A good showing for a 1996 Barolo, finally

I was finally able to drag my friend Matt to Bella Mia coal oven pizza the other day. Maybe isn’t on par with the best of New York, but it is damn good. Miles above anything else in NC and will surely be worth a mention of top pizza joints in the country one day.

2009 Do Ferreiro Albariño Rías Baixas Cepas Vellas
OK, not an obvious choice to take to a pizza joint, but Matt wanted to drink it. There is something so saline and savory about this wine that is difficult to describe. Deep and intense and just makes you want to eat a Grand Plateau aux Fruits du Mer. Succelent and bracing at the same time. Profound.

1996 Marcarini Barolo La Serra
This was exciting. A wine that is coming into its drinking window with beautiful tertiary aromas starting to come to the fore as the fruit steps backwards into the mélange. There was a beautiful warmth and leather quality to the palate. The tannins could still resolve a bit, but if you want to start busting into your stash now, you won’t be disappointed. I’ll drink another bottle in 2 or 3 years, but this should be rising towards a plateau that will last for 12 or so.