WTN: Should one be weary of trying a cheap Barolo?

Apparently not always! I went to my usual Alko to find something nice for a risotto of Chantrelles I was making for dinner. I was thinking of a tangy Barbera but at the shop I was told I would like Giacomo Fenocchio's Barolo 2001 (14%; 23,50€ - not cheap anywhere else but Finland, lol!). At this shop, they know my taste pretty well, so I take their recommendations seriously.

This was the primordial state of today's dinner:


I pictured the primordial state, because I can never make my finished dishes look good. They always look suspicious - I used perhaps a bit too much Barolo in the risotto as it became purple and it looks absolutely hysterical. But the buttery/earthy Chantrelles and the parmigiano really suit the wine well.

The aromatics show good ripeness (no over-ripeness): cherry, tar (ubi roses?) and approachable red toned fruit. The palate has much tannins but they don't make drinking the wine hard work as can be the case with young Barolo - in fact the whole seems rather forward and even advanced for its age. It is a refreshing, bright and fruit forward (in as much as that phrase can be used with Nebbiolo) wine. I think I need to find a few more bottles of this.

-O-

Only if they are bad. New producer for me, I'll have to look for some.

A recently played around of golf on course that was resealing the cart paths that day reminded me how much I dislike that smell. Luckily for me I don't the tar portion of the canonical "tar and rose nose" for Nebs. Usually do get the roses though.

I have had luck with not-too-expensive Barolo on several occasions.

I am currently down to my last bottle of 1995 Ciabot Berton, which I got last year for about $22 and is quite nice.

Will look out for this one Otto. The books have not been moved around too much I see!!!!!