Our Selection for Wine of the Week November 28, 2011
Rizzi 2005 Boito Barbaresco DOCG Piedmont, Italy
Ernesto Dellapiana founded Rizzi in 1974 on his family's eighteenth-century estate.
Growing the company to 90 planted acres, Dellapiana has turned his dream into
one of the largest wine companies in the Barbaresco-growing region. In addition to
producing several Barbarescos, Rizzi produces Chardonnay, Dolcetto,
Barbera, Moscato d'Asti and a late harvest Moscato. In addition, the Dellapiana family
welcomes guests with a bed and breakfast on the winery's historic property. The "Boito"
Barbaresco is made from a selection of the best grapes harvested from Rizzi's Boito
vineyard. It offers a bouquet of roses and wildflowers on the nose with just a hint of red
fruit and spice. Although subtle on the palate, the spice notes carry through to the finish.
A masculine wine with a tight, tannic structure, its acidic red fruit flavors are modest
and evolve to more gamey notes at the back of the palate. The wine would make a nice
choice for wild game dishes like seared venison loin, braised rabbit or pasta with a wild
boar sauce. It would also make a fine accompaniment to aged, Italian cheeses like a high
quality Pecorino or Parmesan.