Piemonte adventure (4) in Bra, dining at Battaglino and Osteria del Boccondivino
The Piemonte adventure continued during a stay in Bra, with two excellent meals, plus a few other wines tasted.
Barbacàn Rosso 2021 IGT Alpi Retiche, Italy
12.5% alcohol. From Valtellina in Lombardy. Quite spicy on the nose with a touch of volatility, but it’s under control. The palate shows cherries and plums with some sour cherry notes and a touch of damson. There’s a supple character here with some leafiness and a nice savoury twist (a hint of animal shed) but it retains its fruit and massive drinkability. 92/100
Giulia Negri Langhe Nebbiolo Pian Delle Mole 2021 Piemonte, Italy
13.5% alcohol. This is cherry red in colour. It’s fresh and expressive with redcurrant and cherry fruit, showing silky texture and some sappy notes, as well as some spicy, cedary hints. Youthful and fresh, with some crunch and nice sour acidity, and tending to real elegance. 92/100
Battaglino is a superb restaurant, and it was a perfect evening for eating outside on their terrace. Top notch wine list here, and a lovely menu. Everything is done really well. They’ve been serving traditional Piemontese cuisine here since 1919.
Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga 2021 Piemonte, Italy
This is made from Pelaverga piccolo, just grown in Verduno and made by 14 producers. It’s really aromatic with a blast of white pepper and cherry and cranberry fruit. The palate is supple and bright with amazing precision, some delicate herbal notes. Supple, light and digestible with massive drinkability. 94/100
Zidarich Vitovska 2020 Carso, Italy
12.5% alcohol. Floral and aromatic with a hint of raisin, honey, toast and sweet lemon. The palate has beautiful delicacy with a bit of structure, some orange peel, wax and lime, as well as a spicy flourish. So refined and detailed with complexity and drinkability. 95/100
The final restaurant of the trip was Osteria del Boccondivino, which is the Slow Food restaurant. This is a fabulous place. Bad weather meant no eating outside (which is a beautiful setting), but it’s spacious inside and really charming. Loved everything here – possibly the best cooking of the trip? Wine list was pretty good, but others had been a bit sharper.
Cascina Corte Dolcetto Dogliani San Luigi 2021 Piemonte, Italy
13% alcohol. Fresh, dark, juicy and vivid with bright cherry fruit, a touch of Black Forest gateaux and nice acidity. Tart with some sour cherry and damson notes as well as a hint of apple. 91/100
Produttori Barbaresco 2019 Piemonte, Italy
14% alcohol. Sweetly aromatic with cherries, dried herbs, tar and some spice. It’s unfurled on the palate with a sweet fig note as well as herbs, tar and sour cherries. Nice tannins and a touch of sweet and sour. A promising future ahead for this wine, which has a touch of firmness now. 93/100
Piedmont Adventure:
1 Nieve: Cantinetta di Barun and Degusto
2 La Morra: More e Macine, Osteria Veglio and Vineria Sociale
