Do yall like Barolo or Amarone better?

Do yall like Barolo or Amarone better?

Why do we have to choose? Can't I have both?

A difficult question to answer...something akin to asking whether one prefers grapefruit or pineapple. Two enormously different wines, the Barolo coming from Piedmont, Amarone from Veneto, each made in different methods and from different grapes and each having its unique personality.

If speaking of traditional wines, I would have to say my preference would be for Barolo with foods such as large cuts of beef and game meats, Amarone as a contemplation wine either on its own or with nothing more than walnuts and cheese.

Best
Rogov

Where did you come up with this comparison?

No comparison. It's Barolo every time. I've yet to have an Amarone which makes me understand what the fuss is about.

No comparison. It's Barolo every time. I've yet to have an Amarone which makes me understand what the fuss is about.

Ditto!

I focus on French wines and German Rieslings. I do buy my share of Piedmonts but its a meager one, about 3-5 bottles a year, so they never made a big splash in fridge. I sure appreciate them but when I read over my notes, it seems that whenever my friends and I bring out the big guns, the red wines that I wind up being the fondest of are the Bordeaux, the Bourgognes, the Rhones. I guess I'm slowly admitting to being a closet Piedmont-Blind.

Veneto is a dried up river for me (I honestly didn't notice the pun until I re-read my post for typos). I never bought a lot of Amarones and its cousins in the first place, probably less than 10 bottles over the last 7 years and I drank the last bottle 2-3 years. No plans to make further purchases. The lesson Veneto has taught me is to be suspicious of any wine-making region that has based its reputation on dried grapes.

[David M. Bueker]

Barolo - hands down.

Speaking to the point that both Rogov and Rahsaan were making...why are these two even placed in conjunction with each other?

Went out to dinner this week and had a lovely Marziano Abbona Barolo La Pieve 2005. Spendid, splendid wine.

Even had one been available on the list I would never, ever had said...."Hmmm. Perhaps I should have the Amarone instead of the Barolo? Wonder which one would be better?" The thought would have never crossed my mind.

And Chaim? Why in the world would you cross the Veneto off your list based on not being particularly fond of Amarone and other dried-grape wines. I can assure you the Veneto does many, many other wines, with most of them not having to rely on dried grapes. There's a wealth of wines in the Veneto...widely varying wines too...that you're missing out on.

I'm trying to dream up an Italian that would be a better comparison . . . . Primitivo maybe?

Closest might be to put a Recioto della Valpolicella up against a Port.

And Chaim? Why in the world would you cross the Veneto off your list based on not being particularly fond of Amarone and other dried-grape wines. I can assure you the Veneto does many, many other wines, with most of them not having to rely on dried grapes. There's a wealth of wines in the Veneto...widely varying wines too...that you're missing out on.

Hoke,

That was a little bit of humor. I just drifted away from Veneto when I stopped caring for Amarone and the like.

Maybe a better comparison would be Barolo vs Barbaresco?

Barolo a hundred to one. Amarone is tough to match with food; Barolo is far more versatile.

I enjoy both Barolo and Amarone, and find it difficult to pick a favorite. It might be easier for me to pick Barolo because I have definitely had a lot more Barolos than Amarones, and because they are much easier to match with food. Then again, I would be just as thrilled to have the chance to try a Quintarelli Amarone as I would to taste a Giacosa Faletto Red Label or a Giacomo Conterno Monfortino.

I would've pegged the Sausage King of Chicago as a Barolo man. So which is it, Abe?

Cheers,
Bill

Do yall like Barolo or Amarone better?

I like them both, and for very different reasons, to be enjoyed under different circumstances. Why do I have to choose between them?

-Paul W.

Not 2 things I generally compare, but I'd be sad if I couldn't have either. That said, I currently own zero Amarone and 50 Baroli, and find the latter more food versatile, so I'd guess I'd have to say I like Barolo better.

I've had Amarone wines that were absolutely wonderful. Big, deep, interesting wines that were excellent. But the few really top-notch Barolos (Baroli?) I've had were in a class by themselves. Beautiful, elegant wines that skipped across the tongue yet still had the umph to stand up to a solid meal.

So assuming we're talking about the best each class has to offer, I'll take Barolo.