Bricco Cogni

My date with the sunset last night was accompanied by a new friend and a new barolo. The friend...a fellow sommelier in Newport Beach. The barolo...an elegant expression of the Bricco Cogni vineyard in Piedmont by Michele Reverdito. The 2001 vintage is drinking well right now and it's tart cherry and berry flavors are sweetly present. The tannin softened up quickly and some of the heat blew off, but 14.5% is still a bit high for my palate. A lively bottle, conversation, and sunset.

Pizza and Nebbiolo d'Alba

Had a nice dinner at Pizzeria Ortica (Costa Mesa, California) on Friday. If you're looking for a great value Piedmont wine, give Poderi Colla's 2006 Nebbiolo d'Alba a try. I made this choice from the wine list which was on the shorter side and after being informed they were out of the Dolcetto d'Alba I initially ordered (usually my go-to wine when I'm selecting for palates keen on silky, fruit-forward, dense New World reds and want to introduce them to an Old World option). The bottle was listed for about $60 (a nice price point relative to the $120 Pio Cesare 2004 Barberesco) and we decanted the wine while enjoying a glass of Franciacorta with our appetizers. After having a chance to breathe, the Nebbiolo held up nicely to the food and we had plenty of cheeses, olive oil, and cured meats to help soften some of the (still young) tannin. Overall, this a well balanced wine with excellent concentration that needs a little more time in the bottle. The quality of the producer came across to everyone at the table and those trying their first Nebbiolo appreciated the dynamism the wine added to our fresh and thoughtful antipasti and pizze. The honey gelato and chocolate sorbetto cannot go unmentioned. Vino. Pizze. Dolci. Perfecto.

I Love Barolos

My main men...

Silvio Grasso, Bartolo Mascarello, Marcello and Bruno Ceretto, Aldo and Giacomo Conterno, Luciano Sandrone, Bruno Giacosa