Barolo thoughts

Last night downtown my fave wine store put on a 3 B`s of Piedmont tasting.Included were>>>

2013 Ceretto Barolo.
2011 Conterno-Fantino Barolo Mosconi.
2013 Guiseppe Mascarello Barolo Monprivato.

While I have no expertise in this style of wine, I was surprised how drinkable they were at this early age. The Mosconi was voted WOTN by many attending.

[David M. Bueker]

Yep - the wines open up a lot sooner than they used to.

Back in the 1980s one wine merchant quipped that nobody has ever bought Barolo and lived long enough to taste it when it is fully mature.

-Paul W.

Yep - the wines open up a lot sooner than they used to.

The same is true of most, if not all, of the famous European regions. Since the turn of the century, I don't think there have been any vintages in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Piedmont, Tuscany and Rioja, in which grands vins have proved tannic and unyielding for well over 15 years as were 1945 and 1986 in Bordeaux, for example. Of course, there are many producers who spoil IMO their wines for young drinking by heavy handed oaking but many people like that. Hopefully this faster maturing doesn't mean that the wines will no longer be capable of ageing gracefully for many decades!?

How far is this due to climate change or to better husbandry in the vineyards and to modern techniques in the wine making cellars and in élevage?

Part of this is perhap intentional. As mentioned, Barolo had a rep for taking a long time to come around. People today generally lack patience - hence the sales of vintage Port not being far more than it is.

Sometimes it goes the other way. Dolcetto used to be a really pleasant wine for drinking in youth - until some of the makers decided to go for a bigger long lived style. I see that as unfortunate.