May 15, 2020 - Drank the 2nd of the 2 bottles I had in my cellar .... another beautiful experience. A distinctive bouquet with sour cherry notes. On the palate a flinty medium bodied Nebbiolo with some sour cherry and forrest fruits. Good structure and tannins still evident.
April 26, 2020 - This wine was left in my cellar far too long. The fact that at 19 years it was still quite drinkable is testament to the winemaker. The wine needed a bit of time to open up as it started with a slight bitterness in the after palate. The Nebbiolo skeleton was evident and what it lacked was more “brightness” from fruit that the years of ageing had stripped away. It reminded me of two great visits I had to this winery many years ago where the mother of the winer makers ( 2 brothers) hosted the tasting.
March 29, 2019 - Medium garnet to tawny colour.
Nose: Blackberries, black cherries, cigar box, hint of tar. With time come black olives, old leather, a little earthiness, hints of tarragon and rosemary. (89p)
Taste: Lovely sweet & sour / sweet & bitter fruitiness, dark cherries, plums, wild strawberry lemonade/syrup, black pepper. Wonderful acidity. Mature and very drinkable. Great food wine. (92p)
Total score 90 points.
I think it will keep and stay at this level for at least another 2-4 years. Kept very well and even improved slightly 2 days after opening (full, refrigerated bottle).
February 19, 2017 - App: brick-red
Aroma: roses, licorice, tar, dried fruit, earth and a hint of peppermint.
Medium-bodied+ with acidity and fine grained and available tannins. Good concentration and well balanced.
Very good length. (91)
Not getting any better. -Drink up!
September 11, 2015 - Still drinking perfectly. Consistent wit earlier note
May 5, 2012 - Decanted 1 hour. Brick color.
Classic Nebbiolo aromas, the dominating smell of wood upon opening blew away in the decanter (luckily).
Available tannins and good acidity. The fruit is still present and you feel an earthy tone.
Clearly some bottle variation since my last bottle was over the top and heading downhill. This bottle was still fresh and quite enjoyable. Wonderful to risotto made with mushrooms.
February 18, 2012 - Consistent with earlier note.
Drinking perfectly at the moment. Full-bodied and well balanced. Quite big for a Gattinara, but still keeping its finese. Yeah!
February 12, 2012 - Yep!
December 14, 2011 - Clean, medium(+) intensity, fully developed with aromas of cherries (red), tobacco, anis and noble wood, mushrooms and there is a floral scent that I can't categorize. The wine smells wonderful. Palate: Red cherries (slightly sour), tobacco, mushrooms. At its peak with medium+ acidity, medium tannins, body and intensity, medium+ length. This bottle was significantly better than the two last ones I've had
November 23, 2011 - Mature with cherry and dark berry fruit, rose, leather and tar aromas. Perhaps just a touch of VA on the nose as well, but not enough to be distracting but merely another dimension. Medium-plus bodied with mostly integrated tannins leaving a velvety texture with good acidity. Good length. Still held up the next day, so while I don't think this will improve with more time, I do believe it should be able to hold a few more years.