'08 is turning out to be a monumental vintage for Vajra's BdV and utterly captivating! As one of my fav CT tasters ,acyso noted in May, " It's hard to justify letting this rest in the cellar". That hits the nails on the head for me too? Yes, it likely adds further nuance w/addl cellar time but dam, this is so beautiful right now! Perfectly ripe red fruit bursting with freshness. There is density and reverbing length but no sense of needless weight. The nose is loaded with roses, berries and hints of pipe tobacco. Such a pleasure to languidly sniff & sip in a Burg glass over a couple hours prior to dinner w/a Preston & Child Special Agent Pendergast novel by the fireplace. Decanted 3pm, sips in our Burg glasses till dinner at 6pm. 14% alc goes unnoticed. One of my top wines of 2023. If you're unsure about cellaring much or any Barolo you can't go wrong with a vertical if Vajra Bric de Viola. Unlike many Barolo it drinks well throughout its drinking window in nearly any vintage.
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Barolo Dinner (Mathilde Bistro - SF): My favorite Vajra of the night. Great to see the kinship of the 08/12/13. The 08 is the most open-knit, demonstrative, and even seductive of the lot. Beautiful red fruit that sings in a quiet voice. Textbook tar and roses on all the Vajras, with the Bricco delle Viole more emphatic on the floral side, and the Ravera more emphatic on the tar side. Lovely, classical in profile, with good persistence and friendly tannins. I would love to see this with another 5 years on it - it's just missing a bit of the extra complexity that I love in aged nebbiolo. 94+
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Barolo Dinner (Mathilde, San Francisco): Fabulous aromatics, roses, floral, red fruited; impeccable balance, richly textured, while also maintaining lightness, red fruited, floral, fabulous; long finish. This is exceptional. 96
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Winemaker dinner with Giuseppe Vaira (RPM Steak - Chicago, IL): 07/08/09. First vintage fully from Giuseppe. Man this has everything and all of it in the right proportions. Amazingly, pure and energetic red and black cherry with abundant spice and floral complexity. Crystalline purity of fruit with silky tannins that provide textural complexity. Young, but in the zone. Outstanding.
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"Only for Sundays" (Chicago, IL): Pretty much my platonic ideal of a bottle of nebbiolo. Clean without any muddled notes, red fruit that's ripe but with plenty of acid, silky tannins, fruit- and floral perfume. This has it all. It still drinks a little primary right now, but that's not hiding the fact that this is a fantastic expression of nebbiolo already. It's hard to justify letting this rest in the cellar.
Clear and light in colour. On the nose there's sweet red fruit of no clear provenance, with merely a hint of tobacco that may take you to Langhe. The theme in the wine is balance and harmony. There's really nothing that grates or stands out. Fully integrated and without the usual grating tannins, searing acidity or rough aromatics of younger Nebbiolo. Just harmony in a glass. (The points tell you that the wine is somewhere between very good and excellent. It would have been more clearly excellent if it had more of an edge and a forceful identity, but it was lovely with steak and roast potatoes on Norwegian Fathers' Day.)
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This is in its drinking window & outstanding! No rush though. Plenty of life left and possibly some upside. I gave this a 4hr slow ox in my slightly larger version of the Burg shape and that worked very well. 94+ I've got 3 more and plan to open my next 2025+ Love Vajra BdV!
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Classic Barolo with rose, leather and cherries on the nose. In the mouth there's a clear note of liquorice at the end of the tasting curve. The style is restrained yet powerful, and it was absolutely a great choice with duck in blackcurrant sauce and risotto. I do wish I bought more of these wines in less than superlative vintages. They often turn out to be the best wines with food, and they do come around while the owner may still be alive.
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Lovely. Garnet. Pretty nose with a strong berry fruit core supported by secondary notes of meat, vanilla bean and licorice. Lovely style, silky fruit. A winner. (95)
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After two disappointing mid-2000s Barolos, this one danced like a champ. Lovely mid-weight nose with floral, earthy and mineral notes (really exploding after a couple of hours) over a very lively fresh palate with mid-weight, good red fruit and a lot of energy. Good long finish. If anything this perhaps is a little tight. Next bottle not to be opened for at least a couple of years. A lot of potential for a much higher score.
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One Variety -- 3 Price-Points, Blind (Los Olivos, CA): Served blind in a flight of three of the same grape variety: one inexpensive, one, mid-range and one high-end. A slightly divisive wine, with some more troubled than I was by its piercing acidity. I loved the robust structure and intensity of the wine, and thought the lifted fruit represented the elevation of the vineyard quite well. There was a touch of bitterness on the finish. In any case, this will be fun to follow in the coming years.
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Mid red. Very fragrant but intense nose. Richly floral. Intensity but with lightness of feet on palate . Fine finish with length. Lovely now but plenty of time to improve
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Surprisingly developed, with a whiff of camphor and dried funghi porcini to the fore. The palate offers healthy acidity and engaging tannins, but alas the nuances of flavour are more on the brown side - porcini, tar, leather, figs, prunes, cough syrup - than on red fruits. An off bottle? Didn't appear to be.
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Roses, camphor, and a pleasant earthy note on the nose; on the palate, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, with notes of orange peel and something between tea and earth, with moderate tannins and good acidity on the medium to long finish. This was smoother and longer on the second day, but not as complex and interesting. This was an excellent value at a little over $60. The Cellartracker drinking window looks about right.
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Given A 3hr decant. This is showing some maturity with more tar and leather than fruit. Elegant but still quite structured. Holding the palate well into a long finish. Pretty strong tannins on the back end that showed better with food.
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Double decanted and tasted in both a Grassl Cru and GGG glass for comparison. Decent nose of tart cherry, burnt orange peel, saddle leather, organic soil and a touch of anise, but wasn't as perfumed as I was hoping for. After 3 hours more nutty aromas such as roasted sliced almonds and chestnut flavors come through. Good acidity and refined tannins on the palate, though the flavor profile was a little simple. I have had the 2004 BdV recently, which was better in my opinion, but perhaps this bottle was a little off. Will save my remaining bottles to try in 5-10 years.
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Now why didn't I buy more of this!!?? Drinking very well now, but won't hold up for more than a couple of days even when using a Vacu Vin stopper, ounce opened. Guess you'll just have to drink it with friends.
Dark, full bodied, and a three ring circus in your mouth. Sooo much good stuff going on in there. Earthy, spicy, with just the right amount of cherry and softened tannins.
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Amazing nose with cherries, roses, Tobacco, tar, tea and leather. On the palate long and well balanced, with rich fruit and noticeable but also well integrated tannin. Perfect food wine.
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Still pretty closed aromatically, but so full of potential and such a perfect texture and mouthfeel. Notes of rose petals, violets, red berries, mint and some tar. It‘s medium+ bodied, feels almost weightless in the context of Barolo, has medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is excellent quality and very silky. Excellent length. A still slightly reductive but superb Bricco delle Viole. I would still give this another 3-4 years.
perfumed leather, black chocolate, orange peel, red cherries, raspberries, and blackberries, very delicate and complex nose, on the palate a bit short in the finish, curious how it will evolve in the hours to come...
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Dark garnet, touch of burnt orange on the edges. Very perfumed and rounded, displaying dried flowers, mineral and tar undertones, spices and stewed strawberries. Tremendous elegance. Soft tannin gives a lush and fleshy mouthfeel. Again excellent balance and elegance. Long and persistent finish.
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Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $60+ (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Ruby core with pale rim; lovely spice, rose petals, sandalwood, green mint, soft strawberry and cherry, cranberry and raspberry; nice mouthfeel, sappy mid, soft medicinal note, fine grain to the tannin, light fruity and seemingly young; called Cavalotto but quite off on age- if this is still this young at this age then this could be a special bottle, very impressive wine.
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One of the top wines at a recent 2008 Barolo tasting dinner. This was firing on all cylinders , round and delicious palate, elegant finish and has the stuff to age for a few decades.. One of the wines of the vintage.
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2008 Barolo Retrospective (Blind tasted) (The North End Grill): Here I found a lifted and pure expression of Barolo that wowed me with its feminine grace. The nose showed mineral-laced cherry and strawberry with a sweet dusting of spice, dried flowers and hints of balsamic. On the palate, I found soft, caressing yet lifted textures with pretty strawberry, inner rose, mineral tones, bitter herbs, and brisk acidity which added mouthwatering freshness. It finished long with fine saturating tannin, zesty acidity, saline-minerals and lingering spice. This is a classic in the making.
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Slightly closed, but already opening up a little. Perfumed notes of rose petals, crushed violets, dried red fruit, tar, also some sweet red berries, some minerality, too. It's medium bodied but with beautiful mid-palate persistence and excellent but medium-high tannin but very fine-grained. Very silky impression though. Very good and high acidity. Excellent, weightless and full of tension. Still needs some air or cellar time to integrate a little more. (95+)
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Dalluge's btl tonight. Last time I drank this was on release back in October 2013 and it was showing a lot more then, than today. It also suffered tonight being along side a more ready to go 05 Barolo and fascinating fully mature '94 Barabresco. Really unfair. Stand alone maybe I wouldn't have noticed how closed down this was tonight. I'm very happy, for me, Dave brought it along as I know now I need to keep my hands off my 4 remaining for at least 3 more years minimum. If, I had to score the wine tonight it would be 90pts waiting to mature to potentially 97pts, someday. Best to catch this producer on release or 15yrs out, I'm learning. Not tannic but very primary at this point.
Nesten i overkant innsmigrende. Voldsom frukt, ekstremt fet, deilig, selvsagt, men barolo skal helst være smalere. Kirsebærstein og mørke blomster. Max 16 grader C. Venter et år med neste.
Gorgeous aromatics of mint, dark red fruit, spices, and licorice. The mint gains prominence with air, joined by aromas of fresh violet. A racy palate; dense and full of flavor, but lifted by strong acidity that gives the wine good structure. A slightly sweet and drying cherry flavor coats the entire palate. With more air, the violets and even darker fruits come out and the weight of the wine shows itself. This note doesn’t do the bottle justice. Rated 2 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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Expectedly primary With a cooler sided darker fruit profile. Plenty of structure and tannins, with excellent balance. Much promise here and scored on potential
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Sampled over two days. The enthralling perfume features blueberry liqueur, crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, mulberry, floral elements, spring and holiday potpourri, tar, sweet tobacco, and minerality from the outset. A strikingly seductive bouquet for Barolo. The sweetly viscous attack and harmoniously expansive middle disguise the wine's sheer power that makes its presence known at the back with bracing tannic structure. High acid moderates this density however, imparting an impression of overall lightness. Many moons from maturity, yet remarkably approachable now. Drink through 2030+.
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Enjoyed at home alone. Pleasantly subtle nose of red berries. Palate was slightly closed initially but could sense a certain refinement. After a few days in the fridge(!), it opened progressively and flavors became more focused and frontal. Can see this getting better with time.
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Vinous Terroirs of Barolo dinner. Another fantastic traditional Barolo in the making. Kept evolving in the glass and finished with considerable length. Give it 4 or 5 more years of cellar time.
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Day 1 decanted 1 hour, tight but showing beautiful notes of violet, rich raspberry and cassis. In the mouth, fairly well integrated considering the young age. Not a classic version of barolo, definitely modern and delicious nonetheless. This has a lot of legs ahead of it. Have a couple glasses leftover to check out tomorrow.......
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Six hour decant. Overall a cool and reserved wine. Great purity and beautifully fragrant florals, with a nice dose of licorice. This is so very primary, but has an ethereal beauty that transcends my expectations. A bit of warmth on the nose and on the finish balances the otherwise cool character of the wine. Truly lovely Barolo. Clearly needs some time to really strut its stuff, but it's still a pleasure to drink now. Hold for another six or seven years before trying again.
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Nebbiolo: I mirtilli e le viole, il bosco, umido, profuma di pic-nic, balsamico di tabacco mentolato, confetto rosa, chiodi di garofano, iodato, elegante, generoso, preciso, buono. Sale e agrumi. Crea un varco nella bocca tipo tunnel e s'inabissa nel palato lasciando una sensazione di freschezza minerale tesa e tagliente.
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Clearly too young, but a really beautiful high altitude Barolo. Great elegance and balance and very pretty dark cherry fruit with nice underlying minerality. This should be fantastic with time.
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This is absolutely one the 5 best reds I've drank this year. Such a complete wine and such a headturner. I double decanted an hour before dinner and immediately poured a glass to access. It took all of about 3 minutes before the freshest aroma of violets wafed from the glass. I knew then this might be a special wine. My first sip confirmed my excitement. This wine has major depth and length and yet is well focused. The velvety mouthfeel is welcoming and rewarding while the acid keeps this vibrant. Great with or without food and superb already on release. I will be buying more of these next week. Could easily be mistaken for Grand Cru Burgundy. When a great blt like this comes along, you know it immediately. 14% Alc Paid $66 and drinks like $150+.
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Decanted and poured about 30 minutes later, this wine gave an outstanding showing. The aromatics offer a detailed combination of floral notes, red fruits, spice, mocha and tar notes. The expressive bouquet evolves with airing revealing multiple layers that are balanced and focused. The color is a tarnished medium ruby. The medium (full) bodied palate shows detail and balance with a sense of underlying structure. Although this does drink well now with decanting and air time, the wine does give the impression that it will benefit form additional bottle age. The first experience with this producer, this bottle gave an excellent introduction.
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Sweet red berries and almonds on day 1, more layers and earthy depth on day 2. Fresh, silky and elegant, with a slightly warm spicy finish. We'll let the remaining bottles rest and develop.
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Umiddelbart mandel, rørte jordbær og en voldsom floralitet. Heftige tanniner fra frukt, saftig og lang. Etter hvert mer jordbær som tidligere har gått igjen i 08-piemonte, med luft noe mer tretanniner. Noe våt pels som senere blåser av. Flott konsentrasjon som holdes oppe av tanniner og syre. Flott balanse. Dag 2 er den ganske lik men med enda bedre balanse mot en sømløs munnfølelse. Tredje dagen er frukten mørkere og dypere, samt at vinen heller mer mot tjære og tørr asfalt.
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Åpnet som en del av "prosjekt 2008". Drukket så langt over tre dager, stående i kjelleren med korken i. Overraskende tilgjengelig på dag 1, rett fra flasken. Roser, lavendel, tjære, fersk tobakk. Fioler. Mye kjøligere frukt enn PdB 08. Meget sakte utvikling dag 2 og 3, bare enda mer åpen. Dette lover godt!
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Trying another bottle after my odd experience with this wine at Antonio's La Festa. Open 30 minutes in the decanter: To my nose, it smells strongly of cherries and vanilla. In the mouth, the wine is sweet with an undercurrent of tannin and a long cherry-licorice finish. It is a beautiful wine. After 3 hours: Continuously changing. Now the nose is all black plums with hints of licorice and tar. Gaining weight and thickness with air. The tannins are a little tart and the finish is long. Needs 8-10 years to really show its stuff. Excellent value under $60. 93-95 points.
Day 1 pop and pour. Stunning nose of rosé petals, forest floor and sandlewood. In the mouth, a very well put together wine. Certainly needs time in the bottle, but showing beautifully right now. Saving a glass to check back on and continue the tasting note.........
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Opened by mistake - was thinking it was the Vajra 2010 langhe nebbiolo. We got into the first glass and were really happy - then I took another look at the label and realized why. We'd had the 2010 langhe before and loved it for current drinking - this was much more unready but showed so much potential. Tar and roses after it got going. Dark cherries and although rough, just great mouthfeel all the way. Will save the other bottle for many years and then remember this one while having it! Very elegant even if way too young.
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12/2/2023 - chablis28 wrote: 97 Points
'08 is turning out to be a monumental vintage for Vajra's BdV and utterly captivating! As one of my fav CT tasters ,acyso noted in May, " It's hard to justify letting this rest in the cellar". That hits the nails on the head for me too? Yes, it likely adds further nuance w/addl cellar time but dam, this is so beautiful right now! Perfectly ripe red fruit bursting with freshness. There is density and reverbing length but no sense of needless weight. The nose is loaded with roses, berries and hints of pipe tobacco. Such a pleasure to languidly sniff & sip in a Burg glass over a couple hours prior to dinner w/a Preston & Child Special Agent Pendergast novel by the fireplace. Decanted 3pm, sips in our Burg glasses till dinner at 6pm. 14% alc goes unnoticed. One of my top wines of 2023. If you're unsure about cellaring much or any Barolo you can't go wrong with a vertical if Vajra Bric de Viola. Unlike many Barolo it drinks well throughout its drinking window in nearly any vintage.
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8/25/2023 - ohne_musik wrote: 94 Points
Barolo Dinner (Mathilde Bistro - SF): My favorite Vajra of the night. Great to see the kinship of the 08/12/13. The 08 is the most open-knit, demonstrative, and even seductive of the lot. Beautiful red fruit that sings in a quiet voice. Textbook tar and roses on all the Vajras, with the Bricco delle Viole more emphatic on the floral side, and the Ravera more emphatic on the tar side. Lovely, classical in profile, with good persistence and friendly tannins. I would love to see this with another 5 years on it - it's just missing a bit of the extra complexity that I love in aged nebbiolo. 94+
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8/25/2023 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opening up beautifully. More detail to follow.
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8/25/2023 - aagrawal wrote: 96 Points
Barolo Dinner (Mathilde, San Francisco): Fabulous aromatics, roses, floral, red fruited; impeccable balance, richly textured, while also maintaining lightness, red fruited, floral, fabulous; long finish. This is exceptional. 96
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5/21/2023 - Nanda wrote: 95 Points
Winemaker dinner with Giuseppe Vaira (RPM Steak - Chicago, IL): 07/08/09. First vintage fully from Giuseppe. Man this has everything and all of it in the right proportions. Amazingly, pure and energetic red and black cherry with abundant spice and floral complexity. Crystalline purity of fruit with silky tannins that provide textural complexity. Young, but in the zone. Outstanding.
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5/21/2023 - acyso wrote: 95 Points
"Only for Sundays" (Chicago, IL): Pretty much my platonic ideal of a bottle of nebbiolo. Clean without any muddled notes, red fruit that's ripe but with plenty of acid, silky tannins, fruit- and floral perfume. This has it all. It still drinks a little primary right now, but that's not hiding the fact that this is a fantastic expression of nebbiolo already. It's hard to justify letting this rest in the cellar.
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5/8/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Plum color. Nose old world. Muted integrated fruit meant to pair with food.
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5/6/2023 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with my prior notes. Plenty of life still ahead, not much bricking in color. Very much in its drinking window. Delicious!
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11/13/2022 - olemski wrote: 87 Points
Clear and light in colour. On the nose there's sweet red fruit of no clear provenance, with merely a hint of tobacco that may take you to Langhe. The theme in the wine is balance and harmony. There's really nothing that grates or stands out. Fully integrated and without the usual grating tannins, searing acidity or rough aromatics of younger Nebbiolo. Just harmony in a glass. (The points tell you that the wine is somewhere between very good and excellent. It would have been more clearly excellent if it had more of an edge and a forceful identity, but it was lovely with steak and roast potatoes on Norwegian Fathers' Day.)
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6/24/2022 - bonedoc wrote: 95 Points
decanted and drank over 2 hours w/ sausage pasta w/ truffles.
red cherry, flowers, herbs, and hints of tobacco. a lovely wine....
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4/3/2022 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Classic Barolo smack dab in its drinking window. Elegant, floral, with good structure and good fruit.
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1/31/2022 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
This is in its drinking window & outstanding! No rush though. Plenty of life left and possibly some upside. I gave this a 4hr slow ox in my slightly larger version of the Burg shape and that worked very well. 94+ I've got 3 more and plan to open my next 2025+ Love Vajra BdV!
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9/23/2021 - Motz wrote: flawed
Advanced. Showing both oxidative and vinegar-like elements. Disappointing.
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5/1/2021 - olemski wrote: 92 Points
Classic Barolo with rose, leather and cherries on the nose. In the mouth there's a clear note of liquorice at the end of the tasting curve. The style is restrained yet powerful, and it was absolutely a great choice with duck in blackcurrant sauce and risotto. I do wish I bought more of these wines in less than superlative vintages. They often turn out to be the best wines with food, and they do come around while the owner may still be alive.
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4/16/2021 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
Lovely. Garnet. Pretty nose with a strong berry fruit core supported by secondary notes of meat, vanilla bean and licorice. Lovely style, silky fruit. A winner. (95)
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4/14/2021 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 92 Points
After two disappointing mid-2000s Barolos, this one danced like a champ. Lovely mid-weight nose with floral, earthy and mineral notes (really exploding after a couple of hours) over a very lively fresh palate with mid-weight, good red fruit and a lot of energy. Good long finish. If anything this perhaps is a little tight. Next bottle not to be opened for at least a couple of years. A lot of potential for a much higher score.
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3/22/2021 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
One Variety -- 3 Price-Points, Blind (Los Olivos, CA): Served blind in a flight of three of the same grape variety: one inexpensive, one, mid-range and one high-end. A slightly divisive wine, with some more troubled than I was by its piercing acidity. I loved the robust structure and intensity of the wine, and thought the lifted fruit represented the elevation of the vineyard quite well. There was a touch of bitterness on the finish. In any case, this will be fun to follow in the coming years.
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12/21/2020 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Drank w short ribs, no decant. Ripe red cherry, hints of orange peel, round, chewy mouthfeel. Nicely done.
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12/4/2020 - redders Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mid red. Very fragrant but intense nose. Richly floral. Intensity but with lightness of feet on palate . Fine finish with length. Lovely now but plenty of time to improve
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11/20/2020 - Finare Vinare wrote: 91 Points
Surprisingly developed, with a whiff of camphor and dried funghi porcini to the fore. The palate offers healthy acidity and engaging tannins, but alas the nuances of flavour are more on the brown side - porcini, tar, leather, figs, prunes, cough syrup - than on red fruits. An off bottle? Didn't appear to be.
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8/26/2020 - RichardP wrote: 93 Points
Roses, camphor, and a pleasant earthy note on the nose; on the palate, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, with notes of orange peel and something between tea and earth, with moderate tannins and good acidity on the medium to long finish. This was smoother and longer on the second day, but not as complex and interesting. This was an excellent value at a little over $60. The Cellartracker drinking window looks about right.
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7/11/2020 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Given A 3hr decant. This is showing some maturity with more tar and leather than fruit. Elegant but still quite structured. Holding the palate well into a long finish. Pretty strong tannins on the back end that showed better with food.
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3/27/2020 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine: 91 Points
Double decanted and tasted in both a Grassl Cru and GGG glass for comparison. Decent nose of tart cherry, burnt orange peel, saddle leather, organic soil and a touch of anise, but wasn't as perfumed as I was hoping for. After 3 hours more nutty aromas such as roasted sliced almonds and chestnut flavors come through. Good acidity and refined tannins on the palate, though the flavor profile was a little simple. I have had the 2004 BdV recently, which was better in my opinion, but perhaps this bottle was a little off. Will save my remaining bottles to try in 5-10 years.
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1/12/2020 - OneOfTheBasicFoodGroups Likes this wine: 96 Points
Now why didn't I buy more of this!!?? Drinking very well now, but won't hold up for more than a couple of days even when using a Vacu Vin stopper, ounce opened. Guess you'll just have to drink it with friends.
Dark, full bodied, and a three ring circus in your mouth. Sooo much good stuff going on in there. Earthy, spicy, with just the right amount of cherry and softened tannins.
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10/5/2019 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing nose with cherries, roses, Tobacco, tar, tea and leather. On the palate long and well balanced, with rich fruit and noticeable but also well integrated tannin. Perfect food wine.
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8/18/2019 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
A Bricco delle Viole Vertical with Giuseppe Vaira (Fausto, Brooklyn, NY): [Double decanted at 1:30pm.] Muted smoky cherry nose Big rich juicy. A beautiful wine. I'm consistently amazed at how well these 2008 continue to show. 93--95
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7/4/2019 - popopdrops wrote: 88 Points
Lite frukt igjen, voldsom forandring siden 2017 og 2018, da frukten var dominerende.
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2/16/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still pretty closed aromatically, but so full of potential and such a perfect texture and mouthfeel. Notes of rose petals, violets, red berries, mint and some tar. It‘s medium+ bodied, feels almost weightless in the context of Barolo, has medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is excellent quality and very silky. Excellent length. A still slightly reductive but superb Bricco delle Viole. I would still give this another 3-4 years.
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12/30/2018 - similia wrote: 92 Points
perfumed leather, black chocolate, orange peel, red cherries, raspberries, and blackberries, very delicate and complex nose, on the palate a bit short in the finish, curious how it will evolve in the hours to come...
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10/14/2018 - Ricky99 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and pour
burnt orange/leather on the nose and palate... rustic in style
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7/29/2018 - Ricky99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Real beauty.. shared at Di Serafino's in Avalon. Round, sophisticated.
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6/3/2018 - Phenol73 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark garnet, touch of burnt orange on the edges. Very perfumed and rounded, displaying dried flowers, mineral and tar undertones, spices and stewed strawberries. Tremendous elegance. Soft tannin gives a lush and fleshy mouthfeel. Again excellent balance and elegance. Long and persistent finish.
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5/10/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Vajra & Baudana Barolo Dinner (Ai Fiori (Langham Hotel on 5th Ave)): Another '08 lovely. Darker red fruits. Currants and plums. It's a bit young still as well. And on the intense side again. But nice.
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5/4/2018 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Friday Night Double Blind Tasting $60+ (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Ruby core with pale rim; lovely spice, rose petals, sandalwood, green mint, soft strawberry and cherry, cranberry and raspberry; nice mouthfeel, sappy mid, soft medicinal note, fine grain to the tannin, light fruity and seemingly young; called Cavalotto but quite off on age- if this is still this young at this age then this could be a special bottle, very impressive wine.
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2/27/2018 - cardsandwine wrote:
One of the top wines at a recent 2008 Barolo tasting dinner. This was firing on all cylinders , round and delicious palate, elegant finish and has the stuff to age for a few decades.. One of the wines of the vintage.
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2/27/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 95 Points
2008 Barolo Retrospective (Blind tasted) (The North End Grill): Here I found a lifted and pure expression of Barolo that wowed me with its feminine grace. The nose showed mineral-laced cherry and strawberry with a sweet dusting of spice, dried flowers and hints of balsamic. On the palate, I found soft, caressing yet lifted textures with pretty strawberry, inner rose, mineral tones, bitter herbs, and brisk acidity which added mouthwatering freshness. It finished long with fine saturating tannin, zesty acidity, saline-minerals and lingering spice. This is a classic in the making.
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1/19/2018 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Slightly closed, but already opening up a little. Perfumed notes of rose petals, crushed violets, dried red fruit, tar, also some sweet red berries, some minerality, too. It's medium bodied but with beautiful mid-palate persistence and excellent but medium-high tannin but very fine-grained. Very silky impression though. Very good and high acidity. Excellent, weightless and full of tension. Still needs some air or cellar time to integrate a little more. (95+)
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12/16/2017 - chablis28 wrote:
Dalluge's btl tonight. Last time I drank this was on release back in October 2013 and it was showing a lot more then, than today. It also suffered tonight being along side a more ready to go 05 Barolo and fascinating fully mature '94 Barabresco. Really unfair. Stand alone maybe I wouldn't have noticed how closed down this was tonight. I'm very happy, for me, Dave brought it along as I know now I need to keep my hands off my 4 remaining for at least 3 more years minimum. If, I had to score the wine tonight it would be 90pts waiting to mature to potentially 97pts, someday. Best to catch this producer on release or 15yrs out, I'm learning. Not tannic but very primary at this point.
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12/16/2017 - Ricky99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank w my wife at a nice rustic Italian place. Mmmmmmm
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10/15/2017 - popopdrops wrote: 92 Points
Nesten i overkant innsmigrende. Voldsom frukt, ekstremt fet, deilig, selvsagt, men barolo skal helst være smalere. Kirsebærstein og mørke blomster. Max 16 grader C. Venter et år med neste.
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12/21/2016 - SeedfamilyD Likes this wine: 88 Points
많은 사람들 사이에서 세병째로 마셔서인가 존재감이 없었던 아쉬움... 그동안 좋았던 바롤로였는데 ㅠㅠ
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10/29/2016 - Tavastgatan wrote: 92 Points
Lovely bottle of Barolo. Deep dark and ripe cherries, with lots minty notes. Very good.
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9/3/2016 - kevinacohn wrote:
Gorgeous aromatics of mint, dark red fruit, spices, and licorice. The mint gains prominence with air, joined by aromas of fresh violet. A racy palate; dense and full of flavor, but lifted by strong acidity that gives the wine good structure. A slightly sweet and drying cherry flavor coats the entire palate. With more air, the violets and even darker fruits come out and the weight of the wine shows itself. This note doesn’t do the bottle justice. Rated 2 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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4/29/2016 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Consistent with my prior notes.
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4/17/2016 - Gjagai Likes this wine: 92 Points
Awesomeness in a bottle.
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2/5/2016 - cct wrote: 94 Points
From the 2016 Festa Gala Dinner
Expectedly primary With a cooler sided darker fruit profile. Plenty of structure and tannins, with excellent balance. Much promise here and scored on potential
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2/5/2016 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gala Dinner at Antonio Galloni's La Festa del Barolo (Four Seasons Restaurant, NYC): Light ethereal nose of cherries and truffles. Complex and young, with tasty sour cherries. Quite enjoyable now with food, but surely even better in 10 year. 93-95
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1/7/2016 - Motz wrote: 96 Points
Sampled over two days. The enthralling perfume features blueberry liqueur, crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, mulberry, floral elements, spring and holiday potpourri, tar, sweet tobacco, and minerality from the outset. A strikingly seductive bouquet for Barolo. The sweetly viscous attack and harmoniously expansive middle disguise the wine's sheer power that makes its presence known at the back with bracing tannic structure. High acid moderates this density however, imparting an impression of overall lightness. Many moons from maturity, yet remarkably approachable now. Drink through 2030+.
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4/15/2015 - Burgundio wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed at home alone. Pleasantly subtle nose of red berries. Palate was slightly closed initially but could sense a certain refinement. After a few days in the fridge(!), it opened progressively and flavors became more focused and frontal. Can see this getting better with time.
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2/15/2015 - Lordswood wrote: 91 Points
Lovely perfume, persistence and tannin. Still very young, but delicious already
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10/29/2014 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Vinous Terroirs of Barolo dinner. Another fantastic traditional Barolo in the making. Kept evolving in the glass and finished with considerable length. Give it 4 or 5 more years of cellar time.
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8/14/2014 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Day 1 decanted 1 hour, tight but showing beautiful notes of violet, rich raspberry and cassis. In the mouth, fairly well integrated considering the young age. Not a classic version of barolo, definitely modern and delicious nonetheless. This has a lot of legs ahead of it. Have a couple glasses leftover to check out tomorrow.......
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6/29/2014 - fdusonchet wrote: 95 Points
Rose fruité rouge fleure blanche cerise tanin fin et gourmand
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5/31/2014 - fdusonchet wrote: 97 Points
Fruit incroyable rose fraise framboise tendre féminin et tellement réconfortant !
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5/22/2014 - xwine wrote:
Six hour decant. Overall a cool and reserved wine. Great purity and beautifully fragrant florals, with a nice dose of licorice. This is so very primary, but has an ethereal beauty that transcends my expectations. A bit of warmth on the nose and on the finish balances the otherwise cool character of the wine. Truly lovely Barolo. Clearly needs some time to really strut its stuff, but it's still a pleasure to drink now. Hold for another six or seven years before trying again.
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3/27/2014 - paolonardi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nebbiolo: I mirtilli e le viole, il bosco, umido, profuma di pic-nic, balsamico di tabacco mentolato, confetto rosa, chiodi di garofano, iodato, elegante, generoso, preciso, buono. Sale e agrumi. Crea un varco nella bocca tipo tunnel e s'inabissa nel palato lasciando una sensazione di freschezza minerale tesa e tagliente.
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3/15/2014 - skurtz wrote: 92 Points
PNP at Lilette in New Orleans. This was very young but delicious, primary flavor bright cherry and tannins. Will do well over time.
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12/28/2013 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dekantert 4 timer. Vidunderlig allerede! Aldri vært borti det samme fra denne marken så tidlig. Har vi en Jussi Björling på gang?
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12/9/2013 - bill00 wrote: 94 Points
Clearly too young, but a really beautiful high altitude Barolo. Great elegance and balance and very pretty dark cherry fruit with nice underlying minerality. This should be fantastic with time.
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10/19/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 95 Points
This is absolutely one the 5 best reds I've drank this year. Such a complete wine and such a headturner. I double decanted an hour before dinner and immediately poured a glass to access. It took all of about 3 minutes before the freshest aroma of violets wafed from the glass. I knew then this might be a special wine. My first sip confirmed my excitement. This wine has major depth and length and yet is well focused. The velvety mouthfeel is welcoming and rewarding while the acid keeps this vibrant. Great with or without food and superb already on release. I will be buying more of these next week. Could easily be mistaken for Grand Cru Burgundy. When a great blt like this comes along, you know it immediately. 14% Alc Paid $66 and drinks like $150+.
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10/2/2013 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
Russk. Stacole tasting at Rubell. Young still.
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6/21/2013 - sehill Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted and poured about 30 minutes later, this wine gave an outstanding showing. The aromatics offer a detailed combination of floral notes, red fruits, spice, mocha and tar notes. The expressive bouquet evolves with airing revealing multiple layers that are balanced and focused. The color is a tarnished medium ruby. The medium (full) bodied palate shows detail and balance with a sense of underlying structure. Although this does drink well now with decanting and air time, the wine does give the impression that it will benefit form additional bottle age. The first experience with this producer, this bottle gave an excellent introduction.
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6/10/2013 - Finare Vinare wrote: 93 Points
Sweet red berries and almonds on day 1, more layers and earthy depth on day 2. Fresh, silky and elegant, with a slightly warm spicy finish. We'll let the remaining bottles rest and develop.
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6/7/2013 - obmoen wrote: 93 Points
Umiddelbart mandel, rørte jordbær og en voldsom floralitet. Heftige tanniner fra frukt, saftig og lang. Etter hvert mer jordbær som tidligere har gått igjen i 08-piemonte, med luft noe mer tretanniner. Noe våt pels som senere blåser av. Flott konsentrasjon som holdes oppe av tanniner og syre. Flott balanse. Dag 2 er den ganske lik men med enda bedre balanse mot en sømløs munnfølelse. Tredje dagen er frukten mørkere og dypere, samt at vinen heller mer mot tjære og tørr asfalt.
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6/2/2013 - stiang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Åpnet som en del av "prosjekt 2008". Drukket så langt over tre dager, stående i kjelleren med korken i. Overraskende tilgjengelig på dag 1, rett fra flasken. Roser, lavendel, tjære, fersk tobakk. Fioler. Mye kjøligere frukt enn PdB 08. Meget sakte utvikling dag 2 og 3, bare enda mer åpen. Dette lover godt!
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5/24/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
Trying another bottle after my odd experience with this wine at Antonio's La Festa. Open 30 minutes in the decanter: To my nose, it smells strongly of cherries and vanilla. In the mouth, the wine is sweet with an undercurrent of tannin and a long cherry-licorice finish. It is a beautiful wine. After 3 hours: Continuously changing. Now the nose is all black plums with hints of licorice and tar. Gaining weight and thickness with air. The tannins are a little tart and the finish is long. Needs 8-10 years to really show its stuff. Excellent value under $60. 93-95 points.
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5/16/2013 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
Day 1 pop and pour. Stunning nose of rosé petals, forest floor and sandlewood. In the mouth, a very well put together wine. Certainly needs time in the bottle, but showing beautifully right now. Saving a glass to check back on and continue the tasting note.........
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4/27/2013 - kenv wrote:
2008 Barolo Tasting at Antonio Galloni's La Festa del Barolo (Del Posto Restaurant, NYC): Strong vanilla nose. Lovely fruit and structure partially hidden behind new oak. Judgement reserved. After the tasting, I checked and Vajra uses no new oak. I will have to try another bottle. My note doesn't match anyone else's perception of this wine.
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1/18/2013 - pismo45 wrote: 93 Points
Opened by mistake - was thinking it was the Vajra 2010 langhe nebbiolo. We got into the first glass and were really happy - then I took another look at the label and realized why. We'd had the 2010 langhe before and loved it for current drinking - this was much more unready but showed so much potential. Tar and roses after it got going. Dark cherries and although rough, just great mouthfeel all the way. Will save the other bottle for many years and then remember this one while having it! Very elegant even if way too young.
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11/16/2012 - JOsgood wrote:
Pure Nebbiolo fruit. There are roses, hints of tar and mint. Promising young wine.
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11/8/2012 - EMichels wrote: 93 Points
Very expressive nose - fruit; Rich; Long; Solid tannins without being overwhelming; Very, very nice; +
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11/5/2012 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure before WWS 2012; 11/4/2012-11/11/2012 (La Morra): A bit tight, cherry fruit, licorice, mineral and raw mushroom. Medium concentration, a bit tight and noticeable tannins make the wine slightly austere. Need time.
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