January 19, 2024 - Gorgeous - I just had a bottle of this about two months ago, and this is really in the zone right now. Red fruit and tar on the nose, candied red fruit on the palate with decent acidity and good persistence. Fully mature at this point, but not showing any signs of decline either, so I’d say this was drink or hold.
November 10, 2023 - I just had a glass of the ‘98 Roagna Paje and right now this wine comes across as younger and more lively on the palate. To be fair, 2001 is a more classic vintage than 1998, so we may just have better fruit in this wine. The wines are similar on the nose, but the cherry fruit on the palate is brighter here and the wine shows more acidity. That said, this is clearly a mature wine as well, so if you have it, consider pulling a cork in the near term.
August 31, 2023 - I've had this wine a number of times over the years, and there has been a fair amount of bottle variation, although none have been flawed to the best of my recall. This comes across as a mature Barolo, and stylistically similar to my note from November of '21 (as opposed to my last bottle, which apparently showed more red fruit). Tannins fully resolved at this point, with decent persistence on the palate. Likable, if less than stellar.
May 11, 2023 - last one oxidized too, i'm not really voting neutral
February 16, 2023 - At 20+ years of age, capable of drinking very well, although I have experienced some bottle variation with this wine. Tonight, a good bottle, with red fruits and tar on the nose. Earthy red fruit on the palate, with decent acidity and good persistence. I like this a lot today, but also don’t see a lot of upside at this point, so I will probably plan on drinking my remaining bottles over the next 3-5 years.
November 5, 2021 - After trying the Arborina just now, I had to pull the cork on one of these too - a month ago, this was the wine that came across as overripe, but today this is drinking better than the Arborina. Ripe & mature black & red fruit on the nose, with notes of tar and menthol as well, and nicely balanced on the palate. Whereas the Arborina was my last bottle, I have a few of these left, and it will be interesting to check these out in the coming months/years.
June 2, 2021 - Great nose of stewed cranberry and strawberry with classic tar and hints of rose. Rich and savory and moreish on the palate. Refreshing acidity keeps it succulent and fresh despite the weight of the wine. Still quite young with prominent, but ripe tannins. I really like this, but will wait another 3- 5yrs for my next bottle.
February 20, 2021 - Sorely oxidized, VA, mahogny. One more in the cellar, fingers crossed.
November 28, 2020 - Medium to deep ruby, stewed plums, violets, blackberry and earth on the well perfumed nose, black currant, black plum and violets followed juicy acidity, earth and teethy tannins on the palate, finishes long with some heat followed by sage, licorice, plum, earth, and black pepper
October 13, 2020 - From a bottle opened Sunday night.
Another "okay" wine - I just had a glass of the '01 Arborina, and this wine is similarly unimpressive tonight. Another wine I've liked better with previous bottles. Nothing objectively wrong here, but nothing very exciting either.
This does show a little "lighter" than the Arborina, with some red fruit on the finish, so probably my preference tonight, but neither wine is a home run.