2012 Barolo Sardo Giovanni Winery

A grape is a grape until a winemaker begins messing with it. Italian vintners run the gambit, from whimsical to drop-dead serious wines. This Barolo,from their Nebbiolo grape, is a grabber. It grabs your tongue saying blackberry, and then grabs your palette saying anise. And then, it grabs your feet asking “Vorresti ballare con me?” Be sure to run-away if anyone pairs this Barolo with grilled salmon, chicken or sardines. It goes good with beef tartare. If you smoke cigars, here’s a good “match”. The color is crimson, much like Santa’s cherry cheeks. Then, more tastings give up kiwi fruit, coffee, finishing full oak tannin. Bottling this Barolo with a composition cork is a lack of foresight for cellaring.