Piedmont’s Bel Colle winery was founded in the late 70’s and
has grown to be recognized for producing award-winning wines. The winery was purchased by Luca Bosio, from
another Piedmont winemaking family, in
2015. A trained winemaker, Luca
was particularly excited to work with the rare native grape, Pelaverga, as well
as the Barolo and Barbaresco vineyards. The wines of Bel Colle and Luca Bosio were poured at a recent media dinner at Sparks Steak House, where they were paired beautifully with the restaurant's signature prime sirloin steaks.
Some of the highlights of the wines poured included:
Luca Bosio Langhe Arneis 2016 – A floral nose leads to rich
flavors of peaches and lemons with great mouth feel. Arneis is a native white
grape in the Piedmont region and a wonderful alternative white wine for only
$19.99.
Bel Colle Verduno Pelaverga 2015 – This rare grape is only
grown in Piedmont and is enjoyed there chilled as a light-bodied red with a
peppery kick. ($29.99)
Bel Colle Barbaresco Roncaglie 2011 – Fairly light-bodied
with fantastic acid/tannin/fruit balance. This wine showcases the Nebbiolo
fruit with a long fermentation of 24-28 days. Roncaglie is a top Barbaresco
area. ($54.99)
Bel Colle DOCG “Simposio” – We tasted through three vintages
of this traditional Barolo. 2013, noted
as a great vintage, was tight but showed its potential in a fragrant nose of
leather, dried cherries and roses. That
fruit and spice continued on the palate. The 2012 was drinking well, with a
pretty nose of dried roses and potpourri with cherries and a bit of sage. The
2011 was drinking beautifully, very lush midpalate with layered flavors of
dusty flowers, cherries, raspberries and bit of tobacco. ($59.99)
Bel Colle Barolo Monvigliero 2011 – A showstopper single
vineyard wine from one of the best vineyards in Verduno (200-300 feet above sea
level). With average vine age of 50
years old, this one showed sweet cherry fruit, spice, and very long finish.
($74.99)
Bel Colle Barolo Monvigliero 2009 – The same wine with more
development. The dense cherry fruit had softened a bit and now tertiary aromas
and flavors of mushroom, smoke, spice were coming forth. The acid was still present and the tannins still
firm – a great-drinking Barolo nearly ten years old now. ($74.99)
The wines of Bel Colle are made with thoughtful aging in a
mix of new and old French barriques as well as large format Slovenian
casks. Each vineyard and vintage is treated
differently to bring out the best in the harvest. While all the wines were delicious, I
recommend purchasing the 2011 Barolo for immediate consumption and putting the
2013 away.
