468613 Tue Dec 11 17:59:59 -0800 2007 9 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 3200021 Looking for a really tasty Barolo for UNDER $40 available at LCBO/Vintages (Kingsway location preferably)...just wondering if you have any experience and advice to share! Tue Dec 11 18:00:00 -0800 2007 14906 Food Tourist 1 3200072 you can definitely find some producers for under 40 bones, the thing is most of them will need some cellaring. i find barolo the most intimidating of all the varietals, i never know how to approach them so generally i stay away unless i know the producer quite well or someone is guiding me. ive tried some exceptional ones Poderi Luigi and Paolo Scavino being the standouts and both were 2001 and in the $50-60 range but barolo's definitely get much better with age so if you find some steals i suggest sitting on a few for a while. Tue Dec 11 18:20:35 -0800 2007 3200021 123951 insideman 2 3200217 The least expensive Barolo by FontaFredda at the LCBO for years was not worth the effort to call it a Barolo. You should really talk to some wine consultants and be on top of Vintage releases. Insideman is correct in acquiring Barolo in the price range he suggests, at least $ 50 to $60 ( or even more ) --- problem is the Barolo will taste tremendous but be full of wonderful bitter tannins as he mentions! Unfortunately the best situation is to buy a case, enjoy 1, enjoy another in 6 months or so, another in a year later etc., and watch the wine develop to it's incredible potential, heavenly in all cases!!! Tue Dec 11 19:17:37 -0800 2007 3200072 13563 Jar 1 3200361 More agreement... Fontana Fredda is the least expensive, but not worth it. Really tasty under $40 doesn't exist, at least not here. Sorry. You really are better off spending the extra $20+, and waiting for five years. That's the unlovely truth. Tue Dec 11 20:32:05 -0800 2007 3200021 91415 hungry_pangolin 2 3200874 And more agreement! I tried the FF on a recommentdation from a friend, and you might as well be drinking a $15 Valpolicella. Wed Dec 12 06:24:09 -0800 2007 3200361 12074 bluedog 1 3201636 i agree. spend more! Chow! HL. Wed Dec 12 09:58:18 -0800 2007 3200021 49536 HarryLloyd 1 3201638 A decent Barolo is hard to come by at that price range. Nebbiolo is very hard and expensive to grow, and really only a handful of areas do justice to the grape. For cheaper options, you could look for a Veltellina, which is a Nebbiolo based wine from Lombardy. They're usually not as massive as a Barolo or Barbaresco, but would fit into your price range. You can also look to southern italy for wines based on the Aglianico grape which is both acidic and massively tannic like Nebbiolo. Aglianico del Vulture or Taurasi (called the Barolo of the south) are wine categories that might fit your price range as well. Matt Wed Dec 12 09:58:40 -0800 2007 3200021 68062 Matt416 1 3211744 Let me make this easier for you. Here are the choices I have under $40 at LCBO: Batasiolo Fontanafredda (5 bonus air miles!) These are all found in Vintages section under $40: Elio Filippino La Morra 2001 Silvio Grasso pi vigne 1999 Giacomo Fenocchio bussia 2001 Tenuta Rocca 2001 Andrea Oberto 2001 Fontanafredda Serralunga D'Alba 2001 (I also saw this recommended in Toronto Life I think) Now what's the verdict? The LCBO website has reviews on all of the above. The Silvio Grasso one got a 92 from Wine Spectator. Tenuta Rocca got Best in Class and Silver Medal at some competition. Andrea Oberto got a 91 from someone else. It's actually nice that LCBO tries to include this info in their short blurbs. Sat Dec 15 21:12:54 -0800 2007 3200021 14906 Food Tourist 2 3212058 Vintages only uses ratings that suit their purpose, and they pull them out of context. That said, the Silvio Grasso may be the one, with a good rating and some age. There is only one bottle available, which is also the case for the Andrea Oberto. You would have to call the stores to have one set aside. The Tenuta Rocca is sold out. The others are available and can be sent to your local outlet two weeks after release date. Google each for more information. I note that the Fontanafredda is in my local store (Brock Rd.) and you could call the Vintages consultant, Peter, for a really good opinion. Sun Dec 16 05:06:04 -0800 2007 3211744 56131 jayt90 3 3212546 Thank you for this truly useful information! Sun Dec 16 09:50:13 -0800 2007 3212058 14906 Food Tourist