Still coming on strong. My last bottle, though it is still riding high. Nose is fabulous classic nebbiolo tar and floral. Palate is bright given its age, with still good acidity. The dominant flavors are cherry and smoke which give it a richness that is a delight. It still has a bit of tannic backbone, but chances are it should be drunk in the next year or two to be still great.
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Didn't take notes at the time, but showed a substantial nebbiolo nose, and a dark palate showing its age and good breeding. Still in very good shape and can go on for a while.
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I want to like this more. Might be in a weird spot in it's evolution. The nose is promising: bright tart fruit and river bed rocks. I find the palate dominated by a saline quality that blanket's the fruit. There's nice structure and the wine is interesting, but seems disjointed.
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Can't believe it took me so long to try Petterino. Huge Gattinara fan here and there are some smart folk who've said Petterino is the bees knees. This must be a recent release since it has those newfangled DOCG tags despite being a '96. It is very developed just the same, at least in the flavor department (there is still a firmness to its structure). It is essentially fruitless--well, it still has the fleshiness of its fruit but not the taste, unless the fruit is some mutant cross-breed like the nebbiolo version of Homer Simpson's tomacco(tm). (Tobacciolo? Nebbacco?) Anyway, in addition to that "I can't believe I smoked the whole box of Cubans" flavor it also has a savory, broth quality and the expected Gattinara lava rock. This is really packed with personality, although I would definitely peg it as a love-it-or-hate-it wine--not everyone can deal with this much stuff that's not fruit. I drank it over two days and much preferred it the second when all those flavors were even stronger and more steeped in, and the texture more refined, almost silky, much like an old Burgundy in fact--elegance and funk in one.
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Very youthful, pretty wine. Would never guess 1996. It's still quite primary with a good foundation of earth beneath bright cherry notes. Hints of roses and tar, but these are way in the background. The structure moves from bright acidity on the front of the palate and then becomes more tannin focused on the back. Overall a nice (if a bit simple) wine, wish it cost a bit less.
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Out of the gate a terrific Piedmont nose. On the palate there's, initially a bit of a high acid medicinal flavor. After half an hour of air, the wine starts to come together. Super fresh and super high acid. There's still a bit of oak to be integrated, but this is drinking nicely with enough time, and a great value. Certainly no rush to drink these.
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45-minute decant. Rosewater on the nose and the palate; light cherry and a faint touch of lightly sandy tannin on the palate as well. I was hoping for more power, but I wouldn't call this a disappointment. A bit simple, but nice Nebbiolo characteristics and no flaws.
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10/17/2019 - JWG wrote: 92 Points
Still coming on strong. My last bottle, though it is still riding high. Nose is fabulous classic nebbiolo tar and floral. Palate is bright given its age, with still good acidity. The dominant flavors are cherry and smoke which give it a richness that is a delight. It still has a bit of tannic backbone, but chances are it should be drunk in the next year or two to be still great.
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6/3/2017 - JWG wrote: 92 Points
Didn't take notes at the time, but showed a substantial nebbiolo nose, and a dark palate showing its age and good breeding. Still in very good shape and can go on for a while.
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1/26/2015 - RichardsFLX wrote: 88 Points
I want to like this more. Might be in a weird spot in it's evolution. The nose is promising: bright tart fruit and river bed rocks. I find the palate dominated by a saline quality that blanket's the fruit. There's nice structure and the wine is interesting, but seems disjointed.
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2/22/2014 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Can't believe it took me so long to try Petterino. Huge Gattinara fan here and there are some smart folk who've said Petterino is the bees knees. This must be a recent release since it has those newfangled DOCG tags despite being a '96. It is very developed just the same, at least in the flavor department (there is still a firmness to its structure). It is essentially fruitless--well, it still has the fleshiness of its fruit but not the taste, unless the fruit is some mutant cross-breed like the nebbiolo version of Homer Simpson's tomacco(tm). (Tobacciolo? Nebbacco?) Anyway, in addition to that "I can't believe I smoked the whole box of Cubans" flavor it also has a savory, broth quality and the expected Gattinara lava rock. This is really packed with personality, although I would definitely peg it as a love-it-or-hate-it wine--not everyone can deal with this much stuff that's not fruit. I drank it over two days and much preferred it the second when all those flavors were even stronger and more steeped in, and the texture more refined, almost silky, much like an old Burgundy in fact--elegance and funk in one.
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1/29/2014 - RichardsFLX wrote: 88 Points
Very youthful, pretty wine. Would never guess 1996. It's still quite primary with a good foundation of earth beneath bright cherry notes. Hints of roses and tar, but these are way in the background. The structure moves from bright acidity on the front of the palate and then becomes more tannin focused on the back. Overall a nice (if a bit simple) wine, wish it cost a bit less.
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12/10/2013 - Spencer wrote:
A bit more tired than my previous bottle. I would drink this now.
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11/4/2013 - RichardsFLX Likes this wine: 90 Points
Out of the gate a terrific Piedmont nose. On the palate there's, initially a bit of a high acid medicinal flavor. After half an hour of air, the wine starts to come together. Super fresh and super high acid. There's still a bit of oak to be integrated, but this is drinking nicely with enough time, and a great value. Certainly no rush to drink these.
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11/1/2013 - RichardP wrote: 88 Points
45-minute decant. Rosewater on the nose and the palate; light cherry and a faint touch of lightly sandy tannin on the palate as well. I was hoping for more power, but I wouldn't call this a disappointment. A bit simple, but nice Nebbiolo characteristics and no flaws.
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10/22/2013 - Spencer wrote:
A bit on the astringent side, but very nice. Elegant and ready to drink now.
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1/26/2013 - cos65 wrote:
Medium light chestnut colored, some light tarry and rose petal aromas. Mouth drying tannins present, but not overwhelming. A pretty wine. Recommended.
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