Worth The Hunt: Dolcetto di Dogliani

An article by: Eric Guido

Dolcetto grapes on the vine, looking good enough
to eat.

There is a lot to love about the wines of Piedmont. It seems that there is something for everyone and a wine to pair with every course of the meal. When I started down this road of wine appreciation, Barolo was one of the first wines I grew to truly adore. I was drawn to its power, which seemed to perfectly coexist with its gracefulness and elegance. As I worked to understand this wine and the grape (Nebbiolo), which it is made from, I also began to read about the people and the place from which it came from. I experimented and fell in love with the cuisine. I think back to large tasting menus I created, centered on Piedmontese edibles. Then there was the wine and the multiple varieties from the region. Almost anyone who knows Barolo will also be familiar with Barbera. It's also not a stretch to see Arneis at your local wine shop. However, one grape that still doesn't receive the attention it deserves is Dolcetto.

A parmigiano polenta topped with wild mushrooms,
is one of my favorite Dolcetto pairings.

Dolcetto was, and in many ways still is, the everyday wine of Piedmont, being grown throughout the region. In many cases Dolcetto fills the vineyard areas where Nebbiolo—or, these day, even Barbera--won't thrive. It can be easily made into a young and remarkably fresh daily drinker. However, there is also a tannic backbone, allowing some producers to create a more serious expression, with short-term ageability. It pairs beautifully with a large array of foods, from starters to entrees of hearty stew, game, red meat, pasta and almost anything with mushrooms. The fruit leans to the darker spectrum with ripe blackberry, hints of herbs, minerals and with a bitter twang, yet doesn't take very well to new oak. The result is a beautiful varietal wine of character. Frankly, it's one of my favorite wines for winter.

The Pecchenino Farm in Dogliani 

However, there is one more factor to keep in mind. As I mentioned, Dolcetto is grown throughout the region, but in many places it sits second or third place to the bigger wines that can demand a higher price. A Dolcetto d'Alba or d'Asti can be great, and there are many that I love, but it wasn't until I began to explore the neighboring areas, some of which specialize in Dolcetto (such as Dogliani), that I truly began to understand what Dolcetto is capable of. In Dogliani, Dolcetto sits second to none. Here, Dolcetto has been produced for hundreds of years, and now by artisinal wine makers willing to give it the attention it deserves, while the vines enjoy the best vineyards and exposures that the region has to offer. The wines are intense and expressive, robust, elegant and often fruit-forward. Dolcetto Dogliani are incredibly food-friendly and made in both easy to understand and intense, deep styles. They are absolutely worth searching for and should fill the shelves of your local wine shop.

Below, you’ll find my tasting notes from a number of the best producers’ current releases from the region. This is in no way the end all list, but it’s a great place to start. I urge you to give them a try and to add these incredible, unique wines to your arsenal--and try paring them with some of your favorite foods. You will not be disappointed.

On to the wines:

2010 Pecchenino Dogliani Bricco Botti – This was explosive on the nose, showing intense ripe blackberry, sandy mineral tones and spice. On the palate, it was rich yet balanced with blackberry, hints of bitters and black licorice. Fine tannin showed itself throughout the finish, giving this even more depth and resulting in a long and satisfying experience. (94 points) avg. cost $36 Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2011 Marziano Abbona Dolcetto di Dogliani Papa Celso – The nose was rich, exciting and somehow autumnal, showing blackberry and spice, violet floral notes and undergrowth. On the palate, tart blackberry and herbs filled the senses in a juicy, soft textured effort. The finish was long and saturating with herb infused black fruits. Beautiful. (92+ points) avg. cost $23 Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2011 Poderi Luigi Einaudi Dolcetto di Dogliani - The nose was intense and ripe yet wonderfully fresh, showing dark cherry, blackberry, herbal hints, chalk dust and floral undergrowth. On the palate, it was rich with saturating dark fruit spreading across all of the senses, followed by a tug of tannin, which lasted into the finish. It's a food wine, for sure, yet just as satisfying to enjoy a glass on its own. (92 points) avg. cost $18 Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2012 Pecchenino Dolcetto di Dogliani San Luigi – A fresh yet energetic expression of blackberry jam, toast (not oak) and hints of wild herbs. On the palate, it showed ripe, juicy blackberry and herbs, which lasted through the mouthwatering finish. This was easy drinking, yet pure beauty in simplicity. (91 points) avg. cost $15 Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2011 Gillardi Dolcetto di Dogliani Cursalet - The nose showed blackberry, floral notes, and herbs with a fresh airiness that imparted a lifting note to the blackberry fruit. On the palate, it was rich with juicy dark fruits and a hint of tannic heft, which gripped the senses, ending in a refreshing, dark fruity finish. This was everything I wanted in a Dolcetto. (90 points) avg. cost $18 Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2011 Francesco Boschis Dolcetto di Dogliani Vigna Dei Prey - The nose showed blackberry jam, herbs, lifting menthol-laced floral notes, and hints of peppery spice. On the palate, it was acid-driven with focused dark fruits and a mineral core. The finish showed drying tannin with tart blackberry and citrus notes. (89 points) avg. cost $21 Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

First Look: 2009 Brunello di Montalcino

Article and Reviews by: Eric Guido

We live in a world where everyone is waiting for the next great vintage. Today, it’s just part of who we are. I’m guilty of it myself, in that I’m always associating ageability with quality. However, there’s an entire world of wine out there that isn’t stashed in someone’s cellar for decades. When I think Brunello, I think of a wine that needs ten years before I can touch it. However, that doesn’t always have to be the case, and beauty can be found in youth without feeling guilty for sacrificing the precious gems in our cellars.

This brings me to 2009 Brunello and the wines that I sampled at the 2014 Benvenuto Brunello event in New York City. Unlike 2006, 2009 isn’t a year of big structured wines for the cellar. Unlike 2007, it also isn’t a year packed with ripe, dense, sweet fruity wines. Instead, it’s a vintage that many in Brunello are referring to as traditional, like a vintage of old. Most of these wines showed some of the most beautfiul Sangiovese boquetes that I’ve ever encountered in a young Brunello. The are heavily perfumed with floral intensity while displaying ripe (yet not overripe) red fruits and spice.

One whiff is enough to toss you into a Brunello trance that can make your eyes roll back in your head. However, it’s on the palate that these wines take a sharp turn from the obvious. At most Brunello release events, I enter the room prepared for my gums to be ripped from my teeth by searing tannin and acidity. In fact, the hardest part is usually identifying the quality of the fruit versus the wines structure. However, that’s not so in 2009. Instead, these wines are fruity and juciy; some lacked depth, yet the best of them combined those juicy textures with a refined structure that peered out from behind their ripe fruit flavors. Those are the wines that will fill my cellar.

As for ageability, a number of them will mature well in your cellar (and I made sure to identify them in my comments). However, nearly all of these wines are drinking already, and the best of them should enjoy a broad drinking window.

In the end, 2009 looks to be a very good bookend to all of the big or structured vintages that we’ve seen or are in the pipeline. The one warning I’ll give you is to read the notes carefully, as some wines may score well now for the way they performed today, while others earned there merits on how well they should drink for many years to come. Most people know that I like a little backbone in my wines, and those are the ones that you’ll find on my table.

On to the Notes:

2009 Tenuta San Giorgio Ugolforte Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was beautiful and floral with ripe fruits, showing perfumed cherry and dusty sweet spice with chalky minerals; along with the slightest hint of oak from a deft hand. On the palate, it showed silky textures with ripe red berries and inner floral tones in a focused, clean, yet mouthfilling effort. The finish was staying, showing hints of structure. The San Giorgio Brunello was simply a gorgeous, complete wine. (94+ points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Il Grappolo / Fortius Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was very pretty and a bit rustic, showing ripe cherry with hint of citrus providing lift, as notes of soil and undergrowth filled the senses. Ripe strawberry and citrus notes that carried over from the nose filled the senses in this mouthfilling effort. A tannin and acid balancing act made for a dazzling finish as mouthwatering cherry notes coated every corner of the palate. (94 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino V.V. – The nose was pretty, not overdone, just perfectly refined with floral perfumes, small red berries and hints of animal musk. On the palate, I found silky textures, which were accentuated by focused red fruits, hints of spice and juicy acidity. The wine’s structural components shined through on the finish, along with a note of concentrated red fruit. The V.V. from Le Ragnaie is a selection of the best fruit from older vines, and it has a truly regal and refined personality. (94 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was beautiful with perfumed floral tones, intense tart red berry, an herbal lift, underbrush and hints of animal musk. On the palate, it was focused, yet intense with young cherry, spice and soil tones, which lingered long into the finish. Hints of tannin and acid left the cheeks puckered and promised good thing to come. (93+ points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Uccelliera Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was floral and feminine, showing crushed strawberry, tealeaf, floral perfumes and hints of undergrowth. On the palate, rich, intense red fruit, spice and soil tones came across in a powerful expression of Sangiovese. The lasting finish showed notes of dried cherries and herbal tea with hints of tannin tugging at the cheeks. (93+ points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was dark and inviting with red berry fruit, underbrush, animal musk and a hint of brown sugar. On the palate, ripe cherry and spice was met by inner floral tones. Its full-bodied mouthfeel and precision of fruit truly left an elegant and pretty impression. The finish was long with intense, saturating red fruits that nearly masked the wine’s structural components. The 2009 Talenti Brunello was polished and satisfying, truly exceptional for the vintage. (93 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Loacker / Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was very pretty and floral with notes of strawberry jam, sweet spice, and herbal notes. With coaxing, the bouquet continued to gain more depth and dark fruit aromas. On the palate, it showed smooth, silky textures contrasting hints of tannin with dark red fruit, herbs and spice, which lasted into the finish. It was youthful with plenty of energy and concentration to improve for a number of years. (93 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Palazzo Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was bueatiful, as it opened up in the glass to reveal tart red berry, dry autumnal spice and hints of animal musk. On the palate, bitter cherry with cinnamon and cedar saturated the senses yet remained juciy and fresh. The finish was staying with young red fruits that made the mouth water, followed by hints of cheek-puckering tannin. (93 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was vibrant and intense, showing dark, ripe cherry, brown sugar, floral undergrowth and hints of green stems. On the palate, it was juicy with brisk acidity, ripe red berry, inner floral notes, tealeaf and spice. The finish was staying with spiced red berry tones. There was little tannin to be found, yet this was a pleasure to drink now. (92+ points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Capanna Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was dark, inviting and intense, showing black cherry with hints of stem and beautiful floral perfumes. On the palate, it was juicy, yet with a good concentration of spicy red fruits and a nice acid-driven lift toward the close. The finish was long, showing tart red berry and dry spice. Capanna managed to handle the vintage well and showed enough stuffing to live up to the name, Brunello. (92 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Capanne Ricci Brunello di Montalcino –- The nose showed ripe cherry with dusty coco, sweet spice and hints of cedar. On the palate, I found tart red berries and herbs with brisk acidity and soft textures. Cherry and soil tones prevailed into the long finish with a lovely hint of ginger. (92 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Tenuta Carlina La Togata Brunello di Montalcino – The nose showed ripe red fruits, dusty spice, herbal tealeaf and a lifting citrus note. On the palate, it showed excellent concentration for the vintage with notes of cherry, cinnamon, cedar and minerals. The finish was staying, with hints of structure and intense red fruit, which seemed to saturate the senses. (92 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Col D'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino – This started restrained and closed on the nose, yet opened with time in the glass, becoming darker, riper and richer with notes of black cherry, cinnamon and ginger. On the palate, it was angular yet juicy with dark red fruits, hints of citrus and inner floral tones. The momentum faded a bit on the finish, showing youthful tannin and hints of dried cherry. (92 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was restrained in a youthful, closed up, fashion, showing young red berry, herbal and soil tones. There was a savory feel and excellent tension on the palate as red berry, cedar and tobacco notes washed over the senses. The finish showed hints of structure with spiced cherry lingering throughout. (91 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Pinino Brunello di Montalcino – The nose was restrained at first, yet it opened with time in the glass as notes of tart red berry, hints of menthol and floral perfumes filled the senses. On the palalte, it was juicy with a fenimen, light-bodied structure with red fruits and herbal hints. It finished clean with palate-cleansing acidity. (90 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino – The nose showed sweet spice, red berry and wood spice, turning darker and more inviting with time in the glass, morphing to tobacco notes. On the palate, ripe red fruits and spice rushed the senses, yet it was lacking any serious depth and structure. The finish followed suit with tart berry flavors clinging to the palate. (89 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino – The nose showed ripe and spicy red fruits with an outward and almost sexy personality. On the palate, it was juicy with ripe cherry and spice, yet there was a sweetness here that detracted from my expectations. The finish was clean with pleasantly fresh red fruits. I enjoyed this, but it lacked the stuffing I associate with Brunello. (88 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Pian Delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino – The nose showed sweet, almost candied, red fruits, black licorice and brown sugar. On the palate, ripe black cherry and hints of citrus washed across the senses with a slight tannic tug. The finish was fresh and lively with mouthwatering, spicy red fruits. Yet, as much as I enjoyed this wine on the palate, the nose was simply too sweet for my tastes. (88 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

2009 Le Macioche Brunello di Montalcino – The nose showed sour red berries, cedar and hints of herbs. On the palate, it was light-bodied with tart cherry and dry spices. A coating of dry berry remained throughout the finish, yet I craved more intensity. (87 points) Find it on: Wine-Searcher!

1989: Barolo Retrospective

By Eric Guido

The "Epic" '89 Cascina Francia
With no Monfortino in '89,
this wine turned out to be a
masterpiece.

2004 was the year that I really got into wine, and from that moment forward it has been a continuous learning experience on a topic that is constantly evolving. In that time, there are specific “truths” that I’ve come understand. One is that price doesn’t always dictate quality. Another is that there will always be another “greatest vintage ever,” according to somebody, only a few years down the road. And then there’s 1989 Barolo; and the truth is that it’s the best, classic vintage of Barolo in the last 35 years.

Let’s call a spade a spade. I understand that farming practices have improved, that wineries work cleaner and more efficient, and that global warming has given producers more good vintages to work with. But here's another truth; because of all of these changes and improvements, the Barolo being made today will never become the wines of yesterday. Granted, they might become something totally different, which in retrospect may be considered better. But we won't see another 1974, '78 or '89. The fact is that all the technology today is simply trying to recreate what a great vintage provided us in years like 1989.

We're talking about a time when there were great vintages once a decade, and it was the result of what Mother Nature gave them. Green harvesting wasn't regularly practiced in 1989; instead a wet, cool spring resulted in irregular flowering. What's more, severe hail in June left its mark on many vineyards. The summer was warm, but not hot, and temperatures dropped near the end of the growing season with wide fluctuations between day and night. The result was a late harvest with perfectly ripe grapes.

Setting up our blind tasting at i Truli.  An amazing tasting
complimented by a Piedmonte inspired menu.

When I think back to the first time I tasted an '89 Barolo, even at an early point in my journey to understand wine, the quality struck me. All of the other vintages I had tasted, '95 through 2000, seemed to pale in comparison. They were rich in fruit and powerful, yet bright and focused with a structure that I can best describe as "noble". They weren't ready to drink yet, which at the time (2006) intrigued me greatly. However, even though the structure of these wines dominated, you could still sense the tension of fruit that was just waiting to bloom. So here we are, eight years later, and these wines are even closer to peaking, but not quite there yet. Enjoyable? Absolutely. Yet, you can still sense that there's something more waiting down the road, and I won't be surprised if we are still enjoying the best of them 40 years from now. God, I love '89 Barolo.

These 25-year old corks look fantastic, unfortunately
a few them work cork-taint time bombs.

The following notes are from a recent tasting, which included 14 bottles of Barolo and 2 of Barbaresco. One issue I witnessed was a problem with cork taint (3 out of 16 bottles), which is another issue on the decline these days. Also, out of all of these wines, one was obviously heat damaged, a concern when trying to procure these wines on the market today. My advice, if you have the means, is to buy '89 Barolo, because the prices will only go up as the wines continue to peak. However, if you are a buyer, make sure you are getting them from a reliable source. Many of these wines will cost a pretty penny (my Wine of The Night is retailing at $595), but that doesn't mean you can't find deals if you look hard enough. '89 Produttori Ovello is a perfect example.

On to the notes:

Flight #1 was something of a let-down, yet in no way the fault of the vintage. The unfortunate reality of older wine is the possibility of it being damaged from mistreatment or issues with cork. Thankfully corks have improved drastically in the last decade. However, there was a silver lining in the form of a Produttori Barbaresco that showed beautifully. What would a Barolo tasting be without a Barbaresco inserted as a ringer, which pans out to be a winner?

1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Ovello – What a pretty and feminine wine that may not have shown as well next to a larger-scaled Barolo or Barbaresco, yet on it’s own was magical. The nose was still youthful, showing dusty red fruits with minerals and rose petals. On the palate, it showed silky textures interlaced with veins of structure and acidity. Bright cherry was joined by notes of earth and inner floral tones, which lasted into a long, staying finish. The Ovello was elegant and finessed, showing the undeniable qualities of Produttori yet again. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Roagna Barbaresco Riserva – Sadly, the ’89 Roagna Barbaresco Riserva was slightly corked, and what a shame that was, because what I did find in the glass tempted my curiosity. Dried red fruits pushed forward on the nose with notes of soil, gravel and old parchment. On the palate, it was tart with red berry and herbal notes, yet turned muddled. Dried red berries lingered on the finish with a zing of acidity. (N/A) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo – The nose was dark, showing roasted meat, mushroom, moist leaves and beef stock. On the palate, it was still youthful yet meaty, with red fruits and earth tones. The finish was long, yet the wines acidity seemed to dry out the wine, leaving only traces of citrus peel and minerals. (87 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Cavallotto Barolo Vigna San Giuseppe Riserva – You could sense the greatness in this wine, yet it was apparently mistreated at some point in its life. The nose was earth personified with porcini mushroom, soil, mineral, herbal tones and a hint of French onion soup. On the palate, it showed tart red fruits and citrus peel. The finish was dank and muddled with notes of earth and stewed fruit. (N/A) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

Flight #2 really took things up a notch and relieved any fears that flight #1 may have stirred. Monforte d’Alba was the theme of the flight, and these wines came through in spades. What really impressed me was how impossibly young they all seemed.

1989 Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala – The nose was classic, showing dusty red fruits, dried flowers, sandy soil, minerals and beef broth. It showed great depth on the palate, with tart red berries saturating the senses in waves of velvety texture, followed by notes of herbal tea and minerals. The finish was staying and seemed to wrap the palate in warm, radiant fruit. Other tasters seemed to prefer the Colonnello, but for me it was the Cicala that showed best. (94 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini – The nose was earthy and complex with dark red fruit, mushrooms, dried flowers, hints of citrus rind and dusty, dried cranberries. On the palate, it was still young and structured with tart red fruit, inner floral tones and hints of citrus. The medium-long finish lent a sweet and sour effect as red berry and citrus intermingled. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Aldo Conterno Barolo Colonnello – The nose was wonderfully expressive with dark red fruits, dried flowers, spices and beef stock. On the palate, it was smaller-scaled, yet silky smooth and juicy with round red fruits and herbal tones. The finish turned darker and lingered. Other tasters found this to be much more interesting than I did. It’s a beautiful wine that’s drinking well now, but it was lack of depth on the palate that soured my view. (92 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva – The nose was modern and forward, showing ripe black cherry with balsamic tones, spice, licorice and a whiff of vanilla oak. On the palate, it was surprisingly clean, focused and finessed with cherry, sweet spice, dark chocolate and earth tones. The finish was soft and juicy with dried red berry notes lingering long. (88 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

Flight #3 was marked by the biggest disappointment of the evening, a completely corked Brovia Rocche and Bruno Giacosa Villero. Luckily, the two wines that did show were incredible! So began the battle of the two ’89 Vietti…

1989 Brovia Barolo Rocche – Corked

1989 Vietti Barolo Rocche – The ’89 Vietti Rocche was stunning. The nose was forward, yet elegant and finessed, showing beautiful floral tones, cherry, potpourri, roses, balsamic hints and spice. On the palate, it was still youthful and structured; yet even still, the most focused red fruit ran deep, enveloping the senses and contrasted by inner floral notes. The finishes lingered on and on with hints of structure tugging at the senses while crystalline red fruit slowly faded away. This wine was seamless. (96 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Vietti Barolo Villero Riserva – The nose was bright and explosive with sweet red fruits, spice, rose petal, potpourri and hints of menthol. On the palate, it was round with velvety red fruits, yet persistent and focused, as sweet spice and hints of citrus danced across the senses. It finished focused and clean with dried red berries and hints of spice, which lingered on and on. It was gorgeous. (95 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Villero – Corked

Just when we thought things couldn’t get any better, along came Flight #4. Out of the 16 bottles we originally assembled, what wasn’t revealed to the tasters was that a 1989 Giacomo Conterno Cascina Frania had been entered into the tasting. It was great listening to the chatter around the table as everyone put their nose to the glass.

1989 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia – The nose was deep, rooted in the earth with iron and minerals, yet dark and imposing as rich black cherry, licorice and dried roses gave contrast to rock dust and black soil tones. You could sense that as much as this wine was willing to give, there was still so much more being held in reserve. On the palate, balsamic notes gave way to dark fruit and inner floral perfumes, yet the wine’s muscle and girth seemed to be working hard (yet in a futile manner) to try and keep it all concealed. The finish was filled with strawberry, tar and tobacco notes in a long, youthful expression. This is a wine that anyone who considers themselves a fan of Barolo must taste at one point in their lives. (97 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Cascina Bruni Barolo Vigna Batistot – The nose was beautiful and quite unique, with spicy, candied tones leading to Bing cherry, celery seed and candle wax. On the palate, it showed velvety textures with dark red fruit and a hint of bitters. The finish was staying with red berry and licorice lingering on the palate. (90 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Prunotto Barolo Cannubi – The nose was dark, and at first reticent; yet as it opened in the glass, a bouquet of red berry, floral perfumes, herbs, minerals and a hint of spice came forward. On the palate, focused red fruits gave way to earth, minerals and stone with a still lively structure. The finish was clean and refreshing with a note of dried cherries. (93 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!

1989 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Riserva – The nose showed red fruit, which was a bit stewy, with mushroom, herbs, tar and parchment. On the palate, dried red berries, spice and fall leaves coated the senses, yet the sense that this wine was holding back edged on my thoughts. The finish showed notes of red fruit and old cedar with a drying structure, which cut it short. (92 points) Find it on Wine-Searcher!


Related Links: 
Words from fellow wine writers and bloggers who attended this tasting. The following links are a great way to get an in-depth understanding of these wines and the vintages.
Greg dal Piaz of Snooth: PIEDMONT’S GREATEST VINTAGE?
Ken Vastola of "The Fine Wine Geek": 1989 Barolo and Barbaresco