2000 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja and 2009 Manzone Barolo Castelletto

The Rabaja was double decanted back into a clean bottle after 3 hours aeration in a decanter.  The Castelletto was slow-o'd for about an hour.

The '00 PdB Rabaja benefits from a lot of air (at least several hours).  Was served a bit too cool at first, but evolved beautifully in the glass over the course of the evening, revealing an inner sweetness that was very nice.  As it opened up, the richness seemed to balance out.  Very tasty balsamic influenced red fruits with elegant hints of tar and chalky minerality. The nose (which was reticent at first) blossomed slowy with subtle florals and lilting spice.  Color shows the age of the wine with tawny shades.  This is in a very satisfying place right now. Maybe not the most complex expression of Rabaja, but lovely this evening.

The 2009 Manzone Barolo Castelletto is a very approachable wine and is actually a bit lighter in body that the 2000 PdB Rabaja. Leaning more toward the raspberry spectrum of fruit with alluring florals as well.  Very enjoyable and reflective of the increase in quality of Barolo in general from 2004 onward. Manzone's wines are always dependable and offer great QPR.

Once again, the dinner at Joe Kindred's eponymously named restaurant in Davidson NC was superb and the service provided by the staff was stellar.  

The charcuterie plate with in-house cured AB Vannoy ham is the closest I have found in the US to Jamon Iberico de Bellota. Truly delicious along with house made soppressata and country pate. 

2nd courses of :
...charred cauliflower in harissa yogurt and sumac
... wagyu beef tartare with horseradish, egg yolk, truffle and anise hyssop
... cripsy oysters with dill yogurt and Calabrian chile oil 
.... house made milk bread, cultured butter and fleur de sel
.... Appalachian trout (crispy skin) with green garlic yogurt, cucumber and neppitela

3rd courses of:
.... Emmer wheat bucatini pork sugo
... Tagliatelle artichoke, creme fraiche , parmigiano reggiano
... Ravioli country ham, fonduta, pea shoots

Dessert course:
... house made buttermilk ice cream and from scratch chocolate chip cookies
.... 1998 Chateau le Graviere Tirecul Cuvee Madame (Monbazillac) http://lestastevinsdulac.blogspot.com/2017/04/1998-chateau-la-graviere-tirecul-cuvee.html?m=1

And a little later on, a 2007 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese to wrap up the evening... This Riesling made me think that this is wine that the Varner Brothers would make if they had holdings in Mosel.  Beautiful tropical fruit and a delightful 8% abv.  Complemented by deliciously rich Yancey's Finger Lakes Champagne Aged Cheddar.