Sunday, June 13, 2010

Corino Barolo, Vigneto Rocche, 2000

Last night we met some good friends and had an outstanding dinner and fun time at Café Juanita in Kirkland, Washington. The highly acclaimed chef/owner, Holly Smith, has created a great restaurant that specializes in the food of Northern Italy while using fresh local ingredients whenever possible. To help celebrate 3 of our birthdays during the month of June, we brought along a bottle of the Corino Vigneto Rocche Barolo from the 2000 vintage. I had decanted this Barolo for 5 hours prior to our dinner. Our friends brought a bottle of Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, 2007. The Corino Barolo, Vigneto Rocche is a single vineyard Barolo that is produced in small quantities of less than 350 cases. This wine has a dark ruby color and an amber rim. A serious perfume of smoke, earth, lead pencil and leather accompany red raspberry and plum. In the mouth this full bodied wine offers deep mineral accented dried strawberry, floral and cherry flavors with abundant gripping tannins and crisp acidity. The mouth-feel is impressive showing a great punch of flavor and a long and elegant spice filled finish. Despite being made from grapes harvested back in 2000, this wine is still youthful and vibrant. We had cellared this Barolo since 2005 and last night was the big pay-off. A great wine from a small producer.

No comments: