BAROLO (The King of Wines and the Wine for Kings)

Hi everybody this is Agnes from No Sediment and today we are in this misty Italian winemaking region Barolo. So we will talk about Barolo wines and we will taste them. Barolo is often referred as the king of wines so what is it that makes it so special? Barolo is made from Nebbiolo and Nebbiolo is very late ripening grape variety and it is not rare for it to be harvested in November when this area is covered in thick mist. Some even believe that its name has originated from the word nebbia which means fog or mist in Italian. Nebbiolo is quite unique grape variety. It has very high levels of tannins that in youth can sometimes feel astringent or even aggressive but in masterful hands those tannins can be mouth-coding and dare I say even sweet. The acidity of Nebbiolo also tends to be very high and lively so these are few textural elements of Nebbiolo grape variety that initially might scare but it also offers some of the most inviting and complex aroma and flavor profiles. It can show beautiful red cherry rose petal and lilac nuances while with age it usually develops notes of truffle tobacco leaf and licorice. It can be very very captivating. Barolo DOCG is protected winemaking area in Italian region Piemonte. Some considered Barolo to be the greatest expression of Nebbiolo grape variety with only Barbaresco coming close to challenge it. Barbaresco is also protected winemaking area neighboring Barolo dedicated to Nebbiolo grape variety. Barolo is rich and powerful full-bodied red wine with enormous aging capacity. Barolo is always aged in oak however the size of the barrels the origin of the oak and its age is a choice of a winemaker and his or her intended style. Giving their long aging requirements in the cellars for Barolo it's 38 months for Barolo Reserva it's 62 and also considering the limited production area it makes sense that Barolo wines dictate premium prices. Aha there is one more thing I must note. I have told you how rich complex and full-bodied these wines are but I have left its color at the very end. It is because Barolo is one of the greatest examples that show that wine does not need to be deeply colored in order for it to be great. Nebbiolo grape variety is known to be light in color and even in its youth it does not show a lot bluish and purple tones and it gets increasingly brick and orange with age. You might have noticed my emotional attachment to Nebbiolo. It is because it's my favorite red grape variety and despite what others say I truly believe that you can enjoy all of its beauty without food. But due to its high acidity and tannic structure it can be very versatile with It has enough power and tannin to be paired with different steak cuts cooked over open fire but it shows a lot of delicacy so it can also be paired with mushroom risotto topped with white truffles. After all the highly praised white truffles are also sourced from this area. I hope you liked my video. Make sure to watch my other video on super Tuscan wines. Cheers!