Details
I'm not sure that I have ever hosted a Barolo night at Bobby Van's, but at our last dinner there, I had a few requests for just such a night. So here it is!
A Barolo night at Bobby Van's. For this dinner we will have one white wine from Spain , followed by 3 red Barolo wines and 1 red Barbaresco.
A few notes about Barolo from Wine-Searcher.com
"Barolo is a traditional village in Piedmont, northwest Italy. The hills of the surrounding area have long been famous for producing fragrant, tannic red wines which take its name. These are made entirely from the Nebbiolo grape variety."
## "The classic Barolo taste
The hallmarks of the wine are a "tar and roses" aroma, bright ruby color (which fades to garnet over time), firm tannins, elevated acidity, and relatively high alcohol (often 14.5 or 15 percent abv). As the tannins soften over time, the complexity shows through with hints of earth, truffles and dark chocolate."
We will return to perennial favorite, Bobby Van's on Park for a 7pm reservation.
Here is a link to their menu...
Bobby Van's on Park Menu
Just a reminder of our usual rules:
** The cost of this event is $44 and is for the cost of the wines only.
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It comes to approximately $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. Sorry! Meetup+ members are exempt from this charge.
You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a Zero corkage fee. We must be good guests to encourage the restaurant to continue to be generous to us.
Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $6 service fee.
Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!
The Wines :
2020 Alvaredos-Hobbs Godello Ribeira Sacra ($35) - This is a Paul Hobbs European wine, a Spanish Godello, as I don't have any Italian whites at this time! WE 94 points (which I know is generous, I gave it 91 points myself), "Medium yellow to the eye, this wine has a bouquet of lemon, pear and river rock. A wave of acidity washes across the palate bearing grapefruit, lemon zest and white peach flavors alongside notes of butterscotch, dried thyme and a hint of oyster shell that lingers into the vivid finish."
2008 Domenico Clerico Barolo Pajana ($60) - My last bottle, we had a bottle of this last month and I loved it. WA says its drinking window is over, I disagree. WA 91 points, "The 2008 Barolo Pajana is surprisingly open and accessible in its fruit for a young Clerico Barolo, although the Nebbiolo tannins are, of course, quite prominent. The wine shows good plushness and generosity in its dark red fruit, mocha, spices, new leather, flowers and licorice, all of which flesh out on the supple finish. The visceral thrill of Clerico’s best wines is missing. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2022. (drink 2016-2022)" BTW, WS 93 points, with a longer drinking window, "The core of black cherry and licorice is surrounded by spicy oak in this modern-styled Barolo. Firm and fresh, featuring ample fruit to match the structure. The lingering aftertaste of mineral and berry catches a wave of acidity. Best from 2017 through 2038"
2017 Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco ($75) -WS 90, JD 92, WA 94 points, "A product of 85-plus-year-old vines in Castiglione Falletto, the Azelia 2017 Barolo Bricco Fiasco is subdued and delicate, with linear fruit of wild plum and blackberry, plus hints of blue flower and pressed violet. The age of the vines and the depth of the root system in the loose soils of this site have helped to maintain balance and freshness during the hottest moments of this vintage. Indeed, this wine is more immediately silky in texture compared to Azelia's wines from Serralunga d'Alba (like the Barolo Margheria also reviewed in this report). This release of 5,600 bottles presents a nice opportunity to try your hand at a delicate rabbit ravioli for a very special occasion a few years from now. (drink 2024-2040)"
2019 Vietti Barolo Ravera ($75) -WA 98, WS 97, JD 96 points, "The 2019 Barolo Ravera is supple with aromas of licorice, raspberry liqueur, blood orange. It is medium to full-bodied, offering more citrus ripeness throughout, as well as notes of tea leaf and grenadine, fine tannins, and fresh acidity, without feeling austere. This is an adjacent property to Cogno’s prized section of Ravera Pernice. Drink 2024-2044"
2021 Sottimano Barbaresco Basarin ($80) - our last wine of the night, and while it is a Nebbiolo from Langhe, Piedmont, Italy, it is NOT a Barolo. I thought it would be fun to try this and compare it to the Barolos. JD 95 points, "A jeweled ruby color, the 2021 Barbaresco Basarin reveals more depth on the nose, with elegant aromas of cedar, preserved cranberries, licorice, pretty hints of BBQ spices, and pressed flowers. While it remains medium-framed, it fills and expands on the palate, with broad-shouldered, ripe tannins, even acidity, and notes of dark stones on the finish. It’s deceptive upfront, with a generous ripeness of fruit initially masking its more noble underlying structure. Drink this over the next 15 years. (Drink between 2025-2040)"