2008 Giuseppe Nada, Barbaresco Riserva “Casot” DOCG, Piedmonte, Italy.
This absolutely gorgeous, head turning Nebbiolo from Enrico Nada is succulent, detailed, silky and wonderfully sexy, one of the best Barbarescos from the vintage I have tasted to date and drinking fabulous already, this Nada 2008 Barbaresco Casot Riserva is the real deal. Nada’s Barbaresco plots are very near the famed Gaja Crus and while not as intense as those fabled “Sori” sites, this wine shows the terroir and quality with a true feline nature and delicacy that can only be delivered by a top Barbaresco. (Barolo is known as the King of Wines, while Barbaresco is the Queen, and Barbrasco is a much small area than Barolo, making the Queen wines that much more rare) As a huge fan of Nebbiolo, and of Asti, I adore Barbaresco, with La Spinetta, Giacosa and Gaja being wines that made a monumental impact on me, and this Nada has that same kind of glorious emotional affect, this is sublime wine with class, grace and stylish flare. The 2008 Nada Casot starts with light herbs, dried violets, rose water and basaltic dipped strawberries leading to a mineral laced palate with damson plum, kirsch, raspberry, minty/basil, black licorice, lavender tea, creamy cherry and fine woody cedar detail. The tannins hold firm, but are very supple in the mouth, there is a saline and dusty stones note along with the slightest hint of truffle, game and savory spice, making for positive background elements. Everything lifts and highlights the pretty core being of this fine Barbaresco and the lingering fruit, perfume and texture lay bare it’s magic. This is a medium weighted, none too dark, transparent Nebbiolo that will surely capture your attention if not your heart, it should age gracefully for another decade, even though it is quite alluring at present, best from 2016 to 2019. The Nada wines are well crafted and all worth a look at, the normal 2009 Barbaresco is a top value, the Barbera too, but this Casot Riserva is especially fantastic and fetching, tasted twice with very much the same thoughts.
($50 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive