Great Wines of Italy Tasting (Baroli)

I managed to taste only a small number of exceptional wines offered by Zachys that night. Below are a few memorable Baroli from the Great Wines of Italy tasting.

• 2007 Michele Chiarlo Barolo Cannubi

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A vibrant wine with sweet and powerful tannic core of dark fruit that is truly impressive now. The purity of wine is exceptional and layers of the extracted fruit should reward a patient collector. A terrific wine.

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• 2008 Damilano Barolo Cannubi

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Another terrific wine from the famed Cannubi vineyard. Dense, tannic, mineral, sweet and powerful core powers this wine. The fruit tastes of mint, dark cherry, with a tossed in flavors of roasted nuts in the finish. The balance between the extracted fruit and sophisticated complexity is noteworthy. Tasted Damilano wines reluctantly, remembering a bland and soulless 2005 Barolo -- but this wine has more than made up for that earlier misstep.

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• 2008 Conterno Fantino Barolo Sorì Ginestra

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A strong effort, a quality wine that is built for to last. Extracted, vibrant and tannic now, but the sweet fruit is shining through the tannins even now. A bit oaky perhaps, still is a wonderful effort.

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• 2008 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A more interesting wine for me this night. The spiciness, roses, stewed cranberries -- the wine sparked with nuance.

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• 2008 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Colonnello

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Mineral and supple, reminded me of a ripe burgundy or a young gymnast's body.

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• 2008 Mauro Molino Barolo Vigna Gallinotto

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  More mineral, tight and vibrant, a clay soil wine. Liked the balance between the supple body and layers of lush fruit.

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• 2007 Domenico Clerico Barolo Aeroplan Servaj Serralunga

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A plane out of control -- after a namesake of the owner. The best wine in the Clerico lineup tonight for me -- a rustic, tannic, but more grounded and real wine -- a broad shouldered peasant at the dainty nobility ball.

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• 2008 Mauro Molino Barolo Vigna Conca

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A fuller, less mineral wine than Gallinotto. Fragrant, and fruit forward, it finishes a bit shorter and has for me less interesting structure.

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• 2008 Domenico Clerico Barolo Pajana

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Softer and bit more fruitier that Ciabot Mentin -- still too oaky and polished for me.

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• 2008 Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A darker, denser wine than Marcenasco. More concentrated nose, though the wine is still very open now. A better wine of the two.

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• 2007 Massolino Barolo Margheria

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A soft an delicate wine with spicy sandal wood and rose water flavors. The core is tight and tannic.

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• 2008 Conterno Fantino Barolo Vigna del Gris

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A bit less fleshed out, leaner now than Sori Ginestra. Equally tannic now; needs time.

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• 2008 Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  The wine felt disjointed and somewhat manufactured. Some oak, some cranberry, roses -- yet left me wanting a more unified, simpler version.

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• 2009 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Valeirano

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Unusual, medicinal nose, tannic and youthful. Notes this wine for its unusual hints of seaweed -- reminiscent of the aromas of some Islay whiskys.

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• 2007 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barolo Vürsù Vigneto Campè

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A rich, meaty, yet balanced wine. Fruit is somewhat restrained and the wine feels a bit too much oak for my palate.

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• 2009 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbera d'Asti Superiore (Bionzo)

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore

  A full bodied, fruit driven wine. Sap, wild forest fruit, jam balanced by sour notes -- an enjoyable effort.

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• 2008 Conterno Fantino Barolo Mosconi

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Soft and approachable now, with fragrant fruit upfront. Sandal wood, cherry, less complex that other single vineyards.

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• 2008 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Very open, enticing nose now. Bit sour, acidic; the body is soft and approachable. For a near term drinking.

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• 2008 Mauro Molino Barolo

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A very good intro level barolo. Soft, approachable now, fragrant and supple.

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