2009 Barbaresco Martinenga Camp Gros
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Tasting notes
Good bright medium red with a hint of amber at the rim. Profound balsamic notes are perked up by wild herbs and violet on the nose. Silky and very rich; the sweetest and biggest by far of these 2009s and the most reflective of the warm year. Can't quite match the cut of the 2010, but this round wine is nicely framed by underlying minerality. (ST)
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
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The 2009 Barbaresco Camp Gros Martinenga comes from a specific parcel of the Martinenga cru adjacent to Rabaja. The wine opens with depth and textural elegance. But it also shows signs of the 2009 summer heat and ultimately does not live up to the amazing heights reached consistently over the past five vintages. Soft accents of spice and tobacco are enhanced by dried fruit and black currant. With just a few swirls of the glass, the wine switches to aged aromas of worn leather and cured meat. The mouthfeel is generous and vibrant but not at the levels of 2008 or 2007. It is more appropriate for near-term consumption. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020. Very few people can match the energy and enthusiasm of Alberto di Gresy, one of the true gentlemen of Italian wine. Of his various holdings, none is more impressive than the 11-hectare Martinenga cru. It opens like a veritable amphitheater of grapevines with the winery positioned where an imaginary orchestra pit could be. This stunning vineyard is characterized by south-facing exposures and blue marl soils for the production of some of the area’s finest and most elegant wines. If I were to draw a list of the ten most beautiful vineyards in Italy, Martinenga would surely be among them. Importer: Dalla Terra Winery Direct, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405