Torres Neive
Barbaresco a Tavola got off to a cracking start last Friday with 20 Barbareschi 2009. We had also chosen well in La Torre del Monastero as the meal was excellent, particularly the tagliatelle with a sauce featuring our local butchers’ sausage (Cordero Figli, Neive) and a main course of braised duck breast with pears. I am glad we are already booked in there again this Friday as I suspect they will be booked out.
We got off to a cautious start with our marking as the first couple of wines impressed but we wanted to make sure we weren’t overdoing it. As it happened The overall standard was terrific and we found it hard to differentiate with few rejects. Nevertheless, in stalwart fashion, we ploughed on and in the final analysis chose our 5 favourites which we continued comparing (and swallowing) frequently:
1. Pietro Rinaldi, Neive
2.Cascina Luisin, Barbaresco
3. Eredi Lodali Lorens, Treiso
4. Ceretto, Treiso
5. Albino Rocca, Barbaresco
It’s always difficult to taste these wines so young and I am sure some of the wines that didn’t make it into our top 5 may have been very recently bottled and hadn’t had time to settle but it’s a good reference point for Piacere Barbaresco later in the year.