I’ve never been one for Dryanuary (nor for its recently adopted name either). For those that that enjoy taking part then good for you, but for the others that constantly whinge about it then I have these words of advice – Don’t do it, just drink less all year round. You’ll find this much more pleasurable than climbing the walls for the first 31 days of the year then binging out on February 1st.
Anyway, there was I on New Year’s Day, feeling quite fresh after a very tame Hogmanay, when I stumbled across a bottle of 2004 Poderi Colla Barolo that had yet to be cracked open. I was briefly reminded of Captain Haddock in The Red Sea Sharks where his inner Angel and Devil are above his head giving opposing advice on a bottle of whisky in his cabin but luckily this bottle had a different fate (The Captain’s rolled off the table and smashed just as he gave in to the Devil’s advice). I decided to take a similar route to Tintin’s companion and the imminent arrival of a late lunch of saucisson and cheese definitely had some influence in this. And what a treat it was – fully mature with baked and spicy dark cherry fruit with hints of leather and tobacco. A glass and a half went perfectly with the food and not a pang of guilt!
Barolo is Piemonte’s (and arguably Italy’s) most famous red wine. It is made from 100% Nebbiolo grape and the very finest benefit at least 10 years aging. However, there are a number of good producers that make wine that need less time but still maintain an excellent level of complexity – Poderi Colla is one of these producers. A few bottles of the 2004 remain in the cellar but I recommend customers take a box of the outstanding 2010 vintage. This is a brilliant wine that is just starting to mature but will continue to improve over the next 5+ years. Drink a bottle a year until 2020 and see how it evolves.
2010 Barolo Bussia, Dardi le Rose, Poderi Colla £28 per bottle from Wren Wine, Kent’s local Wine Merchant. Free delivery to Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Faversham.
Delicious mature Barolo with splendid NYD lunch. Naughty but nice…
