The UnCorker

2005 Vietti Perbacco-Poor Man’s Barolo

Vietti produces concentrated, age-worthy Barolo in Castiglione-Falletto- with the highly anticipated 2004’s soon to be released, prices will be through the roof. Fortunately there is the Perbacco, 100% Nebbiolo from Barolo vineyards. See, most producers make a couple ‘levels’ of Barolo- their top-end ‘crus’, or riservas with their best grapes, and a ‘normale’ with grapes that don’t make the first selection, either too young, not from the best parts of the vineyard, etc. Vietti doesn’t produce a normale- they use the grapes other producers would call Barolo, and bottle them simply as Langhe DOC- this allows them to sell their Barolo’s for top dollar, and gives us a medium bodied aromatic Nebbiolo that is pure and graceful- aromas of violets and tobacco, tar and a bit of plum, all wrapped around a wine of elegant structure. A bit of grip and good acidity make us feel that this has a few good years in it- decant and enjoy tonight.