Friday Sips

If you haven't noticed over the many years that you may have followed us, we are hardcore Marcarini fans, especially given their values and not only just the Barolo!!! Located in la Morra, this producer excels with other Piedmont grapes, too. The Ciabot Cameron Barbera is from vines within their top-notch Barolo village and the wine that emerges is always a Barbera of sheer pleasure.

Fresh and floral with plenty of strapping raspberry tones. The sophistication reveals its spirit which all comes from its site. Layered with exotic spices, smoke and high-toned mineral. Classic and forward, Marcarini never intervenes with the fine terroir. Drink this beauty over the next 2-4 years with roasted meats, risotto and mushroom-laden dishes.

A cat who is on a steep ascent to Barolo and Piedmont stardom, Enzo Brezza's apex Barbera comes from one of the hallowed Grand Cru sites of Barolo! The Cannubi vineyard overlooks the village of Barolo and is comprised of 5 major plots, Cannubi Muscatel being one of them.

From the first aroma to the super-long finish, this wine oozes class. Aromatically pure, the streamlined, graceful nose reveals lacy chocolate-covered cherry, sneaky mineral, and well-integrated spicy and dusty earth tones. On the palate, it's a seamless Barbera that is rich, mouth-crawling and impressively put together; especially on the finish that fans out nicely. A definite step-up from everyday Barbera, try with risotto or braised beef. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.

One of Barbaresco's top-level producers who specializes in wines from the famed Rabaja vineyard, Cortese also makes fine wines from the adjacent Barbaresco village of Trifolera where the family has vines designated for their Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo wines. The vines for this particular Dolcetto are 25-30 years old and it shows in its penetrating aromas and flavors.

A classic red wine for the whole meal with a red-violet color, intense vinous perfume, and a slight spicy note. Texturally elegant and smooth, fresh and balanced, with the bursting aftertaste that's typical of Dolcetto. Often this is the wine served first or for every-evening consummtion in Piedmont, although the two today are quite a bit more serious players. This versatile red wine will go with just about anything - fish, chicken, pasta, hamburgers, burritos and more!

Living in the shadow of Nebbiolo and Barbera, Dolcetto can often be forgotten, but when it comes from Dogliani, it is very special and is THE grape of this village, especially since the high-elevation vineyards bring boundless rewards in the bottle. The results and distinction of the quality have not gone unnoticed and commencing in was elevated to DOCG status (hence just Dogliani, no longer Dolcetto di Dogliani) for the best terroirs of the village.

A historic and renowned producer, Einaudi's 2010 is beautiful and explosive at the same time. Having an extra year on it, scents of Piedmont terroir provide licorice-laden and gorgeous black cherry aspects with secondary camphor and mineral tones; voluminous, dry and very precise flavors with undertones of chocolate-covered plums move entrancingly on the lively, focused but typical Dogliani palate-filling finish. This is a wily best buy that anyone who is savvy about Italian red wine will undoubtedly purchase!