Wine drinks like it has a ways still to go. Fresh with a great balance of acidity and aged fruit. Has the balsamic notes you would expect with a 21 year old wine but still exhibiting a lovely and balanced finish .
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Great Nose. Dried Cherry / dark fruit on the nose. Blue fruit on the palate, Violets floral, good fruit. Good acidity. Long finish. Still some room for development.
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Wow. Drinking window is a bit premature. For me, it didn't open up till 2008, and it is still going strong. As good as many Barolo's from this year, but priced not far off.
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I was surprised how well this has held up not knowing much about it. Really nice on the palate with a nice finish. Fruit still there. On the heavier side of nebbiolo i think.
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decanted for 2 hours based upon tasting two earliler bottles over the previous 3 years. Nose was good, but taste had far too much tanin. Poured back in bottle and drank 2 days later, no decanting. Taste was excellent - nice balance, tanins much less pronounced - wood, earthy, cherry fruit. Excellent lingering taste - nose somewhat less than when first decanted.
Never had a wine react this way after initial decanting.
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Nice blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. The fresh acidity of the Barbera cuts the high tannin in the Nebbiolo just enough to make it both good with food and drinking alone. Floral (rose petal), cherry and mint nose. Medium dark ruby color. I don't think this wine needs a lot of breathing but it did improve a bit over time and stayed near peak for 3-4 hours after which. It declined significantly. Mouthfeel was better than average and it had layers off fruit. First some berry then cherry and a bit of plum. Better than most of the Nebbiolo Langhe out there.
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Very nice on its own, but would soar much higher with good food. Nice acidity, drinks like a good Barolo. Grilled zucchini and some bolognese would make this wine sing.
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Indeed a terrific food wine, lovely with fusilli with zucchini and fonduta, going strong with still-fresh acidity etc. Very enjoyable and a genuine bargain on par with Vietti's Perbacco; but assuredly not as deep and lovely as this producer's Barolos - recent memory of the 2000 Big'd Big is fresh enough to assert confidently, this ain't that.
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This is very, good wine. Outstanding QPR. I decanted two bottles for for 4 hours. It smelled like abouquet of flowers and still had some tannins, but was very drinkable and was enjoyed by everyone. Just great.
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At a tasting, wonderful nose of dark chocolate, mint/eucalyptus, and dark cherries, but super tight and tannic on the palate. Maybe needed decanting / air time, but I had no interest in drinking this (but could enjoy the nose all day). Can't rate this one, but the nose was deserving of a 93.
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getting better every bottle I open. this one could have decanted longer, (an hour at least), but opened up as an outstanding big food wine. paired well with prime rib and pheasant.
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Popped and poured, 14% abv. Nose was mostly mute and not exciting. Palate was terrific with cherry fruit, spices, roses, bit of decayed leaves. Medium bodied, with very nicely integrated juicy acidity and powdery tannins and absolutely no trace of the alcohol. Terrific with food, but rustic by itself. Notable for me also in that it showed none of the negative porty/pruney characteristics I've experienced with pricier nebs recently. For the price, a terrific neb qpr.
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Big perfumed nose of sweet red fruit, menthol, cherries, cranberries and violets, very tannic but even at this young age it's showing great depth and complexity, lengthy finish, just a bit more of everything compared to the 1998 vintage, outstanding QPR
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Beautiful nose.. Soft fruit opens on the mid-palate & turns tannic and short on the finish.. 30 minutes in the bottle softened it up showing a 45 second finish of coffee and dried red fruits. Give it a couple years and try again.
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Back for another try a few days after a corked experience. No flaws in this bottle. Interestingly, it's much more effusive than its corked brother. The first wine was very tannic and the fruit, while obvious, was under wraps. This one is another story altogether. Bulging with cranberry, coffee and licorice aromas and it really packs it in the mouth. I learned when I returned the first bottle that it's 80% nebbiolo with the rest barbera. The barbera gives it a fleshy and more forward attack, but it's still got fairly savage nebbiolo tannins and i'd have been pleased to call this a good barbaresco or barolo if tasted blind. Lots of quality and character for the money and still a long life ahead.
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At first taste I thought something very exciting was in store. Clearly dominated by nebbiolo if not 100%, it was taut, balanced and showing a sinewy cranberry fruit with a lot of promise. Unfortunately the finish was flawed-slightly corked. A shame. Will return and try another.
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9/17/2022 - pren wrote: 92 Points
第一次,开瓶,气味就很好。两小时后,气味不错,口感非常好,浓,暗的balsamic醋味。open程度,超过很多Barolo。一度,口中有点热/麻。涩劲不如Barolo。口中的微酸的flesh是barbera 的贡献。第二天,也类似。
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1/25/2021 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine drinks like it has a ways still to go. Fresh with a great balance of acidity and aged fruit. Has the balsamic notes you would expect with a 21 year old wine but still exhibiting a lovely and balanced finish .
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2/8/2019 - HDW55 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great Nose. Dried Cherry / dark fruit on the nose. Blue fruit on the palate, Violets floral, good fruit. Good acidity. Long finish. Still some room for development.
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1/13/2018 - JJKinch wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit (cherry, slight blueberry), floral, good fruit. Good acidity. Lingering finish. Really enjoyable.
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3/26/2016 - RKatzDO Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wow. Drinking window is a bit premature. For me, it didn't open up till 2008, and it is still going strong. As good as many Barolo's from this year, but priced not far off.
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4/17/2013 - awilliamson4 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I was surprised how well this has held up not knowing much about it. Really nice on the palate with a nice finish. Fruit still there. On the heavier side of nebbiolo i think.
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3/7/2013 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 94 Points
decanted for 2 hours based upon tasting two earliler bottles over the previous 3 years. Nose was good, but taste had far too much tanin. Poured back in bottle and drank 2 days later, no decanting. Taste was excellent - nice balance, tanins much less pronounced - wood, earthy, cherry fruit. Excellent lingering taste - nose somewhat less than when first decanted.
Never had a wine react this way after initial decanting.
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12/1/2012 - traderspartan wrote: 92 Points
Drank over 2 nights. It drank like a good Barolo. Cherries and strawberries, tannins slightly dry. At 13 years, this wine hasn't skipped a beat!
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10/7/2012 - oldwines wrote: 92 Points
Nice blend of Nebbiolo and Barbera. The fresh acidity of the Barbera cuts the high tannin in the Nebbiolo just enough to make it both good with food and drinking alone. Floral (rose petal), cherry and mint nose. Medium dark ruby color. I don't think this wine needs a lot of breathing but it did improve a bit over time and stayed near peak for 3-4 hours after which. It declined significantly. Mouthfeel was better than average and it had layers off fruit. First some berry then cherry and a bit of plum. Better than most of the Nebbiolo Langhe out there.
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2/27/2012 - dalemosier wrote: 91 Points
Still strong tanin; very light nose; required about one hour for the wine to develop; likely improve over next 2 years
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2/19/2012 - Rossodio wrote: 91 Points
Very nice on its own, but would soar much higher with good food. Nice acidity, drinks like a good Barolo. Grilled zucchini and some bolognese would make this wine sing.
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1/15/2012 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Really good food wine, served with homemade bolognese sauce, excellent pairing.
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1/4/2012 - nlassow wrote:
Lots of secondary herbal flavors. Kept our noses hunting from beginning to end. Drink now.
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9/18/2011 - traderspartan wrote: 93 Points
Light color, great classic Barolo nose tannins still kicking. This still has a long way to go.
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7/5/2011 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drink now - perfect combination with food, nice body, smooth, dry long lingering finish
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2/26/2011 - Charlie Pendejo wrote: 90 Points
Indeed a terrific food wine, lovely with fusilli with zucchini and fonduta, going strong with still-fresh acidity etc. Very enjoyable and a genuine bargain on par with Vietti's Perbacco; but assuredly not as deep and lovely as this producer's Barolos - recent memory of the 2000 Big'd Big is fresh enough to assert confidently, this ain't that.
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1/24/2011 - slmshdyms wrote: 91 Points
enjoyable wine--had a very nice acid structure that made it perfect for our appetizers--great food wine! has held up well over the years--recommend
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1/1/2011 - Kevdog wrote: 90 Points
new years eve... my last bottle... very nice and well rounded, however it was not up to following the 70 petrus we had b4
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11/25/2010 - traderspartan wrote: 95 Points
This is very, good wine. Outstanding QPR. I decanted two bottles for for 4 hours. It smelled like abouquet of flowers and still had some tannins, but was very drinkable and was enjoyed by everyone. Just great.
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1/30/2010 - Biskuit wrote:
At a tasting, wonderful nose of dark chocolate, mint/eucalyptus, and dark cherries, but super tight and tannic on the palate. Maybe needed decanting / air time, but I had no interest in drinking this (but could enjoy the nose all day). Can't rate this one, but the nose was deserving of a 93.
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1/30/2010 - ethralls wrote: 92 Points
Fennel, eucalyptus, earth and spice. Black fruit and spice finish. Color is red brick showing it's age
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12/24/2009 - Kevdog wrote: 92 Points
getting better every bottle I open. this one could have decanted longer, (an hour at least), but opened up as an outstanding big food wine. paired well with prime rib and pheasant.
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12/9/2009 - traderspartan wrote: 93 Points
This wine just keeps getting better with age.
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12/14/2008 - 60ouvrees wrote:
Very well-made, drinkable wine that opened up nicely as the evening went on. Highly recommended.
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9/26/2008 - traderspartan wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. Very nice aroma of ripe red fruit and earth. Still very tannic, long finish.
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5/25/2008 - J&K wrote: 92 Points
Very good. Bright fruit sophisticated fruit flavors. Would buy more of.
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4/1/2008 - Ali wrote: 92 Points
opened nicely with 1 hour decant
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3/7/2008 - Fat Hobbit wrote:
Popped and poured, 14% abv. Nose was mostly mute and not exciting. Palate was terrific with cherry fruit, spices, roses, bit of decayed leaves. Medium bodied, with very nicely integrated juicy acidity and powdery tannins and absolutely no trace of the alcohol. Terrific with food, but rustic by itself. Notable for me also in that it showed none of the negative porty/pruney characteristics I've experienced with pricier nebs recently. For the price, a terrific neb qpr.
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12/3/2006 - kennyg wrote: 92 Points
Dried fruit with fine tannins and long dry finish. Even better on day 2 than day 1. Very nice most nebbiolo indeed. Good QPR
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12/1/2006 - duchamp wrote: 93 Points
Big perfumed nose of sweet red fruit, menthol, cherries, cranberries and violets, very tannic but even at this young age it's showing great depth and complexity, lengthy finish, just a bit more of everything compared to the 1998 vintage, outstanding QPR
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8/15/2006 - RKatzDO wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful nose.. Soft fruit opens on the mid-palate & turns tannic and short on the finish.. 30 minutes in the bottle softened it up showing a 45 second finish of coffee and dried red fruits. Give it a couple years and try again.
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7/21/2006 - bevetroppo wrote: 89 Points
Back for another try a few days after a corked experience. No flaws in this bottle. Interestingly, it's much more effusive than its corked brother. The first wine was very tannic and the fruit, while obvious, was under wraps. This one is another story altogether. Bulging with cranberry, coffee and licorice aromas and it really packs it in the mouth. I learned when I returned the first bottle that it's 80% nebbiolo with the rest barbera. The barbera gives it a fleshy and more forward attack, but it's still got fairly savage nebbiolo tannins and i'd have been pleased to call this a good barbaresco or barolo if tasted blind. Lots of quality and character for the money and still a long life ahead.
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7/19/2006 - bevetroppo wrote: flawed
At first taste I thought something very exciting was in store. Clearly dominated by nebbiolo if not 100%, it was taut, balanced and showing a sinewy cranberry fruit with a lot of promise. Unfortunately the finish was flawed-slightly corked. A shame. Will return and try another.
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7/11/2006 - themust wrote: 92 Points
Excellent bottle. The combination of nebbiolo and barbera works beautifully.
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