TN: Gala Dinner at La Festa del Piemonte

[Ken V]

GALA DINNER AT LA FESTA DEL PIEMONTE - The Pool Restaurant, NYC (4/1/2022)

This was the Friday evening gala dinner at Antonio Galloni's Vinous Media's La Festa del Piemonte 2022.

I sat at the Vietti table with Luca Currado and Elena Penna of the Vietti Winery.

The wines came one after another, so I have grouped them under the courses with which I tasted them. Where I know something about the decanting, I have included it. In most other cases, the wine was decanted just before the dinner or it was brought to the dinner already decanted. I have no way of knowing which.

Photos and more details can be found on my website.

Starter

• 2017 Champagne Christophe Baron Champagne Les Hautes Blanches Vignes Charly-sur-Marne - France, Champagne
  From magnum. Pleasant, elegant. (90 pts.)

First Course: Prosciutto with Mustard Fruits

• 2012 Vietti Barolo Riserva Villero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  From magnum. Brought by Luca & Elena. Powerful primary nose of black and red fruit. Massively tannic with oodles of black fruit and spice. Still very young. A long and glorious future. 95-98 (96 pts.)
• 2001 Vietti Barolo Rocche - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Brought by Luca & Elena. Ethereal nose of plums and blackberries. Rich and expansive. A wow wine with a super long finish. (98 pts.)
• 2011 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Cannubi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Rich, juicy, backward. Not very expressive at this point. Needs time. (91 pts.)

Second Course: Mushroom Risotto

• 1954 Vietti Barolo Riserva - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Brought by me. Double-decanted at 5pm.] Lovely nose of dark red fruits, tar, and mulch. Tart, juicy red fruit in the mouth with a long finish. A joy to share this wine with Luca and Elena since it was made by Luca's grandfather, Mario Vietti. (93 pts.)
• 2010 Vietti Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  From magnum. Brought by Luca & Elena. Still quite young and powerful. Rich and somewhat monolithic at this point. Will benefit from more time in the cellar. (94 pts.)
• 1937 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  No nose. Sour cherries. Long finish. A very good wine, but I can't believe it's really a 1937. Way too young.
• 1978 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Villero di Castiglione Falletto - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Glorious from the get-go. Still opening up. Very long finish of black fruit and spice cake. Classic Giacosa. (95 pts.)

Third Course: Ricotta Tortellini

• 1980 Vietti Barolo Rocche - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Brought by me. Double-decanted at 5pm.] Smokey red fruit nose. Rich and still a bit tannic. Amazing wine for such a weak vintage. Has to be one of the top wines in 1980. (95 pts.)
• 1995 Gaja Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
  From magnum. Big bouquet of red fruit and chocolate. Still young and tannic, but enjoyable now. (94 pts.)
• 2011 Azienda Agricola Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [From magnum. Brought over by Valter Fissore from the next table.] Gorgeous nose of fruit compote and spice. Elegant, complex, long. (95 pts.)
• 1982 Filippo Sobrero & Figli Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Brought by Anny Chen.] Beautiful nose of ripe apples and red berries. A stunning wine in beautiful shape. (94 pts.)

Fourth Course: Filet Mignon Florentine
With Shared Sides: Sesame Spinach, Brussels Sprouts.

• 1974 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Earthy, balanced, complex. Probably at its peak. (93 pts.)
• 1958 Fratelli Barale Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Lovely red fruit nose, but the palate reeks of barrel mold. (55 pts.)
• 1958 Francesco Rinaldi e Figli Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Fragrant nose of dried red fruit and forest floor. Elegant. Medium length. No reason to hold. (92 pts.)

Fifth Course: Robiola Cheese
With Sea Salt Crackers & Gooseberry Jam

• 1998 Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  Brought over by Eric Guido. Lovely nose. Medium length. Nice. (90 pts.)
• 2007 Cappellano Barolo Piè Rupestris Otin Fiorin (Gabutti) - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [From magnum. Brought over by Iggy.] Still quite young, but long and complex with rich berry fruit and tar. Long life ahead. (94 pts.)
• 1978 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Colonnello - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
  [Brought over by Josh Leader.] Beautiful, ripe cherries. Elegant and long. Just a gorgeous wine at its peak. (95 pts.)
• 2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne - France, Champagne
  [Brought over by Hristo Zisovski from Wilson-Daniels who was sitting with Valter Fissore.] Funny way to finish the evening, but I have to say this is a beautiful Champagne. Long, complex, and classy AF. (95 pts.)

Another wonderful evening with great wine, good food, and seeing old friends.

[Todd Tucker]

Thanks for the vicarious enjoyment Ken.

Hope you are well and I look forward to hopefully getting out your way some time soon.

T

[Ken V]

Thanks for the vicarious enjoyment Ken.

Hope you are well and I look forward to hopefully getting out your way some time soon.

T

I didn't go to the morning tasting because I knew you wouldn't be there to fix my back.

[Mark Golodetz]

Nice notes. Will be opening the 1971 and ‘79 Sobrero this weekend; will post notes.

[Ken V]

Nice notes. Will be opening the 1971 and ‘79 Sobrero this weekend; will post notes.

Filippo Sobrero?

[Mark Golodetz]

Yes.

[Mark Golodetz]

There were some extraordinary wines there, but I was not a fan of either Sobrero. Others liked them much more than I did, but they both were far more advanced and that faint expression of maderization is not to my taste. I have had much better bottles of the 1971.

[Mattstolz]

1937 CONTERNO!!


1974 Rinaldi is a wine I hope to taste in my life at some point.

sounds like a wonderful event!