Mission Codename: Barolo Cogni-ntion

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an exceptional single vineyard Barolo worthy of our operatives’ tables and cellars

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Reverdito Michele

Wine Subject: 2001 Barolo Bricci Congi DOCG

Winemaker: Michele Reverdito

Backgrounder:

The greatest of all Italian wines are arguably made with from the Nebbiolo grape. Barolo, from the Piedmont made this grape famous, and for good reason. Most people don’t give Barolos enough time and drink them young, but those patient enough to wait at least 7 – 8 years, and often as much as 20 plus years are handsomely rewarded with a wine that is the ultimate expression of the grape. The most prized bottlings of Barolo are those from an exceptional single vineyard.

2001 was an exceptional vintage rated 97 points by Wine Enthusiast in the Piedmont and these wines are just now really hitting their peak.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark purple with brownish hues and brick edges and a super dark core of moderate clarity. Long slender legs creep down the side of the glass when swirled.

Smell – This wine boasts a profound nose of zesty Italian tar, and cedar with floral hints on top of its fruit components of cranberry, blackberry. Highly complex, aromas of herbaceous fresh anise and tobacco reveals themselves as the wine opens up.

Feel – Full-bodied, bold and dry, with firm tannins (softens as it breathes) leading to a cream quality that balances this wines acidity.

Taste – Solid fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry layered on toasted cedar, a touch of licorice and mild pepper, and even better, this wine has that zest that we love so much.

Finish – This wine finishes exceptionally well with long lingering flavors of its cherries and blackberries, zesty Italian tar and toast.

Conclusion – This single vineyard Barolo is powerful and bold but also extremely elegant with tremendous finesse. Maybe this sounds strange, but this wine has a Yin-Yang quality about it. It doesn’t compromise on any of its components and is truly an exceptional example of why Barolo is perhaps the king of all Italian wines.

Mission Report:

After last week’s dangerous mission I needed to get back on a firm footing, plus we still hadn’t located Agent Baco Noir. We had lost contact with her in Tuscany, but my gut told me to head back to the Piedmont to pick up her trail.

And why not, anyone who follows our missions knows her (and mine also) love for the wines of Northwest Italy. In particular, Barolo, which is, in my humble opinion, in my top three of all Italian wine styles (before you jump all over me, the others are Amarone della Valpolicella and Brunello di Montalcino).

Unfortunately, may of the greatest of these wines are either inaccessible or drunk too young. I’m as impatient as the next wino, but if you can wait, you’ll be handsomely rewarded.

I made my way to Alba, an old medieval town, south of Torino, made famous for its White Truffle Festival, held each October, and of course Rocher Ferrero chocolate! I always love exploring the back roads in Italian villages. I stumbled into a small cafe/wine bar in the Piazza del Duomo, initially planning to simply enjoy a coffee, but to my surprise, at an adjacent table, was the young and dynamic Michele Reverdito, owner and winemaker of Azienda Agricola Reverdito Michele.

I immediately recognized him since we have featured one of his exceptional Barbarescos earlier in the year. Michele invited me to his table, and asked if I would like a glass of wine.

“Coffee is fine for now, its been a long day travelling”, I responded.

“Are you sure?, I have a bottle of my 2001 Barolo Bricci Cogni, I think you should try it…”

“In that case, why not!”, I responded, thinking to myself, who? in their right mind, would decline a taste of a single vineyard Barolo, especially from such an exceptional winemaker?

The look on my face must have been a total give away, I was immediately transported. There is just something about enjoying a great wine, with great food, in a great little Italian piazza, its just quite simply heaven. In a word, this wine is magnificent!

I guess my search for Baco would just have to wait…

Top Secret Message to Agent Baco Noir:

OPS SEEKING CONTACT WITH YOU… NEEDS TASTING NOTES ON YOUR WINERIES UNDER SURVEILLANCE… CONTACT WHITE POST HASTE

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the approximate location of Reverdito Michele’s Bricco Cogni vineyard can be seen in this satellite photo.