Community Tasting Notes 33

• MuddyBoots wrote:

  February 17, 2024 - Almost exactly a year since my last bottle of this and on this occasion my note would be less charitable. These grapes come from a great hilltop site in a great vintage that should just now be coming around beautifully - instead all I taste is new oak. Only for the unstintingly committed and devout enthusiast of this style. A great shame. There is surely good wine beneath. And testimony - though hardly needed - that the flavors and influence of new oak never fade. Bought on release.

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• XoMo7K9H wrote: 90 points

  December 25, 2023 - Opened after 15 years of proper cellaring. I had never been a Barolo fan but was encouraged to give one a try with some are on it. The tannins had completely mellowed. I could tell that it was objectively good quality. Still not my taste — too much new leather and tar. But there was some nice fig behind that.

  Comment

• MuddyBoots wrote:

  February 18, 2023 - Decanted 30 minutes. The most wonderfully expressive nose that is a feature of the 2008 vintage - dark red fruit, balsamic, some smoke but also here some sensation of new oak. Quite silky on the palate - the oak induced micro-oxigenation I think contributing to this. Beautiful ripeness - clearly ripe but somehow only just. I notice the oak more with every passing sip, as is my way. Monforte tannins bite on the back end but they are fine grained and only a little dry. Too soon to drink this. Quite modern in style and not to my taste, but if you are OK with that, this is extremely good. More evidence of the profound aromatic beauty of the 2008 vintage in Barolo and, looking past the modernity, the underlying quality of the rarely seen Sori Ginestra. Bought on release.
  Next day - Holding up well - full of youthful aromatic flavor - but if anything seemingly even more modern in style. Hard not to despair how wonderful this might have been if they had just let it be...

  Comment

• Jason Wu Likes this wine: 95 points

  April 16, 2021 - Appearance: medium garnet.
  Nose: medium plus intensity; aromas of perfumed dry roses, black truffle, leather, toast, dry orange peel, vanilla, black cherry, tobacco, dry herbs, maple syrup, ground coffee. It’s developing.
  Palate: dry, high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, medium plus body, pronounced flavour intensity, the finish is long.
  Overall, it’s an outstanding wine. Can drink now, has potential for further ageing.
  It’s a quite heavy and big new style Barolo which is different from what I expected. Traditional vs new, it’s a good question. Despite it’s well made, I find myself swing towards traditional.

  Comment

• John McCabe wrote: 96 points

  December 1, 2020 - This was quite excellent. Everything in the right place. Very expressive and enticing red fruit profile with lovely dryness on the finish. Makes me realize I should be buying more Barolo. This is not cheap, but feels about fair for the quality.

  Comment

Pro Reviews 5

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2008
• Type Red
• Producer Conterno Fantino
• Varietal Nebbiolo
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard Sorì Ginestra
• Country Italy
• Region Piedmont
• SubRegion Langhe
• Appellation Barolo
• UPC Code 726452011233

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 42 (6%)
• In Cellars 409 (58%)
• Consumed 255 (36%)

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