Pietro Ratti speaks to New York’s Wine Media Guild about Barolo
By Marisa D'Vari | March 5th, 2010 | Category: Barolo, News | No Comments »
Pietro Ratti
Tom Maresca and Charles Scicilone of New York's Wine Media Guild have done the impossible -- they have put together a fantastic tasting of 2005 Barolos with Pietro Ratti, son of the late Renato Ratti and owner of the family winery in La Morra, to come to NY and speak to us.
Overall, the wines were way too young, yet it was a rare treat to be able to compare wines from the different villages and the different producers.
As you probably know, Barolo was known as the "King of Wines and the Wine of Kings" for its muscular power. It is named after the town of Barolo, about nine miles south of Alba from the Nebbiolo grape. Laws specify it must age at least three years (two of them in cask), Riserva must age five years, and the maximum yield is 50 hl/ha.
Barolo is divided into five basic sub-regions, which are divided again by soil type. The town of Barolo and neighboring La Mora have calcareous and Tortonian marl, which are magnesium rich and produce a softer, more elegant and graceful wine. Towns of Monforte d'alba, Castiglione Falletto, and Serralunga d'Alba lie on an older, poorer sandstone, and iron rich marl called Helvetian. They are more powerful, denser, and said to sustain longer aging.
It was interesting to hear Mr. Ratti speak about the appellation, and I could really feel his passion. Now I can't wait to go and meet the producers myself!
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