As far as I’m concerned, the Il Barone is every bit as good as any wine Pizzini produce. And it costs a lot less than the flagships, so it’s well worth seeking out. It’s a blend of Cabernet, Shiraz, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. I can’t give you the breakdown in terms of percentages but the Cabernet is to the fore on the nose with the Sangiovese and Nebbiolo playing clever supporting roles.
A very dense black red in the glass, the depth of the wine is apparent from the first sniff. Both black and red cherries sit beside blackberries, leather, almonds, orange peel, violets, chocolate, aniseed and char grilled meats. A little eucalypt too. It’s all rather a lot to take in but that just keeps you sticking your nose back in the glass for more.
Taut and muscular in texture and structure, the flavours are woven together in an intricate tapestry. Fruit sweetness builds through to the mid palate before the savoury blitz begins, leaving tobacco leaf, warm spice and a hint of complex bitterness in its wake. The tannins are gorgeously soft and chewy . We had this with Madame Katinka’s Goulash a la Hongroise from Escoffier’s wonderful cooking manual and the match worked wonders. There’s a lot of life left in this baby yet.
Winery Website- http://www.pizzini.com.au/pizzini/