October 15, 2023 - Cherry and something earthy on the nose. On the palate, cherry and other red fruit with an herbal note on the long finish, with moderate to strong tannins and good acidity. This was opened along with a bottle of Giuseppe Mascarello's Monprivato from the same year, and this was the better of the two. Given the tannins, this has several good years left, and it may improve. This was an excellent value at about $85 a dozen years ago; at its current price it's not recommended.
December 30, 2022 - Deep brick red. Still lots of red fruits some roasted notes and flashes of truffle Full bodied with perfectly balanced acidity and lots of mature tannins very long and persistent
May 17, 2021 - A little medicinal on the nose and still a few years away from maturity with violets, leather and fine ripe fruit together with some sweetness on the finish. My first wine tasted from this famous producer who controlled this hot vintage well and it did not disappoint.
November 2, 2020 - There's always some trepidation when opening a 2003 Barolo, but I had a very open mind considering the wine in question. I believe this was double decanted in order to make a 2 hour drive to our place without undue damage, then served around 2 hours after that in Riedel Vinum burgundy stems. Brick red in color, nice and clear and with visible weight. I did get a slight roasted character on the nose, but no raisiny notes, which are what I hate in the most in hot vintage nebbiolo. In the mouth this was remarkably restrained, while still demonstrating warmth and some dried aspects. I got the feeling it was being held in a bit, the vinous equivalent of a corset, maybe, and that the warm vintage aspects may come out more as it ages. Right now, though, it is quite accessible, if still primary, and was more than up to the roast goat with fennel and onion that we threw at it, with its herbaceous notes playing very nicely on the slightly gamey meat, and the acid balancing the crispy skin handily.
September 25, 2020 - Tasted beside G. Conterno Barolo Francia of the same vintage with a group of 7. More open, more elegant, with better color than the other, this was the clear favorite on this night. Has entered its drinking window but NR until next bottle. A very good wine from a very difficult vintage.
September 2, 2019 - Very good after 1 hour decant. LIght to medium ruby color. Some sediment. Earth, minerals and subtle fruit. Medium finish. Very good now but should continue to cellar well for another 3 to 5 years.
December 21, 2018 - The nose showed sweetly spiced cherries along with notes of cedar, dried roses, animal musk, stone dust and old leather. On the palate, I found soft textures with zesty red fruits pushed forward by brisk acidity with a bitter herbal twang and saline minerality. It's fruit seemed to go from sweet to sour as the ‘03 Bartolo traveled across the senses, adding an earthy note of sous bois and taking on more of a feminine weight. The finish was medium in length, resonating on minerality with sweet red fruits, a bitter acid twang, and lingering notes of savory herbs.
It’s a wine that shows the heat of the vintage, being a bit advanced and dried out, yet still quite enjoyable today and gains inner sweetness with time in the glass.
November 10, 2018 - Developed Nebbiolo aromas. Also developed on the palate, with dried ripe fruit. Lacks some elegance and structure, maybe.
September 5, 2018 - 2nd bottle in the last month. Ripe vintage is evident. Only 14% alcohol although alcohol permeated the nose.
Smooth rich lovely wine. Not much of a finish but great with food or nothing at all. Violets mushrooms some black pepper
July 4, 2018 - Not the best year for Bartolo but still really really good
Opens with classic Barolo nose plus lots of alcohol
After 2 hrs decant, alcohol has burned off leaving powerful yet smooth tannins wrapped in dark fruits
Take small sips and savor the refinement.
One of those wines you can’t drink quick
Love it