Bowled over by '97 Barolos, Nov. 2008

Our November 2008 wine tasting was a very good showing of the 1997 vintage of Barolos with one exception - one bottle of the Fontafredda was corked. Nevertheless, even those who didn't have a corked wine rated the wine at or near the bottom of their favourites. The greatest consistency in ranking was on that wine. Otherwise, the group and even the two guest speakers tended to prefer different wines.

The group as a whole ranked the Marchesi di Barolo Cannubi, Marchesi di Barolo first while both Stramwasser and Phin had the Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia (the most expensive wine in the tasting) as their top pick.


Our club met for the first time at the University of Toronto Faculty Club with our reception wine being served in the comfortable setting of a sitting room. We were treated to a very nice, under $20 / bottle, 2006 Campolietit Ripasso Valpolicella, shown below.



After we tasted our wines, plates of appetizers were served. Our sold-out crowd was educated and entertained by the tag team of Bernard Stramwasser of Le Sommelier Inc. and Jason Phin, Sommelier for Vincor Canada. All in all, it was a really great evening.



Here's how the wines were ranked by the Group, by Stramwasser and by Phin.
Name of Wine (in order poured)

A. 1997 Giovanni Manzone Barolo le Gramolere, Giovanni Manzone.
Group's Ranking 6; Stramwasser's Ranking 3; Phin's Ranking 7

B. 1997 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco, Renato Ratti
Group 4; Stramwasser 8; Phin 5

C. 1997 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto, Cordero di Montezemolo
Group 3; Stramwasser 6; Phin 6

D. 1997 Ca Rome Barolo Vigna Rapet, Ca Rome
Group 7; Stramwasser 5; Phin 3

E. 1997 Giacomo Brezza e Figli Barolo Sarmassa, Giacomo Brezza e Figli
Group 2; Stramwasser 4; Phin 2

F. 1997 Marchesi di Barolo Cannubi, Marchesi di Barolo
Group 1; Stramwasser 2; Phin 4

G. 1997 Fontanafredda Barolo Serralunga, Fontanafredda
Group 8; Stramwasser 7; Phin 8

H. 1997 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia, Aldo Conterno
Group 5; Stramwasser 1; Phin 1.