I'm not generally a fan of 'comparing' wines. Wine is meant to stand on its own or with a meal - that's where the enjoyment comes from. Comparative tastings should only really be held for educational purposes. That said, this was a fun and illuminating way to spend the afternoon.
Ruby with hints of that Nebbiolo rust - nice brilliance.
Intense cherry on the nose with a hint of tar, sage and wet stone. Perhaps a little green peppercorn.
Proper Nebbiolo on the palate - brilliantly rustic grip, bracing acidity, bunches of crunchy, soured cherries and that fantastic wet asphalt texture. Pebbles and purity with great balance. Bravo.
****
Fontanafredda Serralunga d'Alba Barolo 2004
Burnt ruby, nice depth.
Nose is smoky with flecks of black pepper, cherries and cranberries and a little whiff of bell pepper.
Bursting fruit on the palate - rich, toothsome and rambunctious. This is juicy stuff, again with incredible acidity and great texture. It's a bigger wine, but perhaps a wee bit lacking in the precision of the Bonny Doon. It makes up for it with exuberance.
***(*?)
Tasted 15/1/10 at Luvians Bottleshop
I think they're both brilliant wines but at the moment the Bonny Doon is showing better. Oddly, I prefer it because it strikes me as a great deal more 'old world' than the Barolo. Who'd have thought?
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