Maretti Barolo 2019
- 94
- $65
- Drink by: 2024-2036
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Good Barolo, and this is certainly a fine example, is a thing of beauty. This is cracking value as well. From the commune of Castiglione Falletto and a top notch vintage. Fifteen days on skins, the wine spent a year in Allier barriques and then two more in 2,000 litre casks from the same source. This is a stunning vintage in this region and this wine shows exactly that. We have notes of florals, warm earth, hints of cinchona bark and tobacco leaves – think a really good Cohiba. A creamy texture, there is an appealing savouriness here with good balance and focus plus a lingering finish. Good acidity runs the length and good to enjoy over the next ten to twelve years. The recommendation is to match this with mushroom risotto – hard to think of anything more perfect.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
