WineLovers Discussion Group

1999 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (9/30/2013)
Best bottle so far, and of course last bottle of my small stash of this vintage. It is still a dusty, tannic wine, but there is a good dose of leather, rose petal and earth that combines with the remaining fruit to make a pretty overall impression. The tannins do clamp down on the finish, but with a relatively rich meal it works quite well.

Thankfully I bought larger parcels of this in more recent vintages.

David, I never thought of keeping the entry level PdB that long. Does it age that well?

It tends to age very well. Bear in mind that they also make a Langhe Nebbiolo, so it's not like the Barbaresco "Normale" is an entry level wine.

Speaking of the Produttori del Barbaresco, yesterday I was looking for wines to drink now and someone tried to convince me that the 05 Moccagatta was approachable and showing considerably softer than in previous years.

I was skeptical, but trusting enough to buy a bottle. However somewhere between the shelf and the counter I ended up leaving the bottle in the store. Was that a subconscious good move? Or should I go back to correct my omission?

Rahsaan wrote:Speaking of the Produttori del Barbaresco, yesterday I was looking for wines to drink now and someone tried to convince me that the 05 Moccagatta was approachable and showing considerably softer than in previous years.

I was skeptical, but trusting enough to buy a bottle. However somewhere between the shelf and the counter I ended up leaving the bottle in the store. Was that a subconscious good move? Or should I go back to correct my omission?

It should be a wonderful wine to drink in 2020. I doubt it's ready for tonight.

The '05 were pretty tough and tannic the one time I got to try a group of them. I agree with Jeff.

The '07s are rather welcoming right now. I opened the Rio Sordo last night & really enjoyed it. Just have not gotten to the note writing yet - will do so once I finish off the bottle tonight.

Thanks. Consistent with my intuition!

These wines need time. I drank the 1985 regulare well into this century.

I haven't even looked at my 99 regulare (I have a case of magnums) and probably won't until around 2015, but thanks for the update. Still drinking the 89 and 90 single vineyards and waiting in the 95s.

Not all of us are as old as you Bill.

David M. Bueker wrote:Not all of us are as old as you Bill.

If true, that's WHY you should be holding those wines to enjoy when they really start to sing.!

I have bought a lot more of recent vintages to do just that. I will be drinking them young (to check), old and looking in to assess progress.

Opened my last bottle tonight and got a bit of cooked (raisened) fruit on the palate.
Not my fave.
Best, Jim

Sounds like a cooked bottle. Never gotten cooked/raisined fruit from this wine at any stage.

David M. Bueker wrote:Sounds like a cooked bottle. Never gotten cooked/raisined fruit from this wine at any stage.

That's probably right.
First time I've had that profile from this wine.
Best, Jim

It's been a long time since I bought Produttori, but the 2008's have been plentiful and relatively inexpensive up here and I've been stocking up--the "regulare" as Bill called it runs around $30-33, depending on where you're shopping, and the single vineyards are around $55--prices presume I qualified for a 10% discount. I understand it was a pretty great vintage for them.

Yes. 2008 has a high reputation.

2007 was killer as well. Had to lay some of those down.

Though my tasting experience has shown that 2007 is about the most open vintage for the Produttori in the last 10+ years. I bought a ton, and have sampled the normale, Rabaja, Rio Sordo and Montestefano so far with great enjoyment. I am laying down close to two assorted cases, but having a hard time keeping my hands off due to deliciousness. The '06 normale is now resting peacefully, as are numerous '04s. The '08s I ordered are just starting to arrive.

With trepidation, I brought a 1999 Ovello to dinner at a NYC restaurant last month. I had it decanted for about an hour before drinking, and it was lovely with the signature Barbaresco aromas and tastes. As with all Barbaresco and Barolo, it needed the right food to shine and I enjoyed it with egg yolk ravioli in a truffle butter. I have another bottle that I will try to keep my hands off. A 1996 normale that I drank 5 years ago was gorgeous and young. I wish I had bought more than I did of these 2 vintages.

I did not know enough in the '90s about Nebbiolo/Piemonte. I still have a single bottle of 1996 Produttori Riserva Mocagatta, but that's it.

I have to keep reminding myself - hands off!