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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.8 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 49 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by ttchan2024 on 3/19/2024 & rated 90 points: Drank together with 2014 Clerico Aeroplan Servaj.
Double decanted for 4+ hours.
Brought into and served in a restaurant.
Elegant, but not as good as expected. Overshadowed by the Clerico.
Have another bottle left, would try to bottle decant and give it more time instead of double decant. (188 views) | | | Tasted by Al Ehrhardt on 2/25/2023: A very good bottle. Decanted and really opened up with air. Still youthful. No rush if you care to hold, but really good now. (1122 views) | | | Tasted by JWG on 5/8/2022 & rated 97 points: Really needs a minimum of a couple of hours of breathing. My notes from 2020 are perfectly applicable to this bottle as well. A great experience. (1683 views) | | | Tasted by ciaovito on 10/28/2021 & rated 93 points: PnP at a steakhouse... muted upon open but gained complexity and color with an hour of air. We concluded the wine firmed up a bit and the tannins became more apparent after an hour and a half. Could be the vintage and possibly picked early because of the heat but just guessing here. Very elegant for a 2000 Barolo with beautiful fruit and all the right stuff in place. Drink or hold (2033 views) | | | Tasted by phgnan on 5/2/2021 & rated 96 points: Incredible wine. Left to ox in the bottle for a couple of hours. Burnished red color with brown shades.
Particular consistency, almost dense in the mouth.
Incredible nose and mouth. Black fruit and blackberries, licorice, a particular spicy background, after a couple of glasses a hint of mint also appeared. Tannin still present and perfectly balanced with the acid notes. Intense and incredibly prolonged finish. Unfortunate to have had only one bottle available. (2686 views) | | | Tasted by JWG on 5/3/2020 & rated 98 points: This is a killer barolo. This is the reason one has a cellar! To buy something 15 years ago, that was bottled twenty years ago and put it down and let it work its magic. The nose is huge but subtle. Subtle because the elements are intertwined and balanced consisting of a bit of tar, significant floral notes, an earthy tone, red meat, and a mineral background. The palate is rounded and rich but with an excitement on the tongue that almost feels like it has a bit of sparkle to it. It is meaty, minerally, leathery, with a side hit of blueberry. Early in the taste is a hint of tannic backbone that just grows as the seconds tick by and becomes dominant as the other flavors slide away. This wine has a lot of legs, with no sense of time passing --- so will likely be as fabulous 20 more years from now. But drinking it now is a great thing as well. (3375 views) | | | Tasted by Bob H on 12/7/2019: I haven't tried this in a while, and it has always been a vintage that stood in the shadows of '99 and '01 - and once again, this isn't bad, but not as focused on the palate as the other two wines (and also behind the '98 as well, IMO). (2989 views) | | | Tasted by NostraBacchus on 11/9/2019 & rated 93 points: Open and radiant for Francia, with notes of sweet red berries, also some dark red fruit, menthol, some crushed rose petals, dried fruit, as well as some licorice and cedar wood. It‘s medium full-bodied, with medium acidity and medium tannin that is ripe but still there. Long finish. A remarkable success for this overestimated Barolo vintage. It doesn‘t show the regular level of austerity, the warmer vintage comes throught, but there is plenty of complexity and deliciousness. (3298 views) | | | Tasted by Louvin on 2/12/2019: About 3 hrs. slo ox, a rather larger richer Barolo, a product of the vintage. Rather unrefined tannin to me. (2880 views) | | | Tasted by aagrawal on 12/17/2018 & rated 91 points: Dinner with the wine group (Aicha, San Francisco): Deep red to black fruit, slight spice, youthful, dense; palate is light-medium bodied, more black fruit, high youthful tannins, high acid; medium to medium-plus finish. A bit richer than the others. The 1998 wins it for me. 91-92 (3139 views) | | | Tasted by JWG on 10/25/2018 & rated 95 points: Very nice development. Roasted herbs, muted roses, dark nebbiolo fruit on the nose. Palate is mellow and integrated with a earth and dark fruit with a bright bit of acid in the mid-palate. Modest tannins kick in at end. Delicious barolo. (2267 views) | | | Tasted by Eric Guido on 12/13/2017 & rated 92 points: Having never been a big fan of the vintage, the 2000 Giacomo Conterno shows some of its telltale drawbacks, yet it manages to be incredibly enjoyable all the same. Here I found a rich, dark bouquet with crushed cherry, brown spices and dried flowers, yet the wine lacked momentum. On the palate, it displayed silky textures contrasted by intense tart red fruits, inner spice and sweet tannins. The finish was saturating with red fruits, yet it was soft and only medium in length. (3427 views) | | | Tasted by JWG on 6/25/2017 & rated 94 points: It seems to have recovered some from the closed down bottle last year, but still not back up at the level it was 4 years ago. Same wine, same qualities, just not as "out there" as the 2013 bottle we drank, but definitely closer to top level than last year. (3792 views) | | | Tasted by AJ72 on 12/4/2016 & rated 95 points: Awesome and in a great spot right now. Classic tar and roses in the best possible sense. Captures the essence of Barolo perfectly. (2462 views) | | | Tasted by Nanda on 11/18/2016 & rated 92 points: Neb-fest: Nebbiolo & Truffle Dinner (Chicago, IL): Very showy and upfront already. Mature red cherry, earth and leather aromas. Generous, richly fruited palate with medium acids and grippy tannin. In a very good spot now though it should hold. (4424 views) | | | Tasted by Bob H on 9/10/2016: A taste before dinner later today; similar in color to the 2001. The nose is a little diffuse, but pleasant enough and showing no signs of over-ripeness on opening.
Much less taut/focused than the '01 - sweet & sour red fruits. Not bad at all. (3618 views) | | | Tasted by drwine2001 on 4/24/2016: Even ruby without any visual signs of maturity. Wow, a head spinning nose of intense red fruits, tobacco, and mint. Medium weight but powerful impression of sweet but subtle cherries, clay, and anise. The fruit absolutely shines in this wine. Neither high acidity nor tannins that are that prominent now, yet the depth of fruit promises to carry this wine forward for at least another 15 years. Its beautiful complexity left a perfectly fine 2011 Cigliutti Barbaresco in the dust. (4452 views) | | | Tasted by Tad GW on 1/12/2016 & rated 94 points: 50+5+12+18+9=94 (4159 views) | | | Tasted by JWG on 1/3/2016 & rated 91 points: This bottle went thoroughly dumb on me. Must have closed down for a while. Wine is excellent and delicious, no signs of any problems--just that it's not GIVING. All the flavors and smells were muted compared to my 96 rating two years ago. So, will have to see what happens on the next bottle. (3655 views) | | | Tasted by capacious on 11/21/2015 & rated 92 points: Gave this a four hour decant, started the evening celebrating 44 years married. Could take a side line here on how wine and marriage resonate- ideally complex, lengthy, evolving, does the structure integrate with the fruit? Anyhow, this is a marvelous Barolo. I think Italy's different grapes are more expressive of their uniqueness and terroir than almost any other. One is likely not mistaking this wine once experienced. Mushroom, tar, berry, nice path between being dark and deep at the core, while acknowledging lighter side as well. (3752 views) | | | Tasted by Burgfiendnyc on 5/22/2015 & rated 94 points: This wine took a while to open up with the typical Barolo nose of tar and licorice coming through first and then later the black cherries and thyme began to resonate. The tannins are well structured and finish was long. This showed the vintage and is highly approachable right now. Drink or hold. (3601 views) | | | Tasted by richardkim on 1/25/2015 & rated 89 points: Bright fruits and prominent acidity. Sharp tannins
Tasted at Pinot Provence in a 2000 Barolo tasting. (3071 views) | | | Tasted by JWG on 9/9/2013 & rated 96 points: Dark roasted herbs, and muted roses, and dark nebbiolo fruit are front and center on the nose. Big satisfying nose that just keeps on giving. A bit of tar in the background as well. Palate is mellow and integrated with an earthy mushroom element and a bright zing of acid in the mid-palate. Tannins kick in lightly on the backend, definitely integrated. Probably has a lot more time to develop. (5172 views) | | | Tasted by KeithAkers on 7/25/2013 & rated 93 points: Chicago Italian Lovers round 3-2000 Barolos (Sapori Trattoria, Chicago IL): Nose: Very savory and perfumed nose with tones of roasted herbs, red cherries, tar, strawberries, wild flowers, and fresh picked berries. There is very good depth to this with a real charm to it as well.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. This is very young on the palate with fresh and savory tones of red cherries, strawberries, wild flowers, and some fresh picked red berries.
Overall: This was the only Barolo that didn't seem to fully show the vintage. It certainly showed fruit, but the fruit wasn't as warm as the other barolos. This was more fresh with nice depth and a gorgeous savoriness too. (5745 views) | | | Tasted by Poggio Al vento on 6/24/2012 & rated 95 points: This was persistent with my former note but this bottle was a lot tighter and seemed much younger but still a beautiful wine with the nose clearly the biggest asset right know! (6475 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (6/29/2016)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia, Italy) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, December 2015, Issue #50
(Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Checking in on Piedmont’s 2000 Vintage (Jun 2011)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Sep/Oct 2008, Issue #17, Cantine Giacomo Conterno: Piemonte Pillar of Excellence and Tradition
(Barolo “Cascina Francia”- Giacomo Conterno) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Giacomo Conterno Vertical Tasting (Jul 2005)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, November/December 2002, IWC Issue #105
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia) Subscribe to see review text. | By Lyle Fass
Rockss and Fruit (5/4/2005)
(Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia) Lovely nose of mineral, cherry, tar & hot rocks. Also an exotic hint of BBQ sauce after some coaxing. Soft and elegant on the palate with gorgeously defined ripe fruit and silky tannins. This was wide open and a great drink. Not classic Barolo but something to drink while you wait for your other Cascina Francia's to mature. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JamesSuckling.com and The World of Fine Wine and Vinous and View From the Cellar and Rockss and Fruit. (manage subscription channels) |
| Giacomo Conterno Producer website
Ken Vastola's fabulous guide to G. Conterno labels
Praelum: “Arguably the King of Barolo. No wine journey is complete without the tasting of one of the great Conternos. ‘Only premium quality can bring prestige to the Langhe.’ Giovanni Conterno taught his two sons Giacomo and Roberto after World War I to ferment and age wines in Bottis with prolonged maceration and ageing. The brothers split in 1969 and Giacomo started investing in his own vineyards since 1974. The wines of Cascina Francia, Monfortino and recently, Ceretta from Serralunga d’Alba are amongst the finest expressions of Nebbiolo that the wine world has ever seen. 4-6 years ageing usually.”NebbioloNebbiolo is a red grape indigenous to the Piedmont region of Italy in the Northwest. The grape can also be found in other parts of the world, though they are not as respected.
Nebbiolo is often considered the "king of red wines," as it is the grape of the famed wines of Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, and Roero DOCG. It is known for high tannins and acidity, but with a distinct finesse. When grown on clay, Nebbiolo can be very powerful, tannic, and require long aging periods to reach its full potential. When grown on sand, the grape exhibits a more approachable body with more elegant fruit and less tannins, but still has high aging potential.
"Nebbiolo" is named for the Italian word, "nebbia", which means "fog", in Italian and rightfully so since there is generally a lot of fog in the foothills of Piedmont during harvest.
Nebbiolo is a late-ripening variety that does best in a continental climate that boasts moderate summers and long autumns. In Piedmont, Nebbiolo is normally harvested in October.
More links:
Varietal character (Appellation America) | Nebbiolo on CellarTrackerCascina Francia On weinlagen-infoItaly Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorPiedmont Vignaioli Piemontesi (Italian only)
On weinlagen-infoLanghe Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Roero | Union of Producers of Albese Wines (Albeisa)BaroloRegional History:
The wines of Piedmont are noted as far back as Pliny's Natural History. Due to geographic and political isolation, Piedmont was without a natural port for most of its history, which made exportation treacherous and expensive. This left the Piedmontese with little incentive to expand production. Sixteenth-century records show a mere 14% of the Bassa Langa under vine -- most of that low-lying and farmed polyculturally. In the nineteenth century the Marchesa Falletti, a frenchwoman by birth, brought eonologist Louis Oudart from Champagne to create the first dry wines in Piemonte. Along with work in experimental vineyards at Castello Grinzane conducted by Camilo Cavour -- later Conte di Cavour, leader of the Risorgimento and first Prime Minister of Italy -- this was the birth of modern wine in the Piedmont. At the heart of the region and her reputation are Alba and the Langhe Hills. This series of weathered outcroppings south of the Tanaro River is of maritime origin and composed mainly of limestone, sand and clay, known as terra bianca. In these soils -located mainly around the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco -- the ancient allobrogica, now Nebbiolo, achieves its renowned fineness and power.
map of Barolo DOCG
An interesting thread on Traditional vs. Modern Barolo producers:
https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106291 |
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