I had a long grueling day of programming at work and on the way home decided to have some fun. Going down the wine aisle, I was on a quest for the best label. Buying based on the cool label can be dangerous, because there are always wineries that spend too much on the label design and not enough on quality product. But it’s a gamble I was ready for. Picking a favorite label is a very personal decision, some people might go for the cool animal, or a cute font, or whatever grabs their mood at the time. I laid my eyes on these bad-ass army men and knew they were my destiny. It was that kind of day. So I got Renato Ratti’s Ochetti 2014 (Nebbiolo) and Batteglione 2013 (Barbera), both from Italy. Both were on sale too, so bonus!
Side by side comparison: the guy with the smaller hat looks like he would win in a fight. The big hat guy just seems too decorative. I tried the Nebbiolo first because it’s usually a lighter wine. It was a pale ruby wine and thin looking in the glass. The aroma was mostly red fruits, cherry, strawberry, and a hint of oak and spice. It tasted smooth and light from start to finish. You get the fresh cherry with some acid and oak, ending in medium-light tannin. Overall it was crisp and refreshing, a good summer drinking wine.
The Barbera was a little heavier. There was some sediment in the bottle that I ended up decanting out before drinking. The wine was a more intense red, with an aroma of fresh fruit, spice, and some pepper. The first taste is lots of fresh fruit and spice, with some tartness from the acidity. The medium tannin at the end matched the fruit and acid, leading to a well balanced wine. Overall I preferred the Barbera for it’s deeper flavor and complexity.
Nerd Alert: Sediment is ok! Many winemakers choose to bottle the wine unfiltered, meaning some yeast particles, grape skins, or other naturally occurring polymers make it into the bottle. Heavy particles settle to the bottom and are not harmful. Also, as a wine ages in the bottle, phenol and tannin molecules can form complex polymers that settle to the bottom. If particles bother you, you can get rid of them before drinking by either decanting or using a bottle top filter.
Winemaker: Renato Ratti
Wine: Ochetti Nebbiolo
Year: 2014
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Grape: Nebbiolo
Price: $20 ($12 on sale)
Rating: 7/10
Winemaker: Renato Ratti
Wine: Batteglione Barbera
Year: 2013
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Grape: Barbera
Price: $20 ($12 on sale)
Rating: 8/10