Thursday Virtual Happy Hour: Barolo (Nebbiolo)

Barolo, known as the "King of Wines," is a prestigious Italian red wine made exclusively from 100% Nebbiolo grapes in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. Revered for its deep, complex flavor and robust structure, Barolo is a powerful and age-worthy wine.

Characteristics and flavor profile

• Appearance: Barolo is known for its pale garnet color, which can develop brick-red or orange hues as it ages.
• Aroma: Signature aromas are often described as "tar and roses," accompanied by complex notes of violet, ripe red berries like cherry and raspberry, licorice, and tobacco. As it ages, it can develop earthy tertiary notes of truffle, leather, and dried herbs.
• Taste: In its youth, Barolo is characterized by high tannins and high acidity, making it feel austere and powerful. With proper aging, the tannins soften, and the flavors become more refined, silky, and complex.

Barolo is known for its remarkable aging potential and requires specific maturation before it can be sold.

• Minimum aging: According to DOCG regulations, Barolo must be aged for a minimum of 38 months after harvest, with at least 18 of those months spent in wooden barrels.
• Riserva: A Barolo labeled "Riserva" must undergo a more extended aging period of at least 62 months, which includes a minimum of 18 months in wood.
• Drinking window: While some modern Barolos can be enjoyed earlier, traditional Barolos need a decade or more to reach their peak. The optimal drinking window is often between 15 to 20 years, with exceptional vintages able to age for 30 years or more.
• Modern vs. traditional: The "Barolo wars" of the 1970s and 80s pitted traditional winemakers, who favored long macerations and large, neutral oak casks, against modernists, who used shorter maceration times and smaller, new French oak barriques. Today, many producers use a blend of these approaches.

## We have a choice of videos to watch including:

1. https://youtu.be/SVwwpw1DCFY?si=902HEsQbx4nyEAPW - BAROLO (The King of Wines and the Wine for Kings) - No Sediment (4:31)
2. https://youtu.be/lqsEVtOAMgU?si=dak6coqqIPeO6pgN - Barolo in 5 Minutes - Bonner Private Wines (9:19)
3. https://youtu.be/blsJMpE5HZU?si=l9VEuY1heASDwpk3 - BAROLO: MISUNDERSTOOD OR OVERRATED? - Our Pour Decisions (44:44)

So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!

Cheers!!