Decanter panel tasting (Apr 2012): Barbaresco 2008 & riserva 2006 - The wines
Great enthusiasm for Decanter's first Barbaresco panel tasting since 1999; judges praised the wines' well-judged oak and their consistency and price over Barolo.
Nebbiolo
Nebbiolo is arguably Italy’s greatest red grape variety, responsible for the great reds of Barolo and Barbaresco.
What does Nebbiolo taste like?
The thick-skinned grape produces a range of fabulous violet and rose-like perfumes and flavours of truffle, fennel, liquorice and tar. It’s a tricky grape variety to grow but rewards growers with good acidity and plenty of tannins. Its elegance and ability to translate terroir has been likened to that of Pinot Noir in Burgundy.
Nebbiolo is named after the ‘nebbia’, or fog, which enshrouds the limestone hills of Monforte around Alba.
Small quantities are grown in California and Australia, although it has yet to show the pedigree of its Italian counterpart.
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IFWE 2012: Ian D'Agata Barolo 2005 masterclass
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Decanter panel tasting (Aug 2011): Barolo 2006 - All wines
Contrary to expectations, 'approachable' was the buzzword of this tasting. Experts were charmed by the wines' structure and fruit but concerned by their potential longevity. The following wines were awarded more than 15 points.
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Report: Gaja Barbaresco tasting
Roberson wine merchant's vertical tasting of 10 Gaja Barbarescos was, as expected, a sell out; the wines ranging in age from 2006 back to a rare 1958 made by Angelo Gaja's father Giovanni.
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Nebbiolo (red)
Arguably Italy's greatest red grape variety, responsible in north-west Italy for the great reds of barolo and barbaresco, whose range of fabulous violet and rose-like perfumes and flavours of truffle, fennel, liquorice and tar, make it one of the world's most distinctive grape varieties.
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Hailstorms hit Barolo zone
Two violent hailstorms have hit parts of the Barolo zone, causing serious damage.
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Barbaresco and Barolo 2006
One Langhe legend has slated the vintage, refusing to bottle, yet his fellow producers are full of praise. Who’s right, asks Franco Ziliani
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Decanter panel tasting (May 09): Barolo 2004 - All wines
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Cult Barolo producer Teobaldo Cappellano dies
Teobaldo Cappellano, the respected and controversial Barolo producer, has died at 65.
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Barolo and Barbaresco: Is oak ok now?
In the late 1990s, Alba was infatuated with new French barriques. A decade on, TOM MARESCA looks at whether time has changed not only these Barolos and Barbarescos, but also the mindset of producers
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Barolo Wines and Beyond
Italy’s northwestern zone of Alba is so intrinsically linked with Barolo that its winemakers often become transfixed. Now they’re starting to realise there’s more to life than Nebbiolo – Barbera and Dolcetto for a start. RICHARD BAUDAINS takes up the story
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Barolo, ancient and modern
Barolo may be known for its great wine, but the line between traditional and the contemporary methods of producing it is anything but fine, writes STEPHEN BROOK
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Barolo patriarch Mascarello dies
Italy's Bartolo Mascarello – the patriarch of Barolo – died at his home in Barolo on Saturday at the age of 78.
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Nebbiolo is viognier cousin, conference hears
Nebbiolo, one of Italy’s most famous black grape varieties, is related to the aromatic viognier, DNA boffins have found.
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Brilliance in Barbaresco
STEPHEN BROOK visits the Barbaresco producers who are busy rewriting the rule book
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Barolo crop mostly lost while Chianti watches the weather
Producers of Italy's premium red wine Barolo are facing a ruined harvest this year, while in Chianti the winemakers are crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.
