La Festa del Barolo Gala Dinner at Del
Posto<a target="_blank" href="http://www.delposto.com/">Del Posto Ristorante</a>85
10th AvenueNew
York, NY 10011Tel.
+1 (212) 497-8090&nbsp;The inaugural Festa del Barolo
brought together sixteen reference-point producers for what turned out to be an
amazing day of tasting great Nebbiolo. During the afternoon session each
producer presented a current release Barolo. The focus was on 2007s, but a few
of the growers who are late to bottle showed their 2006s. <img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347225097-FestaSeminar+-+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
The 2007 Barolo Seminar]Questions from the crowd were
abundant during this lively tasting. Several producers were making their first
visit to the US, including Roberto Voerzio and Giuseppe Rinaldi. Aside from the
wines, which showed great, the consensus highlight of the afternoon was the
short speech by Rinaldi. You could hear a pin drop as everyone in the room –
attendees, producers and sommeliers – stopped what they were doing to listen
with rapt attention as Rinaldi shared his approach to life and wine. It was an
unbelievable moment.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347270052-FestaRinaldi+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
Giuseppe Rinaldi]The Gala Dinner featured a
multi-course menu prepared by Mark Ladner, Del Posto’s Executive Chef. A group
of the country’s top sommeliers was on hand to serve the wines. Each producer
brought a magnum of an older vintage to share with guests at their tables.
Reflecting the spirit of Burgundy’s La Paulée, the annual after-harvest lunch
that is the inspiration for La Festa del Barolo, attendees generously brought
bottles from their own cellars to share. A charity auction held during the
dinner featuring rare lots from the estates’ cellars raised $50,000 for the
victims of the Japan earthquake/tsunami. It was a great night all around.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347318993-FestaProducers+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
Federico Cerreto and Luca Currado]La Festa del Barolo 2013Next year we will host the second
edition of La Festa del Barolo in New York. The event will remain small,
intimate and focused on education. Some of the events on the calendar include a
seated tasting with the winemakers, a horizontal tasting featuring the wines of
one of Piedmont’s reference point producers, a Rare Wine Dinner and a Gala
Dinner.&nbsp;The Gala Dinner and WinesExecutive Chef Mark Ladner and his
team did a great job with a menu that melded elements of the classic and modern
schools of Italian cuisine. I am a sucker for great pasta and risotto, and did
not decline seconds of either. The New York strip steak was also delicious and
perfectly cooked. Readers may find it hard to believe, but I only tasted a
small fraction of the many, many great wines that were being passed around. As
I looked around the room I could hardly believe the eye-popping bottles sitting
on some of the tables.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347372668-FestaWines+-+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
Gems from Giacomo Conterno and Vietti]Two great Champagnes to start. What
could be better? The 2002 Pierre Peters
Special Cuvée Les Chetillons was rich, textured and quite generous. I loved
it. The 2002 Dom Pérignon awaited. A
towering Champagne, the 2002 DP impressed for its statuesque personality. This
was a fabulous showing from a Champagne that is well on its way to becoming a
modern-day legend.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347413601-FestaChampagne+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
There is always a place for Champagne at La Festa del Barolo]I was thrilled with the showing
from Bruno Giacosa’s 2000s, as all of the wines came from my cellar. The 2000 Barbaresco Santo Stefano was in a
beautiful place, the tannins just starting to soften, seemingly releasing the
bouquet to find a compelling, exhilarating upper register. I have been fortunate
to taste the Barbaresco Riserva Asili many,
many times since it was released. This was one of the better bottles I have
had. Still fresh, vibrant and wonderfully nuanced, it showed phenomenal balance
and pure sensuality. My guess is that one day Giacosa’s Barbaresco Rabajà will
be viewed as the most successful of his 2000 Barbareschi. I loved the wine’s
structure and power. Endless layers of mineral and balsamic-infused fruit
caressed the palate through to the finish. Wow! I was even more impressed by
the 2000 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del
Falletto, a wine I have often liked but seldom fallen for completely. On
this night, though, it was positively glorious, with tons of nuance and the
finest, silkiest of tannins.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347456760-FestaShin+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
Shin Tseng…how can you go wrong with either of those wines?]The 1982 vintage is one of the
first that turned me on to Barolo so it was great to revisit these two
masterpieces. Giuseppe Mascarello’s 1982
Barolo Monprivato impressed for its length, structure and fabulous overall
balance. Bartolo Mascarello’s 1982
Barolo was a bit sweeter and more perfumed, but still had plenty of
underlying verve. The two 1997s that followed were a huge change of pace. The 1997 Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino
was flawless, as was Gaja’s 1997 Sperss,
but for very different reasons. The wines are made from vineyards that are just
a few hundred yards apart. Monfortino embodies the essence of classicism, while
Sperss represents the spirit of innovation. In 1997 both wines are
extraordinary, as they were again on this night. What a pairing!<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347496445-FestaSomms+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
Festa del Barolo’s talented team of sommeliers]Giacosa’s 1988 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano is a wine famously plagued by
huge amounts of bottle variation, but this was as good an example as I have
ever tasted. The next wine was one of Giacosa’s all-time masterpieces, but a
rare wine few have had the privilege to experience. The 1971 Barolo Riserva Rocche di Castiglione was all silk and cashmere
on the palate. This level of textural finesse and pure sensuality has seldom
been equaled. The 1971 Rocche remains of the greatest Giacosa wines. Sadly, I
have finished the small stash I once had.A three-liter of Paolo Bea’s 1999 Sagrantino di Montefalco
might have appeared out of place, but it wasn’t. Far from it. The wine was
absolutely majestic. Giuseppe Mascarello’s 2001
Barolo Riserva Ca’ d’ Morissio was stupendous. It showed all of the
hallmarks of the Monprivato vineyard with an extra dimension of textural heft.
This was another terrific showing from Mauro Mascarello. Angelo Gaja’s 1985 Barbaresco Sorì
San Lorenzo was truly great, except it was far too young. Don’t ask
me when the 1985 will be ready, I have no idea. But I would be thrilled to own
it, as it was nothing short of fabulous. Once again, Gaja shows that even with
all of the experimenting that he did in the 1980s, the wines never lost their
ability to age. The 1982 Dom Pérignon
Rosé, with its striking bouquet and silky, finessed fruit, was a fitting
end to this amazing night of food and wine.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1378347531532-FestaLidia+Vinous.jpg"> [Above:
Lidia Bastianich]Photos:
Elizabeth Leitzell&nbsp;Food:Chef’s Selection of Passed Assaggi Roasted Winter Vegetables with
Robiola Sformato &amp; Truffled HazelnutsDel Posto Agnolotti del Plin with
Golden Butter Risotto with Vacca Rossa
Parmigiano-Reggiano &amp; Aceto TradizionaleNew York Strip Steak with Young
Arugula &amp; Eggplant Parmigiano Torta Chef’s Selection of Assorted
Artisanal Italian CheesesWine: <table>
 <tbody><tr>
 <td>
 2002
 </td>
 <td>
 Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs
 Cuvée Speciale Les Chetillons
 </td>
 <td>
 95
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2002
 </td>
 <td>
 Dom Pérignon
 </td>
 <td>
 98
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2000
 </td>
 <td>
 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo
 Stefano
 </td>
 <td>
 95
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2000
 </td>
 <td>
 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva
 Asili
 </td>
 <td>
 96
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2000
 </td>
 <td>
 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Rabajà
 </td>
 <td>
 96+
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2000
 </td>
 <td>
 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Le
 Rocche del Falletto
 </td>
 <td>
 96
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1982
 </td>
 <td>
 G. Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
 </td>
 <td>
 97
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1982
 </td>
 <td>
 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
 </td>
 <td>
 96
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1997
 </td>
 <td>
 Giacomo Conterno Barolo
 Monfortino Riserva
 </td>
 <td>
 98
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1997
 </td>
 <td>
 Gaja Sperss
 </td>
 <td>
 98
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1988
 </td>
 <td>
 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Riserva
 Santo Stefano
 </td>
 <td>
 93
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1971
 </td>
 <td>
 &nbsp;Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Rocche di
 Castiglione
 </td>
 <td>
 98
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1999
 </td>
 <td>
 Paolo Bea Sagrantino di
 Montefalco (3L)
 </td>
 <td>
 95
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 2001
 </td>
 <td>
 G. Mascarello Barolo Riserva Ca
 d’ Morissio
 </td>
 <td>
 97+
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1985
 </td>
 <td>
 Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo
 </td>
 <td>
 96
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 1982
 </td>
 <td>
 Dom Pérignon Rosé
 </td>
 <td>
 96
 </td>
 </tr>
</tbody></table>&nbsp;-- Antonio Galloni

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