2009 Pelissero, Barbera d”Alba DOC “Tulin” Piedmonte, Italy.
I have a huge soft spot for top Barbera and this glorious Pelissero Barbera d’Alba Tulin really sings to me with a siren song, it’s a fantastic wine right now, big and expressive, but with sublime structure and complexity of detail, it’s a Barbera with a Barolo attitude! The Tulin (a local dialect word for tin cup or metalsmith) is a vineyard is plot of land of close to 12 hectares planted to Nebbiolo (in the sub zone denominated San Stefanetto), as well as Barbera and a small part with Dolcetto. The vineyard is a almost an entire hill of its own, with elevation from 250 to 400 meters above sea level and it appears like a natural amphitheater with near perfect south/south-east exposures. And while in the Langhe hills of Alba, set on of sandstone and blue marlstone, it is really close to Barbaresco, and while rich and powerful it has the elegance and refinement of that terroir, and for Barbera it has stylish depth and complexity with cast of flavors that includes pretty blackberry, lingonberry, sweet cherries, plum and blueberry fruits with hints of leather, savory spice, mineral tones, minty wild herbs, cedar and black licorice. Classically crafted with stainless and large casks, the 2009 Tulin Barbera is a beauty and delivers a world class experience and delights in the glass, it shows no signs of age as of yet and should continue to gain with age, though I wouldn’t be able to resist drinking up near term!
($32 Est.) 93+ Points, grapelive
