Piedmont versus Tuscany tutored tasting

Thursday 7 October 2010
7-9pm
Bishopsgate shop
Tutored by Colin Wills
Seated, canapés
£95 per person inc VAT SOLD OUT

It's Barolo week at Uncorked and to get it going with a bang you are invited to a superb tasting highlighting the best of Piedmont. For an added twist, and because customers often ask for Barolo or Brunello as if the two were interchangeable, we're contrasting the wines with the best of Tuscany by pairing one wine from each region in each of six of the best vintages from a little over the last decade. And in recognition of the fact that Tuscany isn't just about Sangiovese (or its various clones) the line-up also features two of its seminal Cabernets and one of its Merlots. The two provinces are miles apart in culture and cuisine as well as geography but both have distinctive terroirs and the vines to best exploit them.

It is within living memory that much Barolo was given away free with the purchase of Barbera. Now much of it is the equal of grand cru Burgundy - indeed, Nebbiolo is often compared to Pinot Noir. It is one of the most fascinating grapes: aromatic, structured, ageworthy and complex. This week we will be offering you the acclaimed 2006 or 2007 vintage wines of four Piedmont masters - one a day starting tomorrow. Whether you are a Barolo neophyte or a lover of the wines this is going to be a fantastic week.

We have nearly ninety Italian wines in the Bishopsgate shop alone, so it is easy to see how significant the country has become to our range. The provinces of Piedmont and Tuscany dominate here as in Italy itself, their wealth and post-war reforms combining to accelerate their wines into the quality stratosphere. So do come and see how these wines compare, contrast, and develop over a few years. /CW

Tentative line-up

2007
Giuseppe Mascarello Langhe Nebbiolo vs Roccapesta Morellino di Scansano

2006
Roberto Voerzio Barolo Cerequio vs Castello di Ama L`Apparita

2004
Giuseppe Mascarello Barolo Monprivato vs La Fiorita Brunello

2001
Domenico Clerico Barolo Mentin Ginestra vs Lisini Brunello

1999
Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc vs Sassicaia

1997
Gaja Conteisa vs Solaia

RSVP