Join Master of Wine Brendan Jansen as we journey through the hills of Barolo with 11 standout wines from 9 leading producers. - an unmissable tasting for lovers of Nebbiolo and all things Piedmont.
From 9 Top Producers:
Negretti | Vietti | Massolino | Luigi Pira | Ca' Rome' | Gaja | Domenico Clerico | Revello |
Cavallotto
Tuesday 19th of August
Session 8: Piedmont - Barolo
Hosted By Brendan Jansen MW
Masterclass: 6-8pm, 12 Wines & Substantial Canapes $395
(Only 14 seats available - private dining room event)
About Barolo
The Barolo wine region is arguably the most famous DOCG in Italy. It’s located in the northern Italian region of Piedmont, south of Alba, and has UNESCO World Heritage status. Known as the ‘King of Wine’, Barolo is produced from the Nebbiolo grape. It’s one of the first varieties to bud and the last to ripen, with harvest taking place in mid-to-late October.
The wines have a minimum ageing requirement of 3 years.
Key terms:
• Riserva - Aged for a minimum of five years
• Vigna on a label indicates a single vineyard wine
The Communes
The DOCG consists of 11 villages:
Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, Serralunga d’Alba, Cherasco, Diano d’Alba, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello, Roddi and Verduno.
These ‘communes’ each have vineyards which contribute their own unique styles, and this was solidified in 2010 when the Consorzio ratified the MGAs for Barolo and Barbaresco.
The area benefits from a continental climate, classified as warm and temperate, with an extended summer and autumn which is perfect for producing top quality grapes.
-(Decanter)
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“We are in the midst of a trio of spectacular vintages from Piedmont. ... But this year, in the middle of the three, 2020 gives us the best of both.”
BERRY BROS & RUDD“2020 is the best Barolo vintage, that can be drunk the soonest, to be released in at least a decade. … … but 2020 is seductive in a way I find utterly compelling.”
VINUM“2020 is textbook nebbiolo. I just love it. I particularly love the vintage. … You can drink it young, but it will age. …”
GIOVANNI GAJA -
“…a stellar vintage in 2019 that could very well represent the beginning of a new cycle of strong, outstanding years for this historic appellation. The 2019s are potent, tightly wound wines that will thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo.”
ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous.com“The 2019s remind me of the legendary 1989s: An extraordinary vintage from another era that produced Barolos with complexity and unusually ripe fruit for the times but that were also racy and extremely tense. While the ‘89s needed years to fully develop, even at their debut, they promised greatness and longevity.”
KERIN O'KEEFE“2019 may be the last time an electrifying, fresh and tannic vintage has been gifted to us in Barolo – at least for the foreseeable future.” WALTER SPELLER MW, jancisrobinson.com
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“Winemakers in Barolo are just as surprised as I am about the quality of their nebbiolos from the 2017 vintage, considering the high temperatures and drought conditions for most of the summer in the Langhe and other parts of Italy. Yet, most of the almost 360 Barolos from the vintage I rated showed wonderful brightness and freshness as well as rich palates and ripe tannins. Some were even refined and vertical on the palate.”
JAMES SUCKLING“In the last two decades Piedmont has become one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Keeping up with the pace of releases these days is quite a challenge, but it’s an incredibly stimulating challenge, as there is so much to discover. Interest for Barolo and Piedmont has never been higher, pandemic or not. There is plenty to like about the 2017 Barolos, as readers will see.”
ANTONIO GALLONI, VINOUS
Domenico, Georgie and JJ on an Oenophiles visit to the winery.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous on Vietti:
I was very fortunate to be exposed to Vietti in high school,
when my parents sold the wines in their shop. … To me, Vietti
has always been a reference point. All these years later, well, the
wines have frankly never been better. The last two years in particular,
I have been blown away by the quality and consistency here. Bravi!“Readers who can find these wines should not hesitate, as they are truly magnificent.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“From the first wine to the last, the 2019s possess tremendous depth and purity, …”
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The Gaja winery needs no introduction. It is a brand known worldwide as synonymous with the best excellences of the Langhe lands. He is not only one of the great historical names of Italian wine, but a true ambassador, who has contributed significantly to the international fame and reputation of our winemaking. The Gaja estate was founded in Barbaresco in 1859, but its great success is mainly due to the intuitions and tenacity of Angelo Gaja. Convinced of the value of the Piedmontese territory and the quality of its wines, Gaja has decided to aim for the highest levels, taking care of every aspect of production down to the smallest details. (callmewine.com)
‘Angelo Gaja makes the most exciting wines in Italy. He has few
equals in terms of his sheer determination and dedication to great winemaking.’
Wine Spectator, Feb 2004‘A legend in his own right,’ in her words, Gaja was Decanter’s Man of the Year in 1998 and was voted one of Italy’s two most powerful figures in a recent poll of experts by Decanter.
Decanter’s publishing director, Sarah Kemp.
" Producer, genius of the word, cultural magnet and extraordinary man". Awarded 2023 Wine Oscar by Bibenda-
Italian Sommelier Foundation
“Champion of Italian Wine” … and
the only Italian winemaker on Wine Spectator cover on three occasions (1985, 2011, 2024)
Wine Spectator -
Clerico, who considered himself more a grape grower than a winemaker, made rich, dense Barolos from his 52 acres of vines in Monforte. His Barolos from Ciabot Mentin and Pajana in the cru Ginestra vineyard; Per Cristina, named after his late daughter and sourced from the Mosconi vineyard; and Aeroplan Servaj from the Baudana cru in Serralunga, expressed their sites, showing purity of fruit, minerality and the structure for aging.
Clerico's Barolos have been routinely outstanding (90 points or more) if not classic. In 2011, Clerico's Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 2006 was Wine Spectator's No. 8 wine of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year.
Clerico's infectious smile and generous nature earned him many friends, while his passion and work ethic gained respect from his colleagues. "Domenico Clerico was one of my dearest friends," recalled Enrico Scavino, of Paolo Scavino. He remembers meeting Clerico in 1970 and running into him again just a few days later. "[My wife and I] stopped at Monforte d'Alba where there was the Patronal Festival and as Domenico saw and recognized us, he right away made us sit at a table and at the end we were told that Domenico already paid for us. This gesture deeply impressed us and made us understand his greatness of mind and heart."
Luca Currado of Vietti remembers a tasting he attended in Tuscany 15 years ago with Clerico. At 2 a.m., after the tasting and dinner, Clerico announced that he had to return to the Langhe to spray his vines because it was going to rain in the next days. "Next morning at 7 a.m. all the producers were in the hotel having a cappuccino. Domenico was not there," said Currado. "We called him and with his big smile and happiness he said 'I'm happy and safe on my tractor in my vineyards.'"
Clerico took over the winery from his father in 1976. In 1977, he purchased his first vineyard parcel in Bussia, called Bricotto. Ciabot Mentin, Pajana and Mosconi followed and, in 2005, Clerico leased vineyards in Baudana for Aeroplan Servaj, named for a nickname given to him by his father that means "free spirit." He had very little money in the early days. To age his wines, he bought dismantled casks from Germany, cleaned them and put them back together.
Shortly after, he made a trip to Burgundy and bought 19 pièces, the 228-liter Burgundy barrels. He eventually incorporated barriques into his aging regime, and the Clerico style was born. But he was always trying to improve, experimenting with rotofermentors and other technologies. In 2008, he finished a new state-of-the-art winery and aging cellars on the outskirts of Monforte d'Alba. By the 2011 vintage, his macerations had increased to three weeks.
But Clerico's focus was always his vineyards, where he was often found and where he employed organic viticulture. "In the last years Domenico was mainly working in the vineyard, because it was the job he loved the most, leaving the management of the cellar to his collaborators," said a statement released by the winery.
Clerico is survived by his wife, Giuliana. She will continue his work, with the assistance of Domenico's deputies, Gianmatteo Rainieri and Oscar Arrivabene, and the existing team. Domenico had already made arrangements to leave the vineyards and winery to his nephew Orlando and niece Cecilia.
Wine Spectator
Meet the host…
Master of Wine: Brendan Jansen
Brendan Jansen MW is a specialist medical practitioner, and the development of his expertise in wine began with his involvement in tasting groups with colleagues. His love affair with wine was cemented when he lived in Italy for two years, during which time he developed an affinity for, and in-depth knowledge of, Italian wines. Brendan's passion is for wine education and appreciation, and this has inspired his MW journey. Tastings led by Brendan are fun and informative and involve a deeper exploration of the varieties and regions covered.
The Master of Wine qualification indicates that the title recipient has completed the toughest series of examinations on viticulture, wine making styles and techniques, all wine regions, and all pluses and minuses in the marketing of these wines on planet. Then added to this is the requirement for an extraordinary ability to discern the bouquet & flavour nuances caused by the factors above which indicate the wine’s variety, age, wine making techniques used, regions, quality, hygiene and seasonal variations.
The title MW is the greatest imprimatur or recognition that the wine world can give to its most able students. After 50 years of Master of Wine graduates there are just 2 in Western Australia and perhaps 24 in Australia.
The Wine List
2019 Negretti Barolo
2020 Vietti Barolo Castiglione
2018 Revello Barolo 'Cerretta' Nebbiolo
2017 Ca' Rome' 'Rapet' Barolo Nebbiolo
2020 Gaja Dagromis Barolo
2019 Luigi Pira Vigna Rionda Barolo Nebbiolo
2017 Domenico Clerico ‘Aeroplanservaj’ Barolo
2017 Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe
2019 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito Serralunga d’Alba Barolo Nebbiolo
2016 Massolino Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva Etichetta Nera
2014 Domenico Clerico 'Percristina' Riserva Barolo