Mature brown. Opened for about 6 hours before drinking but not decanted. Had a few tastes over that time and was disappointed - it was rubbery and synthetic. But then in typical Barolo fashion it was totally transformed with food (on this occasion an oxtail pithivier) - completely integrated plum, prune, raisin, violet, mint, leather...and totally resolved tannins. Classy, perfectly mature. An absolute pleasure. My last bottle, but ended on a high note.
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So much better than last time! Poured a glass and allowed bottle to breathe without decanting. Almost bordeaux-like mint and cigar opens the nose, but then follow more typical plum, liquorice and violet notes. Palate is supple and mature. Showing brilliantly. Drink or hold.
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Excellent- pop and pour in a restaurant- better after 45 mins but great throughout. The last of my case, and I’m sad to have finished these. There was considerable bottle variation within the case but this was one of the least developed with loads of bramble dark fruit, soft tannins, lively acidity and a great nose.
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Opened 6 hours before drinking- looking at my previous note this bottle is significantly more evolved. Following a joyful vibrant and much younger Barbaresco riserva it felt over the hill until paired with Langres cheese and then it was perfect! Plums, mulberry soup, lovely nose and integrated tannins, evolved finish that needed the cheese course to make the medierà notes a plus. And they were!
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Fruit day Big nose on opening- first two sips revealed towering austerity and an imperious personality- looking forward to this! Dried Orange peel and some dried red fruits as part of a punchy palate with Smokey spice and lots of tar Drying tannins grip and persist in an evolving long finish where the tastes almost unwind in reverse from the tannin and tar back through the fruit and dried pith at the end. Good start! 4 hours later As soon as food enters the equation the fruit fills out and a sweet note appears in the previously implacably austere edifice- just enough to evoke a “yum” amongst the impressiveness. Open 6 hours Rounded out- singing in the glass! 100% better with food and 100% delicious- ended up (open 7 hours) blackberries on the palate and dried earth on the nose. Most enjoyable!
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Second time Rating - better than first time. Only did a short decant of 30 min. Medium ruby Color. Lots of cherry, Licorice, smoke on the nose. Med acidity, full body, high alcohol, med tannins, Med+ flavor intensity, Med+ finish. Nice and round, cherry flavor, smoke, earth, mushroom, saltiness, a nice mix of primary, secondary, tertiary notes. Like it much better than last time!
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First time trying this wine for a dinner with some nice and fresh tacos from superloco in Singapore. Decanted for 2 hours. Deep ruby to light tawny Color. Lots of tertiary notes with black fruits on the nose. Med+ acidity, High alcohol, full body, Med+ flavor intensity, Med+ finish. Lots of smoke and pepper with still enough acidity to evolve further. Also quite salty and mineral, interesting. Missed a bit of roundness which might come later. Enjoyable now but would recommend to age a bit further. Another 6 bottles to test the assumption ;)
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A very frustrating experience. This bottle had no evidence of browning as some others have suggested. A light cherry red with hints of pink. On opening, and indeed for hours, the note was almost entirely closed. Some dark raisin character struggling to get out. The palate opens with a whack of acid and fine sandy tannins. So closed was it that I opened another Barolo that I knew to be more open (Brezza Cannubi 2010) so as not to be disappointed. But on serving with food (a game stew) suddenly it came alive with some dark plum and raisin aromatics, and ironically the Brezza faded into the background. Such is the elusive nature of Barolo...
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Browning colour like a tawny port. Amazing nose of liquorice, tar, dark fruit. On palate some dill, liquorice, leather, dark fruits like really ripe blackberries. Still tannic but refined. Complex and still has years to go. Worth it for the bouquet alone.
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Vajra & Baudana Barolo Dinner (Ai Fiori (Langham Hotel on 5th Ave)): I really liked this wine. It's softer in nature than the younger vintages. Still a touch on the tight side, but it opened up quite nicely over time. Maybe a bit of the floral now. Would love to see it again in another 5-10 years.
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Pretty ruby color. Fresh notes of red and darker red fruit, dried flowers, a little bit of tar, also some spices and herbal notes. It's medium-full bodied, has medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is very silky. Very good length. A pretty Cerretta that combines the elegance of the 2008 vintage and the house style (Vajra) with this Serralunga Cru (that is also pretty refined). More about elegance than power. Not the last word about complexity but a very nice Cerretta.
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Four Piemontese and a Burg: A tarry, attractive nose of dark flowers, blackberries and graphite. On palate, a lot of dry extract. On point dryness, line and length. Much darker fruit spectrum than the Marcarini. Seemingly quite ripe, plusher fruit than the Marcarini. My preferred wine of the two. Rich and oppulent but with sufficient acidity. Relatively approachable now but could use 5-7 years in the cellar.
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This was starting to open up a little, revealing remarkable complexity with a touch of high tone spiciness. Really fine tannins, a great mid-palate, and notes of cherries, mint/licorice, and tobacco. Keep another 10 years.
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Tasted at the winery in Barolo. Compared with the other wines from this wonderful family with a tradition of excellence, humility and farming. Still a young adolescent, this wine is growing up beautifully. With the structure and architecture of a top-drawer nebbiolo but with the approachable quality that only the Serralunga brings, this was my favorite of the tasting. It may not have the finesse of the Bricco del Viole, but a wonderful wine none the less.
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I am beginning to think that Cerretta is the heart and soul of Barolo because this vineyard, for me is the paragon of Barolo. This wine is amazing. Let me repeat; amazing. A transcendent and religious experience to taste this wine at the Vajra estate.
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Tasted @ winery. Medium-dark ruby/brick color. Very classy nose of red berries, flowers (violets & roses), some tar, coffee and leather. Hits the palate with very classic Barolo flavors. Full body, but in a very sophisticated and elegant style. Medium+ acidity and very silky medium+ tannins add structure. Great leng5h. A beautiful, complex and elegant interpretation of Serralunga. It's all about finesse...
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Gambero Rosso 2013 (Metropolitan Pavilion): The nose showed tart wild berries, dark, brooding Serralunga mineral and earth tones and wild herbs. On the palate, it showed sweet red fruit with soft textures and hints of spice and vanilla. The finish was tart and a little short, but if I’ve learned anything about Barolo, it’s that the wines of Serralunga tend to need time to gain weight in the bottle.
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3/26/2023 - gtilley wrote:
Mature brown. Opened for about 6 hours before drinking but not decanted. Had a few tastes over that time and was disappointed - it was rubbery and synthetic. But then in typical Barolo fashion it was totally transformed with food (on this occasion an oxtail pithivier) - completely integrated plum, prune, raisin, violet, mint, leather...and totally resolved tannins. Classy, perfectly mature. An absolute pleasure. My last bottle, but ended on a high note.
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6/22/2022 - gtilley wrote:
So much better than last time! Poured a glass and allowed bottle to breathe without decanting. Almost bordeaux-like mint and cigar opens the nose, but then follow more typical plum, liquorice and violet notes. Palate is supple and mature. Showing brilliantly. Drink or hold.
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12/27/2021 - ShakinSwedens Likes this wine:
Excellent- pop and pour in a restaurant- better after 45 mins but great throughout. The last of my case, and I’m sad to have finished these. There was considerable bottle variation within the case but this was one of the least developed with loads of bramble dark fruit, soft tannins, lively acidity and a great nose.
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8/14/2021 - ShakinSwedens Likes this wine:
Opened 6 hours before drinking- looking at my previous note this bottle is significantly more evolved. Following a joyful vibrant and much younger Barbaresco riserva it felt over the hill until paired with Langres cheese and then it was perfect! Plums, mulberry soup, lovely nose and integrated tannins, evolved finish that needed the cheese course to make the medierà notes a plus. And they were!
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6/6/2021 - Sennma wrote: flawed
Badly corked
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1/21/2021 - ShakinSwedens Likes this wine:
Fruit day
Big nose on opening- first two sips revealed towering austerity and an imperious personality- looking forward to this!
Dried Orange peel and some dried red fruits as part of a punchy palate with Smokey spice and lots of tar
Drying tannins grip and persist in an evolving long finish where the tastes almost unwind in reverse from the tannin and tar back through the fruit and dried pith at the end. Good start!
4 hours later
As soon as food enters the equation the fruit fills out and a sweet note appears in the previously implacably austere edifice- just enough to evoke a “yum” amongst the impressiveness.
Open 6 hours
Rounded out- singing in the glass! 100% better with food and 100% delicious- ended up (open 7 hours) blackberries on the palate and dried earth on the nose.
Most enjoyable!
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6/28/2020 - bram_epicurien Likes this wine: 91 Points
Second time Rating - better than first time. Only did a short decant of 30 min. Medium ruby Color. Lots of cherry, Licorice, smoke on the nose. Med acidity, full body, high alcohol, med tannins, Med+ flavor intensity, Med+ finish. Nice and round, cherry flavor, smoke, earth, mushroom, saltiness, a nice mix of primary, secondary, tertiary notes. Like it much better than last time!
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5/1/2020 - bram_epicurien Likes this wine: 89 Points
First time trying this wine for a dinner with some nice and fresh tacos from superloco in Singapore. Decanted for 2 hours. Deep ruby to light tawny Color. Lots of tertiary notes with black fruits on the nose. Med+ acidity, High alcohol, full body, Med+ flavor intensity, Med+ finish. Lots of smoke and pepper with still enough acidity to evolve further. Also quite salty and mineral, interesting. Missed a bit of roundness which might come later. Enjoyable now but would recommend to age a bit further. Another 6 bottles to test the assumption ;)
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2/17/2020 - gtilley wrote:
A very frustrating experience. This bottle had no evidence of browning as some others have suggested. A light cherry red with hints of pink. On opening, and indeed for hours, the note was almost entirely closed. Some dark raisin character struggling to get out. The palate opens with a whack of acid and fine sandy tannins. So closed was it that I opened another Barolo that I knew to be more open (Brezza Cannubi 2010) so as not to be disappointed. But on serving with food (a game stew) suddenly it came alive with some dark plum and raisin aromatics, and ironically the Brezza faded into the background. Such is the elusive nature of Barolo...
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8/24/2019 - batstongue Likes this wine: 93 Points
Browning colour like a tawny port. Amazing nose of liquorice, tar, dark fruit. On palate some dill, liquorice, leather, dark fruits like really ripe blackberries. Still tannic but refined. Complex and still has years to go. Worth it for the bouquet alone.
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5/10/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Vajra & Baudana Barolo Dinner (Ai Fiori (Langham Hotel on 5th Ave)): I really liked this wine. It's softer in nature than the younger vintages. Still a touch on the tight side, but it opened up quite nicely over time. Maybe a bit of the floral now. Would love to see it again in another 5-10 years.
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9/16/2017 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pretty ruby color. Fresh notes of red and darker red fruit, dried flowers, a little bit of tar, also some spices and herbal notes. It's medium-full bodied, has medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is very silky. Very good length. A pretty Cerretta that combines the elegance of the 2008 vintage and the house style (Vajra) with this Serralunga Cru (that is also pretty refined). More about elegance than power. Not the last word about complexity but a very nice Cerretta.
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5/27/2016 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:
Four Piemontese and a Burg: A tarry, attractive nose of dark flowers, blackberries and graphite. On palate, a lot of dry extract. On point dryness, line and length. Much darker fruit spectrum than the Marcarini. Seemingly quite ripe, plusher fruit than the Marcarini. My preferred wine of the two. Rich and oppulent but with sufficient acidity. Relatively approachable now but could use 5-7 years in the cellar.
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8/29/2015 - Jack O'Brien wrote:
Still a beautiful bottle... aggressive tannins and a powerhouse wine. A touch alcoholic after a few hours but still, it's wonderful.
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8/21/2015 - yofog wrote:
This was starting to open up a little, revealing remarkable complexity with a touch of high tone spiciness. Really fine tannins, a great mid-palate, and notes of cherries, mint/licorice, and tobacco. Keep another 10 years.
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7/30/2014 - vzang Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at the winery in Barolo. Compared with the other wines from this wonderful family with a tradition of excellence, humility and farming. Still a young adolescent, this wine is growing up beautifully. With the structure and architecture of a top-drawer nebbiolo but with the approachable quality that only the Serralunga brings, this was my favorite of the tasting. It may not have the finesse of the Bricco del Viole, but a wonderful wine none the less.
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4/1/2014 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 100 Points
I am beginning to think that Cerretta is the heart and soul of Barolo because this vineyard, for me is the paragon of Barolo. This wine is amazing. Let me repeat; amazing. A transcendent and religious experience to taste this wine at the Vajra estate.
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8/11/2013 - G85 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Into a moment of tightness right now but beautiful aromatic, melted and firm for ageing.
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6/28/2013 - NostraBacchus wrote: 93 Points
Tasted @ winery. Medium-dark ruby/brick color. Very classy nose of red berries, flowers (violets & roses), some tar, coffee and leather. Hits the palate with very classic Barolo flavors. Full body, but in a very sophisticated and elegant style. Medium+ acidity and very silky medium+ tannins add structure. Great leng5h. A beautiful, complex and elegant interpretation of Serralunga. It's all about finesse...
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3/20/2013 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 89 Points
Gambero Rosso 2013 (Metropolitan Pavilion): The nose showed tart wild berries, dark, brooding Serralunga mineral and earth tones and wild herbs. On the palate, it showed sweet red fruit with soft textures and hints of spice and vanilla. The finish was tart and a little short, but if I’ve learned anything about Barolo, it’s that the wines of Serralunga tend to need time to gain weight in the bottle.
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11/16/2012 - JOsgood wrote:
Excellent. Big and powerful wine. Very deep and penetrating on the palate. Long on the finish. One for the cellar.
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11/8/2012 - EMichels wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful transparency; Great nose; Very refined with great strength; Excellent; +
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11/5/2012 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Kelly and Kevin’s excellent adventure before WWS 2012; 11/4/2012-11/11/2012 (La Morra): Beautiful nose displaying sweet red fruits, strawberry, licorice and anise. Rounder palate than the Bricco Delle Viole. Quite subtle and complex expression.
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