Wine | Wine from Barolo: Damilano’s Lecinquevigne

Italians like to say, “Barolo is the king of wine!” and this one puts that right up front.  With its “five vineyards” label, Damilano’s prominent red Barolos and their vineyards go back several generations of family TLC.

In fact, Damilano’s Barolo Lecinquevigne is really one of the best ways to get acquainted with a classy Piedmont favorite (features the Nebbiolo varietal) without dropping 80 bucks.  This is because this Barolo is well into distribution in North America, making it easy to find.

Wines made from Nebbiolo grapes are typically dark, full and elegant, but without the full berry flavors found in domestic big red blends.  But Barolos are a little lighter in texture and color and their ruby hue highlights the red fruit accents within.

Their current 2011 release of the Barolo Lecinquevigne really speaks for the varietal’s elegant side.  With a bouquet of rose (floral), raspberry plus hints of spice, this interesting combination of aromas remains in the glass very consistently.  The body goes a little deeper with cherry, cranberry, and vanilla, finishing with a lingering spice.  Some would call the tannins and acidity “grippy” making it work very well with robust cuisine.

This selection was especially nice with a tomato salad and mozzarella chunks topped with an olive oil/balsamic vinegar combo.  It’s lighter character is also an excellent pair with chicken dishes featuring northern Italian sauces.

You can order it online for about $40 and its price at Total Wine is about $47.  But with consistent ratings in the 90’s it will probably stay in this price range.

Serve after 20 minutes in the fridge (about 65 degrees).  This wine will easily go for 5-10 more years on the rack with the aging potential that Barolos are known for.

Note that many Italian red wines like this one often start on the shelf at 4 plus years of age because of regional barrel aging requirements.  So, they are already well-racked rightat the store!