plenty other great Barbera’s, and one of them is the Altare Barbera 315,00kr. Prices recently went up in Norway, and unfortunately this wine is no longer under 300kr. I blame Covid-19…

Anyways, on to brighther topics. Ghiomo just made it’s debut in Norway and the Ghiomo Vigna Grand Langhe Nebbiolo 249,60kr would go great with some barbequed meat! Lastly, the personal favorite: “Pylsa & Barolo”. Maybe not the most obvious wine pairing, but interestingly enough, hot dogs and Barolo pair very well. Try the Marengo Barolo 399,90kr or Guido Porro Barolo Santa Caterina 2011 437,00kr.

Trediberri

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Piemontegirl

Inimitable. Passionate. Affable. Energetic. Incomparable. Words often used to describe Nicola Oberto, the face of Azienda Agricola Trediberri. And, a lover of fine wine.

I often think of Nicola as a young Bill Gates – smarter than most, passionate beyond words, with an unprecedented attention to detail, and an inherent ambition to get better every day. Bill, back in the days, would get so passionate at exhibitions selling his vision that he would forget to change his clothes for 3 days. I am not saying that Nicola does not change clothes, but I am not saying that it is not entirely possible either.

Add multifaceted. Always a smile lurking, the jokes come regularly, yet probably one of the most serious people you will ever meet. So visionary at times that you’re afraid he is going to disappear in into the sky, yet fully grounded. With ideas at the forefront of wine making innovation, but always wholly rooted in the tradition.

Do not take my word for it – visit the Trediberri winery and vineyards, and you will have an experience for life.

The Trediberri Family

Nicola is quick to put out though, this is not his show alone, this is a family effort. His father, Federico, spent 40 years working for Renato Ratti, a renowned winery in La Morra. You do not perhaps see Anna Rosa (mother of Nicola and wife of Federico) too often, but there is no underestimating her. She is guiding the work in the vineyards as much as anybody. Finally, you have Stefania, who keeps the checks and balances in the winery. In addition to making sure there is always gas in Nicola’s car.

Winemaking

“We love to drink wine, therefore the greatest recognition for us is a bottle that is quickly finished.”

Want to try to put Trediberri in a box labelled “Modernist” or “Traditionalist”? Forget about it. Instead, Trediberri follows a beautiful philosophy: equilibrium. Using cement tanks, stainless steel tanks and wood barrels, they modify the method each year in order to make the wine as balanced and as drinkable as possible!

Trediberri Fun fact

Whilst there is absolutely no chance of the industrious Nicola Oberto ever running out of gas, there is a big chance his car will. We have yet to figure out the underlying logic behind the fear of a full tank of gas, but it sure makes every trip in his car an adventure.

Fun fact II

The Trediberri winery of La Morra got its name from the fact that it pulls together the triumvirate of Nicola Oberto, his father Federico and their associate Vladimiro Rambaldi. Together they invested. 5 hectars of Berri vineyards, a hamlet of La Morra, back in 2008. Hence, Tre – Di – Berri.

Wines

Wines available in:
Norway
Australia
Denmark
Germany
Hong Kong
Italy
United Kingdom
United States
& more

Barolo Rocche Dell’Annunziata

Rocche dell’Annunziata is synonynmous with body, elegance and complexity.

indigenous yeasts, 11 days of alcoholic fermentation in concrete (3-4 pump-overs per day) + 7 days of skin post-fermentative maceration (1-2 pump-over a day)

BASIC INFORMATION

Product name: Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Classification: DOCG
Fragrance: delicate, floral, spicy aromas. Cherry, rose and strawberry.
Taste: Full bodied, good balance, structured, approachable tannins

VINIFICATION (Wine-making)

Method: indigenous yeasts, 11 days of alcoholic fermentation in concrete (3-4 pump-overs per day) + 7 days of skin post-fermentative maceration (1-2 pump-over a day)
Ageing: 23 months in big barrels (slavonian oak)

VINEYARD

Soil: Calcareous blue marl
Exposure: Southeast, south
Year of plantation: 1951, 1961, 1989, 1999

Barolo

The grapes come from vineyards located in La Morra, within the hamlets Berri and Capalot. Alcoholic fermentation occurs in concrete and starts with a specific pied de cuve. It lasts around 2-3 weeks and, after the first racking, the wine goes straight into wooden casks, where malolactic fermentation starts. We use 52 and 25 hectoliter barrels, made of Slavonian oak, crafted by Garbellotto. The wine ages for about 2 years, then it is blended in steel or concrete and it is bottled in July, 6-7 months before its release.

BASIC INFORMATION

Product name: Barolo
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Classification: DOCG
Color: Bright pale-red
Fragrance: Rosehip, bergamot, spices
Taste: Fruity, balanced, approachable tannins

VINIFICATION (Wine-making)

Length: 2-3 weeks alcoholic fermentation in concrete tanks
Ageing: 2 years in large casks
Ageing in bottle: 6-7 months

VINEYARD: Berri & Capalot

Langhe Nebbiolo

Grapes come from different vineyards of Nebbiolo within La Morra (Berri and Torriglione), Levice, Vicoforte and Roero area.

Alcoholic fermentation happens in concrete tanks that starts with a specific pied de cuve and lasts around 1-2 weeks with no temperature control. Each parcel is processed and aged separately until the cold stabilization. Total ageing is approximately 6 months exclusively in concrete and stainless steel, with frequent rackings.

BASIC INFORMATION

Product name: Langhe Nebbiolo
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Classification: DOC
Fragrance: Red berries, spice notes, leather
Taste: Fruity, fresh, spices, fresh acidity

VINIFICATION (Wine-making)

Temperature: no temperature control
Length: 1-2 week alcoholic fermentation
Ageing: 6 months in cement and stainless steel

TASTING NOTES
Langhe Nebbiolo 2018

Barbera d’Alba

First fermentation: pied de cuve, about 7 days of fermentation and maceration in concrete

Malolactic fermentation: spontaneous in concrete and steel

Aging: about 6 months in concrete and stainless steel.

BASIC INFORMATION

Product name: Barbera d’Alba
Grape: 100% Barbera
Classification: DOC
Color:
Fragrance:
Taste:
Food pairing: Tajarin, aged cheese, salami

VINIFICATION (Wine-making)

Method:
Temperature:
Length: 7 days fermentation in concrete

Wines under 300kr

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Piemontegirl

If you’re located in Norway, check out these wines that are currently available at Vinmonopolet. These days it can be difficult to find a good quality wine under 300kr, for various reasons, but here are some worth mentioning.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to queue for these wines

White Wine

Kruger-Rumpf Schiefer Trocken 168kr
The wines from Kruger-Rumpf are growing on me, and although this was a little “green” on the nose, I quite enjoyed it. As we wine people say: “It was good in the mouth.” Which means we like it. Riesling, known for its acidity, didn’t disappoint in this wine. Lots of citrus and yellow stone fruit flavors.

Roche De Bellene Bourgogne Chardonnay 190kr
If you’re looking for a white burgundy and don’t want to break the bank, try this one.

Domaine de Bellene Saint-Romain Vieilles Vignes 310kr
(Yes, I know its not under 300, but I think its still worth mentioning).
Those extra 10kr are well worth it, in my opinion.

Red Wine

Azelia Barbera 289kr
Recently back on the market in Norway, this Barbera will definately become a staple at my house. You know when you’re drinking a wine, and you just can’t seem to put the glass down? That’s exactly what happened with Azelia’s Barbera. Acidity on point, lots of fruit, long finish – all good things when reviewing a wine.

Burlotto Barbera 2018 285kr
The 2018 Barbera from Burlotto recently arrived in Norway and it’s good. High in acidity, but still balanced, the fruit sort of explodes in your mouth and puts a smile on your face.

Luigi Pira Dolcetto 199kr
Currently one of the best buys at Vinmonopolet. Dolcetto’s are few and far between in Norway, but this one made it in and it’s a good one.

Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo 189kr
Never get tired of mentioning this wine. As we say in Norway, “Løp å kjøp”!

Trediberri Nebbiolo

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Piemontegirl

Nebbiolo in Piemonte

We all know that Nebbiolo is the main grape in Piemonte. Personally, I think there are many other great grape varieties in the area, like Dolcetto, Barbera, Chardonnay, Nascetta, Freisa – I mean the list goes on. But Nebbiolo usually gets the most attention.

And with Nebbiolo, the winemakers can make both Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d’Alba, as well as Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Gattinara, Carema & Ghemme. The latter all qualify as DOCG when made in their respective areas. Honestly, the rules and regulations in Piemonte are too complicated to get into right now.

Trediberri Nebbiolo – 2018

As Nicola so eloquently put it, 2018 is as skinny as Miley Cyrus. So the Trediberri Nebbiolo in 2018 will be a bit more “thin” than 2017. But skinny or thin is not necessarily a bad thin. It’s just different.

Fruity, fresh, approachable and well balanced – all the above describe this wine. I personaly prefer 2018 over 2017. At least for the moment.

Nicola’s take on the past vintages

I know you’ve seen this before. But I have to repost it, because it’s just too good.

Every year is different, for better or worse. 2014 is known for it’s massive amounts of rain. 2010 is considered a wine for the books. But I believe a truly great winemaker can make good wine in any vintage. If you work with nature, respect nature and generally just work hard, you can make magic happen.

In recent encounter with Nicola, this is what he said about the past vintages:

2016 is all class like Jaqueline Kennedy. 2017 is as huge Pamela Anderson. And 2018 is as skinny as Miley Cyrus.
NICOLA

Wine Moments 2019

Posted on December 11, 2019 by Piemontegirl

Blindtasting

Quite a few blind tasting’s take place throughout the year. It’s how I learn. And it’s fun. Looking back on the year, two tastings stick out.

A 2014 lineup with three Barolo:
Trediberri Rocche dell’Annunizata: this was a little closed on the nose at first, but after a while a bouquet of red fruits appeared. The wine had good acidity, good balance and an excellent finish. For a “young” barolo it was very fresh and approachable.
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo: Notes of red fruits, strawberries and some spices. High acidity, round tannins and well balanced.
Fratelli Alessandria Monvigliero: Dark fruits, some ripe fruits on the nose. Good acidity, fresh tannins and a good finish. This bottle had been open for about 24 hours (with the cork “put back in”) so it was very approachable.

A more “diverse” lineup:
Elio Altare Barolo 2004: When tasting this blind, it still had so much “oumph” that it could have been mistaken for a fresh nebbiolo! This was wine of the night for me.
Giacomo Conterno Barbera Vigna Francia 2014: I have always thought the barbera from Contero has a very distinct nose, a nose very different from other barbera’s. This was really hard to figure out next to the other wines.
A Chianti Classico 1993: Curveball! Could tell this wine had some age, with notes of toffee both on the nose and in the mouth. In my opinion, this was past it’s prime. Impossible to identify blind in this lineup.

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2009

Vietti never ceases to amaze me. After some air, this wine from 2009 (10 years old) blew me away with its fresh fruit, round tannins and unbelievable finish. In my opinion, this wine is not even close to reaching it’s potential!

Ester Canale Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo 2015

This wine “had” to be tried. The new project of Giovanni Rosso gained quite a bit of fame, and I had to see what all the fuss was about. The wine is good. Is it worth the price? Let me put it this way, here are many other wines I would buy before this one. However, it will be very interesting following this project going forward!

Diego Morra Monvigliero

2019 would be the year I discovered quite a few new wineries. One of my favorites is Diego Morra. And one of the wines in their portfolio is a Monvigliero. You might have heard of it. Antonio Galloni gave a 100 points to the Monviglerio of Burlotto in 2013. So it’s safe to say it’s quite famous. And the one from Diego Morra is very good!

Diego Mora Monvigliero 2015 had some truffle and wet soil on the nose, quite strong tannins (typical of this cru), but still very elegant and floral.

Trediberri Barbera d’Alba

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Piemontegirl

I talk about Trediberri quite a lot. For many reasons. One: Nicola rocks. He’s just an incredible person. Two: his wines also rock. He just makes good wines. End of story. Nicola and his team work so hard and their hard work pays off. Three: the prices are ridiculous. I mean, 189NOK (roughly $19) in Norway is almost too hard to believe.

Trediberri Barbera d’Alba Rocks

When I say that the Barbera d’Alba from Trediberri rocks, what do I mean? I could say things like:
Full body, long finish
Dark fruit, good concentration of fruit
But I won’t. Wine is so individual. Tastes are so individual. But I will tell you that I think this barbera from Trediberri is representative of a quality barbera. Very drinkable now but you can keep it for a few years (if you can stop yourself from opening them all).

Buy it?

So what am I getting at? You should be buying his wines! Did you know that some Vinmonopol stock them on their shelf? And if you’d rather buy online, you can do that too! So you really don’t have any excuses!

These are the stores that currently stock Trediberri Barbera d’Alba:
Aker Brygge – 16
Levanger – 15
Tromsdalen – 13

Nicola’s take on Vintages

In recent encounter with Nicola, this is what he said about the past vintages:

2016 is all class like Jaqueline Kennedy. 2017 is as huge Pamela Anderson. And 2018 is as skinny as Miley Cyrus.
Nicola

Barbera – My Favorites

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Piemontegirl

I was recently asked about barbera, and if I had a favorite. This is a tough question to answer, because there are so many good ones. And so many different styles. I don’t think I could pinpoint just one, and here’s why.

Barbera vs Barbera Superiore

Barbera is a grape, and just like with Nebbiolo, there are multiple ways to make it. Most winemakers have a “classic” barbera, a wine made in steel tanks with no influence of wood. The wine completes both malolactic and alcoholic fermentation in steel tanks, and remain there until bottling. These wines tend to be high in acidity, full bodied with aromas of red fruits.

You will also find barbera superiore, and this wine will have influence of oak. After pressing the juice, the wine is transferred into barrels and complete the malolactic and alcoholic fermentation in barrels instead of steel tanks.* The wood gives the wine some tannins, helps balance the acidity and you might find hints of oak flavor.

“The Mario Fontana Way”

Mario Fontana is what we would call a “traditional” wine maker, and uses big barrels for all his wines. Except his Barbera. A few years ago, he decided to use cement for this grape because that made more sense to him. And we see this with other winemakers. They may chose to interpret the grapes in different ways, and use new types of material when cultivating them. Kinda cool, right?

Now, you can see where choosing a favorite can be difficult. However, there are a few I tend to chose over and over again.

What’s available Vinmonopolet

Trediberri Barbera d’Alba 189kr
Altare Barbera d’Alba 285kr
Burlotto Barbera d’Alba 285kr
Azelia Punta (superiore) 289kr
Cavallotto Vigna Cuculo (superiore) 300kr
Vietti La Crena (superiore) 460kr

Other Favorites

Altare Larigi
Giovanni Corino Ciabot dù Re
Burlotto Aves
Marengo Vigna Pugnane

There are so many others, but if I had to chose a few then these are high on my list.

*this might vary from winery to winery, but is a general idea of how to make this wine

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