Giuseppe Cortese, Barbera d'Alba, Morassina

89-90. Nice Barbera. May improve with a little more time in the bottle. Nothing really memorable here but a good wine that doesn’t disappoint

Nice juicy red fruit; some earthy undertones; med+ acidity punches through and makes quenching. Prefer to smoothness of the Burzi Barbera but this was very enjoyable with grilled sausage and roast fennel.

Nose: Amazing right out of the bottle, dusty trail, sweaty funk, oak and old beechwood, sun-dried cherries. Palate: Juicy and very tart cranberry, oak is present but isn't overly assertive; warmingly ripe and bright tannins, very acidic. The nose is really great out of the gate but unfortunately for me its all downhill from there. The palate is good, but borders on too tart and acidic, especially on day two when the tart cranberry and sour cherry really dominate.

This is a solid step up from the basic Barbera and with little difference in price. It’s really quite yummy, with a silky mouth feel, deep flavors with a bit of menthol that runs unobtrusively from nose to finish. Nice spice uplift. Not likely to be long lived, but a great go-to for nearly any tomato dish, from pizza Margherita to a deeply flavored tomato risotto.

Piemonte Visit ... end of summer 2023; 8/23/2023-9/25/2023 (Piemonte Alba area) : Nose is a bit toasted, with reduction, a bit "matured", meaning you can sense the oak influence here, Morassina btw is the only wine at Cortese with the Chard, that undergoes a bit of new oak, barriques aging. Still it is never overwhelming, and the lift is here still, with black berries, a bit wild, gamey, savory nose of dried tomatoes and oak flavors. palates is vibrant, med …

Tasted at Azienda Agricola Cortese Guiseppe at the top of the Rabajà vineyard. Aged in 70% large casks and 30% barriques for 18 months. Labeled 14.5% ABV. This wine is medium crimson in color. The nose has some spice notes and distinct minerality as well as menthol/eucalyptus. The palate shows medium(+) acidity and medium tannin which I assume comes mainly from the oak given the varietal. The wine still seems balanced and energetic with though you can feel the weight …

Return to Piemonte!; 11/25/2021-12/4/2021 (Castello di Sinio, Alba, other various locations) : The longer aged version of the Barbera which spends 2 years in the bottle and 1.5 years in oak and so there is as much love here as there is with the barbaresco if not maybe even a bit more work. From 40 year old vines. This was a tale of two cities - in the front it is kindof nice - kindof a dark red plum and …