Pop and pour. Pretty disappointing. Nose shows a healthy dose of bitter oak, with the nebbiolo character overshadowed...cedary blood orange, with the emphasis on cedar. On the palate, good acidity, a little dried out with dried red fruit and more oak influence. Dry and markedly bitter on the finish. So different from more more recent vintages.
Day 2: (unrefrigerated on the counter overnight) yeah, this is a mess. Just too much oak influence. No signs of oxidation, but just dried out and woody today. Sadly, so unpleasant that it went down the drain...
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Blind N. Italian at Chevalier: On the rustic side of things, with earthy cherry and violets on the nose. Palate has good concentration with still firm tannin. Should soften, but I don't see this getting markedly better.
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Bit past prime, light, very light sandy fine tannin, short finish, light acid, but so drinkable, and the nose is a light tar and roses classic nose. 88-89 points. Sedimenty. Garnet brick color. Herbaceous and spice, very little fruit, almost none.
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Medium garnet core. Some volatility (printer's ink) on the nose, followed by roses, beef broth, baked bread, cherry and dried leaves. Quite mature. Dry, medium bodied, high (but balanced) acidity, with resolving tannins. Good fruit intensity (cherry, some blueberry and plum), mingled with more mature flavors of wet brick, leaves and cured meat. Not a blockbuster, but very enjoyable, mature Barbaresco. Unlike with the VV, I don't think there is any point in holding on to these any longer. Enjoy now.
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Medium garnet core, with bricking. Peach pit, roses and phenol on the nose. Dry, medium-bodied, high (but still balanced) acidity, with soft tannins, still largely unresolved. Good notes of cherry upfront after a couple of hours of air, not showing a lot of age on the palate. The finish is still a bit leafy and tannic. A solid wine that needs more time.
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Medium garnet core, with bricking. Even after a quick double decant in the morning, followed by 2 hours in the decanter in the evening, the nose remains rather shy: dried leaves, tea, cherry, roasted nuts. Bone dry. The tannins have largely resolved, but the acidity is on the high side (though still balanced). The palate mirrors the nose, a mix of cherry (still primary, though a bit muted) and evolving secondary notes. The length is long, with a nice touch of black tea on the finish.
Update: after about 4-5 hours of air, the wine finally begins to come out of its shell. The nose is more fragrant, the fruit comes forward on the palate, and the wine, overall, seems younger and fresher. Very nice indeed.
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Starting to be accessible, but a long way from maturity. Medium weight with a firm tannic backbone; about what I would expect from a '99. Not overtly modern, though there is some oak still showing through.
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First bottle of a case purchased about 6 years ago. When first opened the taste seemed still very tight for 14 years old. Over time the taste evolved to a more expected middle of development profile. The already dense and rich flavors need probably 5 years to enter maturity. The fruit, acid and tannins are in balance. Lots of promise. 91++
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Ripe fruits, dried fruits, prune, and graphite all coming through on this very heady nose. The tannins are fabulous in this bottle. Very well integrated, soft and rounded. The flavor is a bit much however... a little over the top. Everything about this wine however got markedly better after sitting in the glass for a good 20 minutes. The nose became less concentrated and pruney and became more floral and elegant. An enjoyable bottle that absolutely should be decanted and set to breath for an hour or two for maximum enjoyment.
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It has some salty plum on the nose along with coffee, liquorice and decaying roses. With air it becomes quite perfumed. In the mouth it is dense and sweet and still had some chewy tannins and crisp acid.
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Very red, bright on pouring. Ripe, red fruits on nose, darkened with a 2 hour decant. Was more fruit-forward than I expected, but really nice with assorted Chinese food. Less complex than I hoped, with a lighter body and only subtle mineral and herb notes.
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This got a 3 hour decant. Rocking deep nose. Darker fruits,tobacco,tar,smoke,dirt,leather. Big mouthfeel that is still very young and energetic but approachable. Fresh cherries,roses,dried herbs, and a little menthol. Had this with Spagetti and Sausage-rocking combo-lovely food wine.
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Nut, cherry, lacquer, roses, milk chocolate, smoke and mineral nose. Full, firm and aggressive palate with chunky tannins and a long, roasted nut finish. 3.5/5
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2/23/2019 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour. Pretty disappointing. Nose shows a healthy dose of bitter oak, with the nebbiolo character overshadowed...cedary blood orange, with the emphasis on cedar. On the palate, good acidity, a little dried out with dried red fruit and more oak influence. Dry and markedly bitter on the finish. So different from more more recent vintages.
Day 2: (unrefrigerated on the counter overnight) yeah, this is a mess. Just too much oak influence. No signs of oxidation, but just dried out and woody today. Sadly, so unpleasant that it went down the drain...
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2/2/2019 - Nanda wrote: 89 Points
Blind N. Italian at Chevalier: On the rustic side of things, with earthy cherry and violets on the nose. Palate has good concentration with still firm tannin. Should soften, but I don't see this getting markedly better.
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2/2/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind Northern Italian Wine (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Blind tasting, small glass, brief note. Very pleasant mature red and black cherry with good+ weight and depth. Still somewhat more grippy than I'd want.
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7/27/2018 - chrisvallejos Likes this wine: 88 Points
Bit past prime, light, very light sandy fine tannin, short finish, light acid, but so drinkable, and the nose is a light tar and roses classic nose. 88-89 points. Sedimenty. Garnet brick color. Herbaceous and spice, very little fruit, almost none.
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7/20/2017 - Guy Des Rosiers Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium garnet core. Some volatility (printer's ink) on the nose, followed by roses, beef broth, baked bread, cherry and dried leaves. Quite mature. Dry, medium bodied, high (but balanced) acidity, with resolving tannins. Good fruit intensity (cherry, some blueberry and plum), mingled with more mature flavors of wet brick, leaves and cured meat. Not a blockbuster, but very enjoyable, mature Barbaresco. Unlike with the VV, I don't think there is any point in holding on to these any longer. Enjoy now.
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4/20/2017 - Guy Des Rosiers Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium garnet core, with bricking. Peach pit, roses and phenol on the nose. Dry, medium-bodied, high (but still balanced) acidity, with soft tannins, still largely unresolved. Good notes of cherry upfront after a couple of hours of air, not showing a lot of age on the palate. The finish is still a bit leafy and tannic. A solid wine that needs more time.
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9/20/2016 - Guy Des Rosiers Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium garnet core, with bricking. Even after a quick double decant in the morning, followed by 2 hours in the decanter in the evening, the nose remains rather shy: dried leaves, tea, cherry, roasted nuts. Bone dry. The tannins have largely resolved, but the acidity is on the high side (though still balanced). The palate mirrors the nose, a mix of cherry (still primary, though a bit muted) and evolving secondary notes. The length is long, with a nice touch of black tea on the finish.
Update: after about 4-5 hours of air, the wine finally begins to come out of its shell. The nose is more fragrant, the fruit comes forward on the palate, and the wine, overall, seems younger and fresher. Very nice indeed.
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9/7/2015 - jerhardt wrote: 88 Points
Starting to be accessible, but a long way from maturity. Medium weight with a firm tannic backbone; about what I would expect from a '99. Not overtly modern, though there is some oak still showing through.
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8/12/2013 - Carlo Sarto Likes this wine: 91 Points
First bottle of a case purchased about 6 years ago. When first opened the taste seemed still very tight for 14 years old. Over time the taste evolved to a more expected middle of development profile. The already dense and rich flavors need probably 5 years to enter maturity. The fruit, acid and tannins are in balance. Lots of promise. 91++
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4/29/2013 - PFra wrote: flawed
Another corked Paitin from the late 90s. Horrible.
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10/10/2012 - RLouis wrote:
Drank thanksgiving 2012 with the kids.
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12/10/2011 - pdadams66 wrote: 90 Points
At Brassica around Thanksgiving. Impressive Barbaresco. Mature and drinking very well. Classic tar, and roses.
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9/22/2011 - mfriedman12 wrote: 90 Points
Dried fruits and raisins. When held to the light, the color seemed murky, but drank very well
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2/11/2011 - Jack Cranley wrote: 90 Points
Ripe fruits, dried fruits, prune, and graphite all coming through on this very heady nose. The tannins are fabulous in this bottle. Very well integrated, soft and rounded. The flavor is a bit much however... a little over the top. Everything about this wine however got markedly better after sitting in the glass for a good 20 minutes. The nose became less concentrated and pruney and became more floral and elegant. An enjoyable bottle that absolutely should be decanted and set to breath for an hour or two for maximum enjoyment.
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11/20/2010 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
It has some salty plum on the nose along with coffee, liquorice and decaying roses. With air it becomes quite perfumed. In the mouth it is dense and sweet and still had some chewy tannins and crisp acid.
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9/16/2010 - NeuroWine wrote: 89 Points
Very red, bright on pouring. Ripe, red fruits on nose, darkened with a 2 hour decant. Was more fruit-forward than I expected, but really nice with assorted Chinese food. Less complex than I hoped, with a lighter body and only subtle mineral and herb notes.
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8/13/2010 - LeatherPalate wrote: 92 Points
This got a 3 hour decant. Rocking deep nose. Darker fruits,tobacco,tar,smoke,dirt,leather. Big mouthfeel that is still very young and energetic but approachable. Fresh cherries,roses,dried herbs, and a little menthol. Had this with Spagetti and Sausage-rocking combo-lovely food wine.
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5/2/2010 - jimbomatic wrote:
Very, very tannic.
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10/18/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
October 2009 Wine Salon (Chez Brian): Tannic, more modern style, slightly raisiny, slightly stewy, muddled
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5/4/2004 - Double-A wrote: 88 Points
Nut, cherry, lacquer, roses, milk chocolate, smoke and mineral nose. Full, firm and aggressive palate with chunky tannins and a long, roasted nut finish.
3.5/5
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