Renato Ratti and Produttori Tasting

Just got back from a Piedmont tasting. On the pour today were some Piedmont riservas, current releases and futures from Renato Ratti and Produttori del Barbaresco. The Piedmont region is in northwestern Italy near the French border. It is responsible for some of the best wines that Italy, and the world, have to offer. Here are some notable finds from the tasting. You can probably find these at various wine retailers and possibly some more upscale supermarkets. Here are my three:

- Renato Ratti Nebbiolo d'Alba Ochetti 2006:

Showing nice cherries and red fruits with some nice complexity for such a young wine. A nice Italian value at $22

- Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2003:

From a year when no single vineyards were declared. Apparently the conditions didn't quite allow for those riserva wines that you'll here my raving about shortly. So what happened to those vineyards that usually grow the grapes specifically for the riserva bottlings? They went into the general 2003 bottling. This wine gives you a good idea of some of the complexity barbarescos can achieve while not costing $50/bottle. A good show of Italian barbaresco at $26

- Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva 1999:

Ok, now we are getting into the big boys. This wine and the following show what I love about a nice aged Italian barbaresco. The nose is nice and complex and begs you to come in for another sniff. I found sweet tobacco and dark chocolate notes along with nice darker red fruits, notably plum. This is a bit of a splurge at $44 but if you're looking for that classic Italian this gives you a lot of mileage. Just plain ol' good juice.

- Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Moccagatta Riserva 1999:

This wine echoes the Rio Sordo in aromatic qualities. It has those delicious and deep dark chocolate and dark fruit notes. One difference between the two is that I find the Moccagatta to have a bit more elegance and a touch of port-like qualities on the nose, which I loved, being a port lover myself. Another great '99 from Produttori and worth your money at $44.

I'm always thinking of and looking for wines that to me, for the dollar, represent good bang for your buck. Seeing as I may one day move over into restaurant wine work when I taste a wine I think to myself "Would someone pay for this at my restaurant, particularly if they have never had that certain wine?". This is a very important, and subjective, question. I think the above wines (listed above at retail prices...double it for restaurants) would sell. Maybe one day I'll get to find out if my wine instincts are right.