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Candela Prol, highly experienced certified wine educator and friend of the shop, is available for tastings and training for private and corporate events. For rates and other inquiries, please contact her at candelaprol@gmail.com .
*Offsite events are contracted to and coordinated by a 3rd party, and are in no way affiliated with Chambers Street Wines.
We are looking forward, in the near future, to an offer of historic vintages from Barale; we won’t go all the way back to their first bottling of Barolo in 1870, but we will have a good range of vintages. The older wines are very fine, and thus far I think they’re under-appreciated. In the meantime we have just received new releases. The Barolo 2015 is excellent. I am super happy with the Barolo Castellero 2014. I especially want to draw your attention to the Barbaresco Serraboella 2016, flat-out the best I’ve tasted, and an outstanding example of this wonderful vintage in Barbaresco. Jamie Wolff
2014 was a challenging vintage in the Langhe, with hailstorms, rain and a relatively cool summer leading to uneven ripening and variable quality. Fortunately for us, the high standards that we are used to from our friends are Barale didn't drop, and while the 2014 Barolos aren't as concentrated or deep as the 2013s or 2010s, they offer a lot of pleasure to those inclined to drink their nebbiolo younger. The normale bottling comes from the vineyards of Castellero, Preda, and Monrobiolo, and shows classic notes of dried cherry, dried rose, earth, and warm spice, lifted by good acidity. A great option while you wait for other Barolo in your cellar to mature. Oskar Kostecki
Castellero is located in the village of Barolo, between the more famous vineyards of Bussia and Cannubi. This steep slope is composed of well-draining calcareous marl which are perfectly suited to Nebbiolo. This site is planted to the historic Michet, Rosè and Lampia clones of Nebbiolo, and propagated by massale selection. The Castellero is deeper and shows more concentration than the normale bottling, with notes of cherry, red forest fruit, dried spices, herbs, floral notes of rose and violet, sweet spice, and undergrowth. Pair with roasted red meat or game, or cellar for a few decades. Oskar Kostecki
The Barale Barolo is a blend of fruit from 3 vineyards (all in the town of Barolo): Castellero, Monrobiolo di Bussia, and Preda. The 2015 has good depth and extract, but it seems completely effortless in it’s elegance – this is wine that feels like it just exists – it hasn’t been forced in any aspect. In April it was aromatically seductive, with lovely orange peel and eucalyptus, silky tannin, and a long, expansive finish. Jamie Wolff
Barale 2016 Barbaresco Serraboella
This beautiful Barbaresco comes from 40 to 50 year old vines planted in Serraboella, the most elevated point on the highest hill of Neive, with quite extreme diurnal shifts in temperature leading to an elegant and lifted style of Nebbiolo. The nose opens with notes of soft spice, sandalwood, dried roses, violets, and macerated cherry. The palate is rich, yet taut, showing beautiful flavors of dried cherry, forest fruit, dried orange peel, more spice and sandalwood. The tannins are present but well integrated, and this wine has acidity for days. What struck me the most upon tasting at the cantina was the intensity of flavor and complexity that builds to a beautiful crescendo and an incredibly long finish. Drinking well now with a long decant, this will only improve in your cellar. A fantastic value. Oskar Kostecki
Barale 2017 Dolcetto d'Alba Le Rose
Barale's Dolcetto d'Alba is a very charming wine, with pretty violet floral tones and soft red/black fruit (plum, wild raspberry, redcurrants). The vines grow on calcareous marl soils in Monforte d'Alba at 450 meters above sea level, and while this wine is very easy-drinking, it is by no means simple, with great acidity and medium, very well integrated tannins giving it a pleasing structure. This would be a perfect addition to any summer barbecue or cookout. Oskar Kostecki
Checking in on 2017. Cherry, violets, roses, and rust (iron) on the nose. It doesn't offer quite the density of 2016, but shows plenty of energy and brio on the palate—raspberry, sour cherry, a touch of iodine earthiness keepsthings upright. Ripe tannins and fresh acidity lend lift and brightness. A fine pairing with polenta with sautéed porcini and pretty cracking with roasted squash and sage. Barale may be one of our most consistent Langhe growers, offering excellent value every year. John McIlwain