01.16.08 2003 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco Ovello

We had a fun night trying new wines at BONDA with Bill and Sam during our dinner to benefit Autism Speaks. Unfortunately it was a very poor showing with only 20 or so people, but it is a weird time of year. We gave 20% of the restaurant proceeds to Autism Speaks, but it did not amount to much.

The first in the lineup was this Barbaresco which I thought was fab when I first tasted it on the DI circuit. Jamie and I really don't dig Barbaresco at all, but this was different. Aged for a bit, single vineyard sourced and a poor year to boot! On the nose there was classic acetone and bicycle tire, with restrained fruit on the palate. Tight tannins, developed into rich plum flavor.

From the Nebbiolo grape, the same for Barolo, this was unique in that we really dug it! Sam and Bill both liked it as well, although they had a bottle of K Syrah Waluke Slope so it was an adjustment for their palates. They had also finished dinner, so it was a tough switch.

Jamie and I had a plate of salami with some parmesan. Very rustico!