2008 vintage

JoostB · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:04 am Post subject: 2008 vintage

Dear Andrea,

Very nice to see you back on the Forum...

2008 has been a very special year for me, as it is my sons birthyear. It seems 2008 has been quite good in Piemonte, so this will absolutely be a candidate for birthwine...

What can you tell about the quality of 2008 at this stage? And is it potentially a good year for cellaring?

Santé,
Joost

Andrea Sottimano · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

Ciao Joost,

how are you?And compliments for your baby!

Yes, you're perfectly right, 2008 would be a great vintage if you want wines that will age well.
that's because the Cycle of vegetation of the vines was quite longer than normal, imagine for example that in 2005 or 2007 we harvested the Nebbiolo at the begin of October, while in 2008 we finish to harvest it on 25 October!!
It was a slow, a bit delayed ripeness, that brought a great structure, color and tannins to the wines, but, and that's why is great, also a great minerality and elegance.You see, when you refer to Barbaresco or Barolo, the most important word is "balance": when you have it, you a have a very good vintage!

As I'm a newly father too, I will reserve for you a magnum of Barbaresco 2008 for your children, what's the name?

Ciao, Andrea

JoostB · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

Hi Andrea,

Congratulations with your fathership!

With me everything is going great, as a father that's directly related to how it's going with the child of course. And my son (called 'Abel') is doing really good as well. It starts to be more and more fun every week...

Thank you very much for the reservation of the Magnum. I am really honoured and when it is ready I will with all pleasure come over to Neive to pick it up (and buy some more). There should be an Piemonte-holiday anyway in one of the next years so this will be a good reason to plan it... That will be spring/summer 2011?

Santé,
Joost

Andrea Sottimano · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

Dear Joost,

yes summer 2011 will be perfect!

Or 2013 if I will produce a Barbaresco Riserva 2008 Wink

....

Ciao, Andrea

JoostB · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:59 am Post subject:

Dear Andrea,

I won't bother coming twice to Piemonte... Wink

At what moment do you decide to make a Riserva 2008? And what are the triggers for that?

Is making a Riserva just a decision to wait a year longer with bottling? Or are there more changes to the process?

Santé,
Joost

Guest · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject:

Dear Joost,
we will decide next year if we will release a Riserva in 2008.

Every year, in fact, we vinificate apart the oldest vines of Cotta' and Pajore' separated, longer macerations, longer permanence sur lie, very long malolactical, then we taste it, and if we see that the results are what we wanted, as in 2004, we release it.

....I will keep you informed, as you have some special interests in this vintage! Wink

Ciao, Andrea