2009 Fratelli Pecchenino Barolo San Giuseppe
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Tasting notes
The 2009 Barolo San Giuseppe is one of the best wines of the vintage. Freshly cut flowers, mint, tobacco and licorice meld into a core of seriously expressive fruit. The 2009 is a big, big wine but all the elements are in the right place. Sweet herbs, tobacco and anise add lift to the powerful, intense finish. Stylistically, the San Giuseppe is a bit more high-toned than the Le Coste.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Commune of Monforte d’Alba. Just mid ruby with pale orange-tinged rim. Shoe polish, iron and cherry. Understated fruit palate with lots of powdery tannins. Elegant and restrained and more to come. (WS)
The 2009 Barolo San Giuseppe is an elegant and tight wine with mild spice aromas folded within dark fruit, plum, dried cherry, licorice and tar. Those pretty fruit tones are immediately followed by distant touches of cured meat and pipe tobacco. This is a promising effort that could use another few years of aging. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2022. Pecchenino makes some of the most food-friendly wines in Italy today. Specialized in Dolcetto and the other indigenous grapes of Piedmont, I have enjoyed pairing their wines with slices of sharp pecorino cheese, pizza topped with spicy chorizo and grilled sausage packed with fennel seed. The Dolcetto grape in particular is well-suited for cold cuts or foods with a high fat content because its sharp flavors keep the palate clean. Pecchenino also makes two top-shelf expressions of Nebbiolo. Importer: Vias Import; New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200