2008 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Le Rocche del Falletto Riserva A young pup indeed, but an extraordinary wine in the making. Quite bunched up, but knowing this needed time, I decanted it mid morning and tasted throughout the day, marveling at how slowly but beautifully it unfurled. All the markings of great Barolo, smoke and anise but highlighted by a gorgeous underpinning of rose petals. Finish long and layered.
I think Galloni was not a fan; not sure if he tasted an off bottle. This is serious stuff, and I am glad I have a few bottles which I hope I will be able to taste at maturity. 97
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Decanted 1,5 hours, grewt wine but still young. Rose petals, lots of red berries, amazing long on the palate, it’s just keeps on going. Will be amazing in 5 years.
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Although quite young, of course, a seriously long decant of 5+ hours unleashed a glimpse of the magic of Giacosa red label. It’s incredibly aromatic and its stunning bouquet of rose petals, Christmas spices, plums, worn leather and a menthol freshness leap from the glass. A captivating perfume. On the palate it’s rich, intense and muscular, while at the same time showing elegance and grace in its weightless intensity. The finish is insanely long, seemingly going on for minutes, showing vibrance, lift and finely grained tannins. An outstanding Barolo with a long life ahead. ✨
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Lean and juicy with very pretty aromatics. Decanted for 7 hours, which helped a lot, still quite youthful but definitely approachable and elegant. Long life ahead of this, but definitely give this plenty of time to open up to be most expressive at this age. I think you could honestly give it the the entire day, open it when you wake up!
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My first Barolo tasting and what an entry into to world of Piedmont wines - fantastic (thanks @tluk)!
An outstanding wine, right out of the bottle, and ready to drink with nice primary notes all around cherries, pepper nuances, tannins and acidity keeping a nice balance making this wine very round and mouth filling. Maybe a bit on the young side and somehow reminds me of a Pinot Noir from Burgundy (Grand Cru quality of course). An astonishing long finish in which all the flavor notes pay you a final visit, leaving a tasteful firework in your mouth and inner nasal area - a "quarternary" tasting experience as tluk described it and something you will dream off the next morning. Fantastic!
This is a wine to own! Hunting season for the 2008 Le Rocche Del Falletto Riserva is open. Although this vintage can be enjoyed and celebrated today, I suggest to keep them in your cellar up to one to two decades for sure. Plan your drinking window very wisely as it will be a feast! Potential to gain 2 points with age!
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This was a very good wine. It was neither closed nor opened; kinda just middling. It was tasty, with deep, dark cherry fruit, and a goodly amount of earth/soil tones, and some red clay mineral. This has a long way to go before it catches the 1985 of the same model, my benchmark for this wine.
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Casual BBQ Wines: Ash, charcoal, raspberry and cherry on the nose. Great flavour profile, red fruit with plenty of structure sitting in behind via the acid and tannins. Great length.
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Really closed the first hours in Decanter. Little by little, the aromas began to turn into a lovely swan with lovely rose, violet and light perfume overlaid with fresh red fruit and this distinct layer of tar that protected a touch of truffle.
Pretty full-bodied wine that also gradually began to shine in the mouthfeel, though its really tight. It's almost like reading "Don't open until 2050" in the wine. Here it is indescribable concentration and depth. Pretty red fruit, a little orange fruit peel, clear cool tea and lovely spicy finish.
Shall we talk about the tannins? Yes we do. REFERENCE tannins! High alcohol (14.5%) indicates that Giacosa and co have let the grapes hang for a long time to get Phenolic ripeness. They have succeeded. No green tones at all. Firm but perfect tannins. This is brilliant work!
Although this is a wine for the connoisseur today, there is nothing to hide under a chair that this will be completely magical. Calls 96 points on this upside. This can withstand at least 30 years.
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New York Wine Experience 2018 (New York Marriott Marquis): So elegant, with sweet cherries, spice, and violet. This is just wonderfully balanced, the tannins are fine and a little grainy, but this will wear off with time. Keep this though, don't pop the cork too early.
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Opera Wine 2017 - 100 Great Producers (Verona, Italy): A decade more before it's ready? I should think so, for my palate anyway. That said, I enjoyed it, but it didn't wow me in any way, it didn't move me. Perhaps the inner beauty isn't ready to reveal itself yet, or perhaps it's just not there, that this is all there's going to be. Who can say at this young stage, and for that matter, perhaps the bottle was less than ideal. Either way, given today's performance, I would not be looking to acquire this wine for my cellar - at 52, I'm not sure I'd be alive to enjoy it if/when it decides to become glorious, assuming it can; I've seen what these can do after 20 years, and the wait's almost always worth it. HOLD!
(served blind) This is one of those moments where you consider the score versus the cost, and you have to question whether one should affect the other. The controversial ‘08 Rocche was served blind, and it was clear that it was Nebbiolo. What was not clear was where it was from, and no one would have guessed Giacosa Riserva. The nose showed ripe cherry with a dusting of spice and dried orange. On the palate, I found tart red fruits with saturating minerality and a zing of fresh acidity. Youthful tannin coated the senses, drying the palate and finishing on notes of spice and cedar.
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At the winery with Dante: Real balsamico and incense notes, pure, intense, dried cherry, cinnamon, slight plum skin notes with very savory component; Silky, powerful, very very long tangy finish. One of the great wines of my trip, sent shivers up my spine. From 4 best plots of Faletto, mostly on limestone, 38 mo. botte grande.
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Of course this Barolo is too young to offer much hedonistic value, but today the 2008 Rocche del Falletto Riserva is too closed, backward, and dense to allow for any intellectual assessment, either. I'm not sure what to make of this wine.
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Powerful and intense but too young and closed at this stage. Grippy tannins on the palate. Amazing finish, great structure. Excellent. Needs time. 94-95+
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Bruno Giacosa Rep Tastiing (State Line, Elkton MD): Deep in color, nose a bit reticent at first but blooms in the glass with time. Tannins and fruit in harmony. Long finish, deep and pure. Give it at least five years of rest, it will last for a long, long time.
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(Tasted at Berry Bros Italian Tour 2014): A wall of harmony. Incredibly balanced berry fruits and subtle earth tones. Not a lot of secondary leaf, tobacco and spice notes, but these will surely evolve. For now this is a symphony of pure, clean balance. Nothing dominates, everything sings together. Special.
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NY Wine Experience (Marriot Marquis): wow. this was good. so complex. I got cooked orange peel with cloves along with red fruits, menthol, leather, dusty cherries even rose petals. Tannins took over at end. very dry. give it a good 15-20 years.
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8/16/2023 - Jens DT Likes this wine: 95 Points
VIRKELIG lækker Barolo. Var HELT oppe at køre over den. 3L flaske😍. Smadrede Conterno fra 2008 i alm flaske.
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7/22/2023 - Musigny151 wrote:
2008 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto Le Rocche del Falletto Riserva
A young pup indeed, but an extraordinary wine in the making. Quite bunched up, but knowing this needed time, I decanted it mid morning and tasted throughout the day, marveling at how slowly but beautifully it unfurled. All the markings of great Barolo, smoke and anise but highlighted by a gorgeous underpinning of rose petals. Finish long and layered.
I think Galloni was not a fan; not sure if he tasted an off bottle. This is serious stuff, and I am glad I have a few bottles which I hope I will be able to taste at maturity. 97
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4/14/2023 - P257pax wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1,5 hours, grewt wine but still young. Rose petals, lots of red berries, amazing long on the palate, it’s just keeps on going. Will be amazing in 5 years.
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11/20/2021 - Shorepower Likes this wine:
Double decant, young of course but great potential. Drinking well now but will evolve. Not sure why some critics complains about this wine.
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11/12/2021 - finediningnyc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Although quite young, of course, a seriously long decant of 5+ hours unleashed a glimpse of the magic of Giacosa red label. It’s incredibly aromatic and its stunning bouquet of rose petals, Christmas spices, plums, worn leather and a menthol freshness leap from the glass. A captivating perfume. On the palate it’s rich, intense and muscular, while at the same time showing elegance and grace in its weightless intensity. The finish is insanely long, seemingly going on for minutes, showing vibrance, lift and finely grained tannins. An outstanding Barolo with a long life ahead. ✨
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7/23/2021 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lean and juicy with very pretty aromatics. Decanted for 7 hours, which helped a lot, still quite youthful but definitely approachable and elegant. Long life ahead of this, but definitely give this plenty of time to open up to be most expressive at this age. I think you could honestly give it the the entire day, open it when you wake up!
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5/7/2021 - tluk wrote: 99 Points
One of the best Barolo, goes on for minutes.
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5/7/2021 - luHar1423 Likes this wine: 96 Points
My first Barolo tasting and what an entry into to world of Piedmont wines - fantastic (thanks @tluk)!
An outstanding wine, right out of the bottle, and ready to drink with nice primary notes all around cherries, pepper nuances, tannins and acidity keeping a nice balance making this wine very round and mouth filling. Maybe a bit on the young side and somehow reminds me of a Pinot Noir from Burgundy (Grand Cru quality of course).
An astonishing long finish in which all the flavor notes pay you a final visit, leaving a tasteful firework in your mouth and inner nasal area - a "quarternary" tasting experience as tluk described it and something you will dream off the next morning. Fantastic!
This is a wine to own! Hunting season for the 2008 Le Rocche Del Falletto Riserva is open. Although this vintage can be enjoyed and celebrated today, I suggest to keep them in your cellar up to one to two decades for sure. Plan your drinking window very wisely as it will be a feast!
Potential to gain 2 points with age!
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12/22/2020 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine:
This was a very good wine. It was neither closed nor opened; kinda just middling. It was tasty, with deep, dark cherry fruit, and a goodly amount of earth/soil tones, and some red clay mineral. This has a long way to go before it catches the 1985 of the same model, my benchmark for this wine.
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11/14/2020 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
Casual BBQ Wines: Ash, charcoal, raspberry and cherry on the nose. Great flavour profile, red fruit with plenty of structure sitting in behind via the acid and tannins. Great length.
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5/11/2020 - Andre Brattland wrote: 96 Points
Really closed the first hours in Decanter. Little by little, the aromas began to turn into a lovely swan with lovely rose, violet and light perfume overlaid with fresh red fruit and this distinct layer of tar that protected a touch of truffle.
Pretty full-bodied wine that also gradually began to shine in the mouthfeel, though its really tight. It's almost like reading "Don't open until 2050" in the wine. Here it is indescribable concentration and depth. Pretty red fruit, a little orange fruit peel, clear cool tea and lovely spicy finish.
Shall we talk about the tannins? Yes we do. REFERENCE tannins! High alcohol (14.5%) indicates that Giacosa and co have let the grapes hang for a long time to get Phenolic ripeness. They have succeeded. No green tones at all. Firm but perfect tannins. This is brilliant work!
Although this is a wine for the connoisseur today, there is nothing to hide under a chair that this will be completely magical. Calls 96 points on this upside. This can withstand at least 30 years.
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8/16/2019 - golf and wine wrote: 97 Points
Great bottle last night at Barolo with the boys.
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10/19/2018 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 96 Points
New York Wine Experience 2018 (New York Marriott Marquis): So elegant, with sweet cherries, spice, and violet. This is just wonderfully balanced, the tannins are fine and a little grainy, but this will wear off with time. Keep this though, don't pop the cork too early.
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4/8/2017 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Opera Wine 2017 - 100 Great Producers (Verona, Italy): A decade more before it's ready? I should think so, for my palate anyway. That said, I enjoyed it, but it didn't wow me in any way, it didn't move me. Perhaps the inner beauty isn't ready to reveal itself yet, or perhaps it's just not there, that this is all there's going to be. Who can say at this young stage, and for that matter, perhaps the bottle was less than ideal. Either way, given today's performance, I would not be looking to acquire this wine for my cellar - at 52, I'm not sure I'd be alive to enjoy it if/when it decides to become glorious, assuming it can; I've seen what these can do after 20 years, and the wait's almost always worth it. HOLD!
https://www.ItalianWine.blog
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3/8/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Young, great clarity and precision of flavors, good intensity. Enjoyable now but should get much better. 93-94+
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12/19/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 90 Points
(served blind) This is one of those moments where you consider the score versus the cost, and you have to question whether one should affect the other. The controversial ‘08 Rocche was served blind, and it was clear that it was Nebbiolo. What was not clear was where it was from, and no one would have guessed Giacosa Riserva. The nose showed ripe cherry with a dusting of spice and dried orange. On the palate, I found tart red fruits with saturating minerality and a zing of fresh acidity. Youthful tannin coated the senses, drying the palate and finishing on notes of spice and cedar.
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11/12/2016 - psmith wrote: 95 Points
Ripe and dark black cherry and balsamic-type notes. Big, young wine, but certainly enough stuffing to keep this going for a long, long time.
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7/22/2016 - peternelson Likes this wine: 95 Points
At the winery with Dante: Real balsamico and incense notes, pure, intense, dried cherry, cinnamon, slight plum skin notes with very savory component; Silky, powerful, very very long tangy finish. One of the great wines of my trip, sent shivers up my spine. From 4 best plots of Faletto, mostly on limestone, 38 mo. botte grande.
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6/18/2016 - rlove wrote:
Of course this Barolo is too young to offer much hedonistic value, but today the 2008 Rocche del Falletto Riserva is too closed, backward, and dense to allow for any intellectual assessment, either. I'm not sure what to make of this wine.
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2/28/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Powerful and intense but too young and closed at this stage. Grippy tannins on the palate. Amazing finish, great structure. Excellent. Needs time. 94-95+
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10/3/2014 - lockestep Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bruno Giacosa Rep Tastiing (State Line, Elkton MD): Deep in color, nose a bit reticent at first but blooms in the glass with time. Tannins and fruit in harmony. Long finish, deep and pure. Give it at least five years of rest, it will last for a long, long time.
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9/4/2014 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 95 Points
(Tasted at Berry Bros Italian Tour 2014): A wall of harmony. Incredibly balanced berry fruits and subtle earth tones. Not a lot of secondary leaf, tobacco and spice notes, but these will surely evolve. For now this is a symphony of pure, clean balance. Nothing dominates, everything sings together. Special.
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9/2/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Very young, grippy, tannic, tight, slightly closed but wonderfully persistent, superbly structured and fine. Very very long. 94-95+
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3/27/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 96 Points
Big, complex nose with sweet, luscious fruit, herbs, spices, creamy and rich. Excellent freshness, wonderful fruit, firm structure and grip, fantastic length. Superb. 95-96+
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11/29/2013 - yiuwing_hk Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted in Great Italian Tasting Event in HK. What a good barolo.
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10/27/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 96 Points
Rare Wine Co's Giacosa Riserva Dinner (Del Posto Restaurant, NYC): Muted cherry and tar nose. Very tannic. A beast of a wine. Massive and hard to judge at this stage. Opening up slowly. Would love to follow this over night. Alas . . . 95-98?
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10/24/2013 - lolo66 wrote: 95 Points
NY Wine Experience (Marriot Marquis): wow. this was good. so complex. I got cooked orange peel with cloves along with red fruits, menthol, leather, dusty cherries even rose petals. Tannins took over at end. very dry. give it a good 15-20 years.
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