2015 Barbaresco Cole

Sergio and Martina Minuto told me that the pushed the 2016 harvest back by two weeks because the grapes held on to their acidities longer than originally envisioned. Moccaggatta is one of the Barbaresco estates where the 2016s are marked by both higher ripeness and higher acids than the 2015s, which makes for a fascinating comparison between the two years. The 2016s saw 14-15 months (a bit less for the straight Barbaresco) in French oak prior to being bottled. I also had a chance to revisit the 2015s. Those wines showed pretty much as they did last year. Moccagatta remains a relatively under the radar estate in Barbaresco. The wines consistently deliver the goods and offer terrific quality for the money.

Moccagatta is one of the most consistent and reliable producers in Barbaresco. The Minuto family turns out attractive, supple wines that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Now with some bottle age, the 2014 Barbarescos are just as impressive as they were last year, although the wines have clenched up a bit in bottle. The 2015s are also quite attractive, but they lack the sheer thrill factor of the 2014s. In 2014, the harvest started at the end of September and finished on October 6, whereas in 2015, all the Nebbiolo was picked over just two days at the end of September because yields were down significantly.