Gala Dinner at La Festa del Barolo

This was the Friday evening gala dinner at Antonio Galloni Vinous Media's 2017 La Festa del Barolo. I sat with members of my old Barolo group at the Massolino Winery table with the Franco Massolino. Franco is the co-owner with his brother Roberto and co-winemaker together with his brother and Giovanni Angeli.

More details and photos can be found on my website:

http://www.finewinegeek.com/tn/2017-02-03_AG_LaFesta-Gala_delPosto/

• 2002 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Toasty, complex, delicious.

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• 2004 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  A more delicate style than the Ruinart, but just as good in its own way.

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The wines just came, one after another. No flights, just wines.

• 1970 Massolino Barolo 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Actually two bottles of the same wine generously brought by Jon:
  Bottle 1: Smoky, mature, but holding up. Long, dried cherries and fall leaf mulch. 91 points
  Bottle 2: Much younger and richer. Gorgeous nose and long in the mouth with fruit and complexity. Has to be one of the best bottles of this wine which is a blend of Rionda, Parafada, and other vineyards in Serralunga.

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• 1989 Massolino Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Brought by Franco Massolino. Decanted around 6pm.] Dark smoky black fruit in the nose and mouth. Rich, tannic, still young and tight. Needs time or a longer decant. I think it was only open for an hour or two. 94-96, perhaps more when it finally reaches its peak.

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• 1958 Cantina Mascarello Barolo Riserva 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [1.9 liter bottle. Double decanted at 1pm. Brought by Jamie Wolff.] Surprisingly dark color. Ripe nose. Rich, but still has rough tannins. Great length. Slightly odd in some way I can't put my finger on, but quite youthful and delicious.

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• 1990 Oddero Barolo Mondoca di Bussia Soprana 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Magnum brought by Greg dP.] Tart black fruit nose. Silky smooth, rich with good acidity. A tasty wine that is ready to drink.

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• 2013 Lucien Le Moine Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  [Magnum brought over by Alex Michas of Vintus. This is one of the wines they import.] Lots of new oak in the nose. Crisp and complex up front, a touch of sweetness in the mid-palate, then a long dry finish. Appealing, esp with the pasta in butter. I suspect that this will age well for at least a decade or more. 93-95

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• 1985 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Brought over by Carl Klapper.] Thick, rich, ripe. Still tannic, but the fruit is overwhelming. Incomparable length. Easily the wine of the vintage. This is so young, while most 85's are heading downward.

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• 1996 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Ca d'Morissio Riserva Monprivato Flawed

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Some nail polish in the nose. Backward and strangely sweet. Not sure what to make of this. An off bottle?

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• 2010 Massolino Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda 98 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Brought by Franco Massolino. Decanted around 6pm.] Tight nose of smoked beef and blackberry jam. Sweet red and black fruit. Stunning! Super long. This is one of the wines of the vintage and maybe the best wine ever made at this winery. 97-100

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• 1990 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Magnum brought over by Carl K.] Sweet fruit, complex. I could drink this all night.

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• 2001 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi San Lorenzo Ravera 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Magnum brought by Todd Tucker. Floral nose. Ripe black fruits. Complex. Still quite young. Great future here. 95-97

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• 2010 Domenico Clerico Barolo Aeroplan Servaj Serralunga 63 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Sweet oak, and not much else. Yuck.

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• 2000 Domenico Clerico Barolo Percristina 56 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [From a 3L bottle.] Sweet oaky garbage.

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• 1955 Cappellano Barolo 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  I'm not sure who brought this to our table, but God bless them. One of the best bottles of 1950's Cappellano I have had. Sweet fruit. Long and complex. A terrific old wine.

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• 1997 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  [Brought over by Marc DiBella.] Super ripe nose. Thick, ripe, still oaky. I know others like this vintage, I'm not a fan. Still, this is a well-made wine for the vintage.

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• 2003 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 86 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [3L brought by Alex Michas of Vintus. This is one of the wines they import.] Intense, super-ripe. I think the combination of the vintage with the winemaking is just too much for me. Cali Barolo.

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• 2004 Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 94 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  [Brought over by ???] I remember telling whoever brought it that it was seem out of place, but it really is a lovely, complex wine. Quite refreshing after 2 wines that were too ripe.

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• 1969 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  [Brought over by Antonio Galloni.] Ethereal, complex, a bit of oxidation. Clearly on the downslope, but wow, what a wine.

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• 1980 Cappellano Barolo 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Brought over by Iggy Melito.] Amazing what Teobaldo could do in such a weak vintage. Lovely with dried red fruit and great length.

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• 1982 Gaja Barbaresco 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  [I bought this magnum from Morrell's and they delivered it to Del Posto. It was only opened when dinner started, so it was open about 2.5 hours when we tasted it.] Stunningly complex nose. Gorgeous fruit in the mouth. Classic Gaja Barbaresco, it has a great purity to it. A joy to share this with friends.

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• 1990 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Monprivato 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [From a magnum brought by Dan Petroski.] Dark rich smoky nose of black fruit. Rich, young, complex in the mouth. Some licorice and herbs on the finish. Could use another 10 years in magnum.

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• 1996 Massolino Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda 98 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Brought by me (from Dan M). Not opened until dinner started, so decanted for about 2.5 hours.] This wine is just reaching the beginning of its maturity, but it still has a long way to go. A great beast of a wine, this is classic Serralunga. Long, rich, and so intense. I love it.

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• 2007 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [A 3L bottle brought over by Giuseppe Vaira.] Gorgeous, lush, and delicious. Complex with rich black fruit and licorice. Has the appealing ripeness of the vintage, but not the least bit over-ripe.

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• 1970 Cappellano Barolo 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Brought over by Josh Leader.] Mature nose of forest floor. Sweet mature fruit. Lovely.

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• 1995 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Not sure who brought this.] Classic Burlotto Monvigliero with olives and black fruit and flowers in the nose. A terrific wine to drink tonight.

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• 2008 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Brought over by the winemaker Vittore Alessandria.] Rich, sweet fruit. Quite ripe. Complex and appealing.

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• 2000 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba 97 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Seriously? Where did this magnum come from. Far be it for me to look a gift Giacosa in the mouth when I can pour in my mouth! Tar and rose. Still young and tannic, with tons of black fruit and a hint of the classic fruitcake. Obviously a great wine, even this late in the evening.

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• 1990 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Riserva Granbussia 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  [Magnum from Keith Edwards.] Gorgeous, floral, black fruit. Another wine I could drink all night. Classic 1990 and classic Aldo Conterno at his best.

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Another amazing evening at La Festa del Barolo.