Rivetto Barolo Giulin 2004.

Rivetto family started wine activity in 1902 in a small village located in Asti region called Montaldo Scarampi. In the 1921 they deicided to move to Alba’s downtown in Rattazzi street n.2 where they began a successfull wine-trade.
Nearly forty years later, in 1939, Ercole, the family’s patriarch, sealed the winery’s fate when he purchased the estate of Loirano of Vassallo counts. The estate sits 400 mt above sae level, occupying 89 acres facing the spectacular Serralunga d’Alba Castle and the charmingly picturesque village of Sinio. The vineyards extended from the southwestward along the highest hilltop.
The land has been prized for many generations. As a token of esteem and hospitality, the Falletti family, owners of the Langhe property, best owed upon their cousins, the Vassallo Counts, this rich land located in Loirano, a region synonymous with age-old quality.

This barolo is pleasant with soft tanin and gently spiced with intense cranberry fruit still round and good. It is very drinkable and we do recommend this vintage.

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Barolo and Barbaresco, are the two most important red wines and the crowning jewel wine region of Piedmont, in the northwest, celebrated vintage 2004 claiming it to the best yet. Both regions enjoy a worldwide reputation for their monovarietal (nebbiolo exclusively) vinted from this capricious grape.

This indigenous grape tastes only at its best if and when grown in the volcanic soils of this region coupled with the unique (cool) climate. Growers planted nebbiolo elsewhere in Italy (Lombardy), California, Australia, New Zealand, and even in Ontario, but to date no one has been able to duplicate the aromatic delicacy and textural strength of this unique grape variety.

Of the two, Barolo ages better, longer and offers more flavour and depth. Barbaresco’s quality has been improving gradually over the last 20 years. The biggest proponent and price leader of Barbaresco is Angelo Gaja whose wines have captured the imagination of serious and well-heeled wine consumers.

Barolo long considered to be the “King of wines, and wine of kings” is a relatively small region (1400 hectares) producing an average of eight million bottles pending on vintage. Barbaresco’s soil is more calcareous than those of Barolo, hence the wines are softer, fruitier, and almost perfumey.

In the last quarter century, traditional winemakers retired and/or sold their wineries, or turned them over to their university-educated offspring’s. They are convinced that quality and intensity of their wines must improve constantly, while prices that reflect demand must be reasonable.

Traditional winemakers, like Bartolo Mascarello, seldom emphasised single-vineyard (here called cru). Barolo’s young vintners know differences between sub-regions and even single-vineyards exist and are readily observed by connoisseurs who taste nebbiolo wines frequently. They try to make Barolo that emphasises the unique flavours of the grape.

They even know that the top of the hill site here called Bricco produces better quality fruit and wines of higher alcohol levels that are fuller bodied.
Vintages in Barolo and Barbaresco play an important role in quality and prices vary accordingly. 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2004 yielded very fine wines, and 2004 is claimed by most to be the best yet.

This vintage was released in 2008, and the wine must be aged (in upright Slovenian oak barrels of 6300 – 9000 litre capacity) for a minimum of 36 months, and one year in the bottle. 2004 by all accounts was perfect with the right amount of precipitation and a hot growing season. The fruit came in excellent condition and winemakers made the best wine they could possibly make.
Here are the wineries and their brands that are recommended:

BAROLO

Vietti, Barolo Villero Riserva
Paolo Scavino, Barolo
Manzone, Barolo Bricat Le Gramolere
Ceretto, Bricco Roche
Giacomo Borgono, Barolo Riserva
Gianfranco Alelsandira Barolo
Roberto Vierzo, Barolo Brunate
Roberto Vierzo, Barolo Vignetto Cerequio
Roberto Vierzo, Barolo La Serra
Ascheri, Barolo
Renato Ratti, Barolo Marcenasco
Aldo Contern,o Barolo Granbussia Riserva
Giacomo Contratto, Barolo Cerequio Secolo
Emilio Altare, Barolo Vigneto Arborina
Domenico Cerico, Barolo Pajana
Marchesi di Barolo, Barolo Riserva

BARBARESCO

B Giacosa, Barbaresco Asili Riserva
Ceretto, Barbaresco Bricco Asili
Ceretto, Barbaresco Bricco Faset
A Gaja, Barbaresco Sori Tildin
Moccagatta, Barbaresco Basarin
La Spinetta, Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina
Vietti, Barbaresco Masseria
Marchesi di Gresy, Barbaresco Martinenga Camp Gros
Paitin, Barbaresco Sori Paitin
Paroccho de Neive Barbaresco

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2004

This is again a good vintage, I do think we had been lucky with our choice of the 01 and the 04 vintage. This wine tastes of licorice and tobacco, full bodied and smooth and elegant all the way.

This is indeed! a good buying.

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Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco 2001.

This wine is full-bodied, full flavored and elegant with tastes of licorice and tobacco. It is perfect for a pepper steak with that power it has in the ending. Dice 5- (85 points).

Have you tasted this or another wine, you are welcome to add a dice/review in our wine guide
Winesworld.