Wine-tasting in Barolo

Left Chamonix in a minibus (with a driver...) at just after 0700, got to Abbona (first producer) about 3 hrs later. Not the most beautiful place - looks like an old warehouse in the town of Dogliani (tho' apparently they're building a new winery up in the hills).

Abbona - charming wines, charming people

Found our way inside and was given a lovely tasting by the thoroughly charming and rather attractive Mara Abbona, the middle of the 3 daughters. Had their Cinerino (Viognier) to start - bit too heavy and alcoholic, then the Langhe Bianco - lovely blend of 70% Arneis (local white grape) and 30% Chardonnay. Great value.

Then onto the reds. Started with the regular Dolcetto - a local grape of Piedmont. I've never really warmed to Dolcetto - find the wines generally lacking in charm. This was no different in my view. Next, the Barbera d'Alba 01 - another grape from Piedmont - which was good.

Lastly onto the Nebbiolo-based wines - an excellent Nebbiolo d'Alba 02 (also great value - like a "poor man's Barolo"), the Faset Barbaresco 99 (good, but not mind-blowing) and the utterly fab Ravera Barolo 98.

Lunch at the Ristorante Belvedere

Then off to lunch at the Belvedere restaurant in La Morra - a bottle of local Pinot Nero 97 fizz to kick off, a couple of bottles of pear-drop-like Arneis with the early courses, a couple of bottles of excellent lighter-style 00 Barolo with the main courses, with grappa and razor-sharp coffees to round it all off.

Roberto Voerzio - ouch, that's not cheap

Eventually onto Roberto Voerzio (another producer) at about 3.30pm, where we were looked after by Davide, Roberto's collaborator. Had a lovely tour of the cellar and a tank tasting of 3x 2001 Barolos - each from different vineyards. Was fascinating to taste the difference between the different plots. Davide then opened us a bottle of a different Barolo from the 2000 vintage, which we tasted (and finished) with him around the tasting table. Was stunning wine, though by this stage, our critical faculties were becoming a little dulled...

Went off to buy some of his wines in the Cantina Comunale afterwards, only to discover that his Barolos sell for €100+ a bottle! Couldn't really stretch to that, so bought a couple of his Nebbiolo d'Albas instead.