Pronounced nose of red cherry, iron, roses, violet, blood orange, dried herbs. High acid and tannin. Full body, intense flavour but a little one dimensional beyond the fruit. Powerful and long finish. This is good but lacks some complexity - perhaps (understandably) a product of the accelerated ripening and early picking.
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Opened and left to slow ox at cellar temp for 9 hours, then decanted an hour before serving. This was delightful, with wild berry fruit along with savory notes of tar and herbs. The palate is medium to light weight with a polished texture and possibly a slight oak gloss. I don't actually know the oak treatment here, so I could well be wrong. There are some tannins that emerge on the back end which are easily buffered by food. But this still needs time for the tannins to continue to melt, at least for my palate. There is excellent mid palate focus on the finish, suggesting good depth for further aging.
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I am enjoying this wine so much! The 2011 vintage is in the shadow of the much more heralded 2010 and also in some respects the 2013. The latest bottle of this wine did not disappoint. One thing this wine has made me do is to rethink decanting. I decided not to decant this wine and it was noticeably reticent on opening with nothing much on the nose and quite astringent on the palate. Leaving it with just the cork loosely replaced allow it to oxygenate very gently and day 2 it was simply divine - I think decanting may have rushed this a bit? The tannins had softened and it has some beautiful ripe red fruits with some light burnt sugar. It has a wonderful evocative nose with some wild strawberry and herbs and the palate is also silky and smooth with wonderful mouthfeel. I was so impressed that despite having a few bottles left I ordered another case on the strength of this tasting! I’d been keen to try the Casa Mate from the same vintage to compare it with.
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Very nice. Light to medium translucent brick red. Aromas of dry rose florals, red earth, hint of tobacco but still quite primary. Slight hint of heat, but not off putting at all. Palate is firm, dry, grippy and earthy but underneath it all it also has some raspberry and a sweetness that is very attractive. Enjoyed this and ready now, but likely to get better still.
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Had this as part of a sushi dinner and saved it for the last course, which was Japanese Wagyu with a black garlic tare. The pairing was incredible. The wine showed beautifully with bright fruit, savory minerality and the tannins were integrated and fine. These 2011s are delicious and easy to enjoy.
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Another very nice bottle of this. It has the 2011 „sweetness“ and ripeness, but it‘s undeniably Elio Grasso and Gavarini Chiniera. Slightly more accessible and not the last word about depth and complexity (no slouch either though) compared to some of the very best vintages, but it‘s so delicious and hedonistic.
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With minimum decanting in a carafe, not a decanter , this wine hit its stride. And interestingly, it lost some of the vague New World tones to incorporate a more unified moist earth, dark cherry and tobacco/smoke scent. A wonderful accompaniment to aged beef and a long finish despite the off vintage. Not Conterno to be sure, but a truly delightful wine to open now.
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Fabulous showing of this wine! Drank over a family dinner with a Prunotto Barolo 2017. Even the most unknowledgeable amongst us could taste the difference. Popped about 40 minutes prior to tasting this was immediately in its stride. Wonderful floral nose and radiant colour was more than matched by a rich palate of dark fruits. Tannin there but starting to be integrated. Best showing of this wine for me so far - ordered another case on the strength of it!
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This is pretty open and radiant, with notes of sweet red berries, pine, mint, some crushed violets and rose petals. It‘s medium-full bodied, with the typical medium-high acidity and some medium-high tannin that is silky as always. The wine is accessible and pretty open, but has many years ahead. It‘s not exactly on the level of the very best vintages here, but is partially making up for it with immediate appeal.
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An interesting first bottle from a recently acquired case. Initially extracted a couple of glasses via Coravin straight into my Riedel O decanter. Nose initially reticent and underwhelming but did evolve in glass. High acid and plenty of tannin. Dark cherry and blue fruits with the added savoury notes. It does this trick of being lean and intensely rich simultaneously. I decided to pop the cork and actually poured a glass straight from the bottle and it seemed more balanced and harmonious - maybe won’t decant the next bottle. Then had with some bresaola and Parmesan and it’s was fabulous which underlined just what a great food wine this is! On this showing I’d be keen to get some younger vintages!
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Decanted with no sediment. Tried almost immediately. Ethereal nose. Beginning to express more with time in the glass. Palate tight with loads of acid. Better with food. Signs of opening up with time in the glass. Based on other reviews, I will leave the rest for several hours and revisit. My first response was it’s very young. At 11yo, it needs at least another 11… and more. I’m a newbie at these wines. A great lesson. 8 hours after opening: Nose showing more aged fruit but still very ethereal. Middle palate fruit has filled out somewhat. Much more approachable. Rose petals and orange peel. Still needs those 11 years before I will revisit.
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My friends bottle. We talked strategy and settled on a long, 5 hour, decant that seems to have paid off. Lucious fruit, sour cherry, with some blue fruit. As the night progresses we start noticing a lot herb, tar, earthy and hints of leather. Tannins are present but not harsh and aren’t really a problem. Still good acidity. The nose, as is the case, was such a pretty bouquet of fruit and flours. The last sip is always the best. It’s young but with a solid decant it’s a joy to drink.
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Another beautiful bottle of this fantastic wine. This showed the vintage characteristics early with saturated black plums and Christmas spice on a dense but full frame. With air the wine relaxed and became more bright with brilliant notes of red raspberry and chalky minerality. This definitely benefited from some air, but the 2011s remain pretty approachable.
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Bubbles and Barolos (Serratto, Portland OR): Nose: This really needed a lot more air than I gave it. It got about 3 hours of air and didn’t fully open up until near the bitter end with Red cherries, strawberries, plums, incense, tobacco leaf, roses, herbs, tar, licorice, spice, and crushed rocks.
Taste: The feel is Full bodied with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. While the tannins are silky, there is youth to them. The feel shows off excellent depth and balance with red cherries, strawberries, plums, tobacco leaf, roses, herbs, tar, licorice, and spice notes.
Overall: This feels like it is entering its drinking window, but very much on the early side. There is still a bit of chunkiness that can be smoothed out with time, but if you give it enough air, it will show itself really well.
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Gets better every time I have it - in 2015 on release, in 2018, and today. In a great spot right now and probably for the next few years. A cool profile despite the warm year, this is just very well-balanced. Too bad it's my last one!
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This has been terrific but, despite the past notes, decanting for 90 minutes killed the fruit. So upon opening, plenty of typical tannins, and after 20 minutes, some nice, allbe they lighter, dark cherry and tar notes, with a distinct dark briary sense, all wrapped in a medium body. But the majority of the bottle after the excessive decant left a flat flavor.
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Lovely, quite secondary nose. Tar, chocolate, and slight dark fruits. Not sweet or fruity despite the year. More fruity taste. Quite some acidity and acidity
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ruby with shade of orange on the rim and pour. Nicely styled and balanced with dense concentrated flavors delivered with finesse. Has both modern and traditional characteristics. Delicious and very interesting.
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Add orange peel to the previously mentioned notes of cherry, mint, tar, and rose/violet aromatics. Beginning to show bricking and slight orange color on the rim with well-integrated tannins and secondary nuances while still having energy and tension. Never brooding, it is more lithe than muscular, and is in a great drinking window with suggested one hour decant while still evolving over several hours. Great with food or without.
Pop and pour(!). These 2011s are showing very well right now. On the nose: ripe wild strawberry, blood orange, violets...so bright and hi-toned with a touch of VA...lovely. On the palate: fantastic acidity, more blood orange, black cherry, soft tarry notes, good density, and then a bright, but still very tannic, finish. Could do with more time open, but will follow over several days.
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This is indeed a ready-to-drink quality Barolo! Not the pale auburn, old wood, and tar/cherry model, but close. Not new world but definitely a touch of that. A finely-tuned nose of cherry, smoke, tobacco and oak, with a very dark--indeed, much darker in the past year-- with a palate led by incredibly dark cherry with tar and oak overtones (less rose). A very full finish, and while the secondary complexity that comes with age is showing, it is not yet complete. Recommended with an hour in the decanter.
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A great bottle of wine, showing the personality of the vintage and class of the estate. Radiant and giving, with classic notes of bright red stone fruit, chalky minerality, violets, and mint. There is a lot of pleasure in this wine and I look forward to future bottles.
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An excellent, surprisingly accessible Barolo. Drunk over two evenings, during which it only developed a touch more savoury tar. Deep red. An attractive bouquet of red cherries, raspberries, orange zest, rose florals, brown spices and menthol. Very ripe, a suggestion of stewed plums. The spicy oak elements on the bouquet and palate not over-prominent. In the mouth, fresh and bright. Open-textured with energetic acidity and tactile tannins. Sour red cherries, old leather, dry clay, minerals, tobacco and creosote. A touch of umami. Reflecting the vintage, quite ripe. Hides its 14.5% ABV well. Ready to go now. Drink over the next 20 years.
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beautiful expression of nebiolo made in a slightly more modern style but with the pedigree of an old world wine. opened after a 2 hour decant and evolved into a lush wine of cherries, wild petite frais and a finish with notes of stewed fruits.
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The color is medium garnet. On the nose, the classic Nebbiolo markers - ripe cherries and roses, with some mature elements of tar, mushroom, forest floor and old, weatherworn wood. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, with fruit reminiscent of sour cherries, fresh and well balanced acidity and fine grained tannins. All in all a lovely, open and well structured wine, on the verge of adulthood. Ready to drink? Yes, I would say so. But there is no rush.
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Once passed the oaky first notes the wines evolves a lot into some bright Barolo with hints of leather and minty eucalyptus, interesting mix of both evolution and fresh notes, quite a nice palate too, could be 91 and ore getting better with oxydation, as the wine is just a bit worked out too much for my taste that day and generally. Still a very enjoyable and quite good Barolo from a complicated area when they are young. Keep it for 5 more and it ll show greatly I believe
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Angelica wine club - Raclette night (Strand Cellars, Croydon): Quite oak spiced, pot pourri, dried orange peel, plums and cherry. Juicy, mouth watering acidity, fruit a little muted on the palate, lashings of grippy tannins are talc textured, persists long. Nice. But, for me, a little young.
14.5% ABV. Ruby red fading to orange at the rim. This really needs some coaxing to get going. After plenty of air, sweet red cherries, blood orange, rose water and roasted herbs can be readily discerned. There are lots of red fruits on the medium-bodied palate, counterbalanced by minerals and lots of late-arriving tannins, the latter really lingering on the gums. Very young and rather foreboding at the moment, this only hints of its ultimate potential. I would wait a better part of a decade before opening another bottle. 91+.
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Just a mouthful of fun, yummy Nebbiolo fruit. Don't let the warm vintage reputation fool you - there is nothing hot, roasted, or cooked about this wine. It's red-fruited and silky and lithe, and, yes, softer than the more classic vintages, but there's no shame in that. I suspect it will drink well for some time.
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beautiful nose of rose and cherry. On the palate, this wine showed cherry, balsamic notes. This is a good wine from a poor year. it lacks the structure of a good year but that said, we enjoyed this wine with some soprasetta and soft cheese. The tannins are quite soft and the overall body and structure of this wine is lighter than in good years. best drunk over the next few years. Grasso is a great producer but again, after you drink this wine you know why I recommend only buying baroli in good/great years! In hot years, you don't get the phenolic ripeness and the standout tannins and the acidity is a bit muted.
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Barolo & Barbaresco $50 Double Blind (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Vibrant see through crimson, rim is almost onion skin; candied rose, sweet cherry, fresh, great nose though very youthful, voluptuous; sour red fruit on the palate, a mineral note on the back reminiscent of nickel, strawberry and cherry, easy to drink, acid drive is not as strong on finish, easy to drink; called '11 Produtorri Rabaja.
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Burgundian texture and finesse, bright red fruit and some darker cherry, nice minerality, ash/tar. Not the most complex or deep wine but the one wine that evening we ordered a second bottle of as it was drinking beautifully and easy after a 45 minutes decant.
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A second bottle that was not decanted for the full hour and needed it. A little unbalanced at first, but then the smoke, moist earth, leather and mild tar emerged with dark cherry overtones. The nose was full with cherry, smoke and tar and the ultimate balance was perfect with food. It does seem that different bottles will require a bit more time. A tiny bit of bottle variation is also possible.
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Absolutely delicious now. And surprising, given how young it is. Grasso extracts in this minor vintage and simple "villages' Barolo a true sense of Nebbiolo and terroir. A dark blackish color produces nose of mild violets, tar, some dark moist earth and cherry. But all mild tones without the depth or extraction of a great riserva in a great vintage. A wine made in the modern Piedmont style--decidedly NOT New World but definitely made to drink early. And well worth it to do so. Decanted for an hour after a long slo ox. It was mellifluous from the go and added smokey notes as the evening wore on. Well made.
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I haven't tasted this in almost 3 years (when I last tasted it at the winery). Needs about an hour to open up a little. Pretty notes of crushed flowers, sweet red berries, some sweet spices, some mint, minerality and pine tree. It's medium-full bodied, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is even softer than I remembered. Good length. A pretty, accessible and aromatic Gavarini that is not on the level of the very best vintages (like 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013) but accessible earlier. Good stuff and a particularly good value.
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Love these earlier drinking Barolo vintages. All sour cherry and bright fruit, maintaining good acidity and length. Crunchy texture, serious in style but approachable now I think. Great producer helps. Decanted for one hour.
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extremt stängt vin. Ver inte ifrån sig något som helst utan våld. allt finns där men just nu, gränsfall till ogenomträngligt, behöver mycket tid. 91 för dagens provning. Kommer garanterat växa (91-94)
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Light ruby red in color... lighter color than expected. Nose doesn't give up much but maybe a hint of cherry fruit and oak. On the palate this is still a young, tannic wine. Oak is the dominant flavor on the palate with a hint of vanilla and cherries. A few reviews said this is ready to drink but I think this needs a few more years. Tasting note based on a 45 minute decant.
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This wine rocked! Decanted for 30-45 minutes and enjoyed over the next hour. An awesome lush nose of dark berry, red stone fruit, mushroom and flowers leading to a an awesome palate with smooth tannin and nice acidity. Enjoyed at the Farmer's Union for my birthday.
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Mediun brick. Fruit forward nose with excellent Barolo typicity, tobacco, sandal wood, cherry. Rich palate, good acidity, tannins still young of course but can be consumed wih a short decant.
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Un Barolo corretto senza difetti fatto bene, che restituisce in bocca una buona piacevolezza. A distanza di ore, con l'aria, si scompone un po' diventando un po' "duro" di difficile beva.
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Ordered at Centro Storico in Serralunga at the urging of Alessio, whose opinion I trust implicitly. Boy was he right about this bottle. An immediately expressive nose showing cherries, rose petals, lavender, cinnamon, leather, and potpourri. The tannins are sweet and grainy and the acid makes this light on its feet, the 14.5% alcohol barely noticeable. With air, flavors of blueberry, cassis, and candied red fruits. A wine to sit with. Phenomenal now, otherworldly later? Rated 3 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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K&L Wines of Italy Tasting (Peterson Automotive Museum LA): Light red to orange on the edges. Showing dark cherries on the nose with dark chocolate and a slight nuttiness. Full bodied, but great vibrant acidity and loads of tannin on the finish.
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A look into some 2011 Barolos (My place, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose has a pronounced red fruit quality with fresh picked berries, red cherries, raspberries, roses, violets, roasted herbs, and a touch of licorice that sneaks in.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and some massive tannins. The structure is punishing, but beneath it lies some real beauty with red berries, red cherries, spice tones, licorice, and tar notes.
Overall: This is just a baby. It feels like it has a lot of room to grow, but even with 6 hours of air, it is holding back.
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Sneak Peak of 2011 Barolo (Chez Keith): Nose is brighter and more red fruited than the Casa Mate tasted side by side. Serious spice component in the aromatic. Similarly, in the mouth this is lighter and brighter than the Casa Mate. What it does have in common is a polished, smooth fruit and sweet tannin. Concentrated. Long and lifted finish. Later in the evening this had picked up another layer of depth and more chalkiness in the finish. Double decanted ~6 hours before tasting.
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2011 Barolo peek (Chicago, IL): (Double decanted about six hours before serving.) This had a relatively restrained nose and it wasn't showing off so many high-toned aromas as its Casa Mate sibling. I loved the dust on the nose here. The palate was a bit simple at this point, showing really light and sweet red fruit. This came across a touch confected as well, but there was certainly excellent restraint here. Again, the acidity was a touch light, and taking much of a back seat to the sweet red fruit.
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2011 Barolo Tasting (Chez John Morris): With its sweet cherry fruit, vermouth-esque spice, hint of vanilla, and slight kick of alcohol, the nose reminds me strongly of a good Manhattan. That's not really what I want my Barolo to be like, though. Blacker fruit on the palate, dense and tannic, lots of concentration, finishes tarry and chocolatey with perceptible alcohol. There's power here but it's more oak-derived than fruit flavors. Not bad but not my thing. My #6.
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Lifted bouquet of cherry, raspberry, cedar, and liquorice. Sweet cherry on the palate. Structured and gorgeous. This shows that 2011 energy but with a darker frame. With air this is already accessible but the patient will be rewarded. Drink starting 2018.
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Tasting at Elio Grasso (Monforte d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy): Light garnet. Full nose is layered and complex with plum, black cherry, fresh cut herbs, clove and mint. Round and fleshy on the palate with bright acidity and refined sweet tannin. Complete wine that is drinking well already. 91-94
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Raid Len's Cellar #11: Cola, redcurrant, eucalyptus and cherry. Sweet fruited palate, though there is a savoury character in behind that stops it from being mono-dimensional. Very good overall.
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The 2011 Gavarini Chiniera showed a lively and pretty bouquet of woodland pine and cedar with bright cherry, raspberry and licorice. On the palate, I found tart cherry and cranberry which darkened and sweetened as it traveled across the senses, adding balsamic tones and mint going into the finish. This was showing the 2011 exuberance, with it's focused fruit and silky finessed textures, yet still as a young Nebbiolo, with hints of fine tannin lingering on the close.
Day 2: The nose is a little deeper and darker now, with that whiff of mint and anise that I usually associate with this wine. The 2011 Gavarini Chiniera shows no signs of decline after 24-hours in a sealed, 1/2 sized bottle. The palate has picked up a note of fresh tobacco and medicinal herb, while also closing a bit from last night, as tannins appear more pronounced now. In fact, this is more of what I would expect from a young Gavarini Chiniera. I’m enjoying the grip on the finish, and a dark and bitter twang that puckers the cheeks.
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The Gavarini displays high-toned, bright red fruit aromas with a touch of spice and oak, literally jumping from the glass. You can smell the aromas from a distance. Naturally, this is tight and tannic at this stage but a very pure, fresh and slender beauty that offers impeccable precision and elegance. I prefer the 2009 at this stage and at a nice discount too.
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More red fruit on the nose than the Casa Mate, floral, less tar notes. Softer and a bit more open on the palate as well, still restrained and tight with good grip. Nice length. 92-93+
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In 2011 the differences between the Gavarini Chiniera and the Casa Mate are nicely marked. While the Gavarini Chiniera is growing on lighter calcarous sand and higher altitude, the Casa Mate is growing on heavier soil with a higher clay content and on a lower altitude.
The Gavarini Chiniera is already pretty open for business, with very pretty perfumed notes of crushed flowers, red berries, cinnamon and other sweet spices. It’s only medium+ in body but has enough mid-palate density to be balanced, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is silky and ripe. Good length. A very pretty and perfumed Barolo from this great vineyard. It doesn’t have the weight or the sheer class/perfection of the 2010 or the 2008 but it will be drinking earlier and is very pretty.
A fabulous birthday in Piemonte (Piedmont, Italy): Tar. Newspaper (think ink more than paper). Dark berry. Serious. Brooding. Some violet popping up now along with pepper and smoke. Quite precise in the mouth. Mmm, opening up. Juicy, pure, firm and focused. Driven. This is not an "easy" wine, but it is impressive. Very masculine.
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2/28/2024 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 90 Points
Pronounced nose of red cherry, iron, roses, violet, blood orange, dried herbs. High acid and tannin. Full body, intense flavour but a little one dimensional beyond the fruit. Powerful and long finish. This is good but lacks some complexity - perhaps (understandably) a product of the accelerated ripening and early picking.
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2/21/2024 - danda Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light and fruity. Elegant and lifted. Really nice now , not super complex. Drink 2023-2027 i would say. 92-93p
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2/14/2024 - jlm wrote:
Opened and left to slow ox at cellar temp for 9 hours, then decanted an hour before serving. This was delightful, with wild berry fruit along with savory notes of tar and herbs. The palate is medium to light weight with a polished texture and possibly a slight oak gloss. I don't actually know the oak treatment here, so I could well be wrong. There are some tannins that emerge on the back end which are easily buffered by food. But this still needs time for the tannins to continue to melt, at least for my palate. There is excellent mid palate focus on the finish, suggesting good depth for further aging.
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11/5/2023 - darrenhe Likes this wine: 95 Points
I am enjoying this wine so much! The 2011 vintage is in the shadow of the much more heralded 2010 and also in some respects the 2013. The latest bottle of this wine did not disappoint. One thing this wine has made me do is to rethink decanting. I decided not to decant this wine and it was noticeably reticent on opening with nothing much on the nose and quite astringent on the palate. Leaving it with just the cork loosely replaced allow it to oxygenate very gently and day 2 it was simply divine - I think decanting may have rushed this a bit? The tannins had softened and it has some beautiful ripe red fruits with some light burnt sugar. It has a wonderful evocative nose with some wild strawberry and herbs and the palate is also silky and smooth with wonderful mouthfeel. I was so impressed that despite having a few bottles left I ordered another case on the strength of this tasting! I’d been keen to try the Casa Mate from the same vintage to compare it with.
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10/31/2023 - bemeyer wrote:
Drinking nicely. Better second day. Try next bottle in a year
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10/27/2023 - Tonyboons33 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Previous tasting note spot on! In a great place now, can also hold for a handful more years.
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8/20/2023 - Hendmo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice. Light to medium translucent brick red. Aromas of dry rose florals, red earth, hint of tobacco but still quite primary. Slight hint of heat, but not off putting at all. Palate is firm, dry, grippy and earthy but underneath it all it also has some raspberry and a sweetness that is very attractive. Enjoyed this and ready now, but likely to get better still.
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7/17/2023 - CADomer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had this as part of a sushi dinner and saved it for the last course, which was Japanese Wagyu with a black garlic tare. The pairing was incredible. The wine showed beautifully with bright fruit, savory minerality and the tannins were integrated and fine. These 2011s are delicious and easy to enjoy.
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1/15/2023 - Reddark Likes this wine: 95 Points
Perfect barolo!
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11/5/2022 - danstrings Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice sleek racy black fruit, earth, cassis, leather and tar. Great balance and still loads of bright youthfulness.
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10/29/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another very nice bottle of this. It has the 2011 „sweetness“ and ripeness, but it‘s undeniably Elio Grasso and Gavarini Chiniera. Slightly more accessible and not the last word about depth and complexity (no slouch either though) compared to some of the very best vintages, but it‘s so delicious and hedonistic.
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9/16/2022 - Sotto325 wrote: 92 Points
With minimum decanting in a carafe, not a decanter , this wine hit its stride. And interestingly, it lost some of the vague New World tones to incorporate a more unified moist earth, dark cherry and tobacco/smoke scent. A wonderful accompaniment to aged beef and a long finish despite the off vintage. Not Conterno to be sure, but a truly delightful wine to open now.
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8/24/2022 - darrenhe Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fabulous showing of this wine! Drank over a family dinner with a Prunotto Barolo 2017. Even the most unknowledgeable amongst us could taste the difference.
Popped about 40 minutes prior to tasting this was immediately in its stride. Wonderful floral nose and radiant colour was more than matched by a rich palate of dark fruits. Tannin there but starting to be integrated. Best showing of this wine for me so far - ordered another case on the strength of it!
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6/3/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is pretty open and radiant, with notes of sweet red berries, pine, mint, some crushed violets and rose petals. It‘s medium-full bodied, with the typical medium-high acidity and some medium-high tannin that is silky as always. The wine is accessible and pretty open, but has many years ahead. It‘s not exactly on the level of the very best vintages here, but is partially making up for it with immediate appeal.
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4/1/2022 - darrenhe Likes this wine: 90 Points
An interesting first bottle from a recently acquired case. Initially extracted a couple of glasses via Coravin straight into my Riedel O decanter. Nose initially reticent and underwhelming but did evolve in glass. High acid and plenty of tannin. Dark cherry and blue fruits with the added savoury notes. It does this trick of being lean and intensely rich simultaneously. I decided to pop the cork and actually poured a glass straight from the bottle and it seemed more balanced and harmonious - maybe won’t decant the next bottle. Then had with some bresaola and Parmesan and it’s was fabulous which underlined just what a great food wine this is! On this showing I’d be keen to get some younger vintages!
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3/23/2022 - richard.presser Likes this wine:
Decanted with no sediment.
Tried almost immediately. Ethereal nose. Beginning to express more with time in the glass.
Palate tight with loads of acid. Better with food. Signs of opening up with time in the glass.
Based on other reviews, I will leave the rest for several hours and revisit. My first response was it’s very young. At 11yo, it needs at least another 11… and more. I’m a newbie at these wines. A great lesson.
8 hours after opening:
Nose showing more aged fruit but still very ethereal.
Middle palate fruit has filled out somewhat. Much more approachable. Rose petals and orange peel. Still needs those 11 years before I will revisit.
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3/5/2022 - Rywyine Likes this wine:
My friends bottle. We talked strategy and settled on a long, 5 hour, decant that seems to have paid off. Lucious fruit, sour cherry, with some blue fruit. As the night progresses we start noticing a lot herb, tar, earthy and hints of leather. Tannins are present but not harsh and aren’t really a problem. Still good acidity. The nose, as is the case, was such a pretty bouquet of fruit and flours. The last sip is always the best. It’s young but with a solid decant it’s a joy to drink.
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2/20/2022 - CADomer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another beautiful bottle of this fantastic wine. This showed the vintage characteristics early with saturated black plums and Christmas spice on a dense but full frame. With air the wine relaxed and became more bright with brilliant notes of red raspberry and chalky minerality. This definitely benefited from some air, but the 2011s remain pretty approachable.
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12/14/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Bubbles and Barolos (Serratto, Portland OR): Nose: This really needed a lot more air than I gave it. It got about 3 hours of air and didn’t fully open up until near the bitter end with Red cherries, strawberries, plums, incense, tobacco leaf, roses, herbs, tar, licorice, spice, and crushed rocks.
Taste: The feel is Full bodied with tart, high acidity and silky, high tannins. While the tannins are silky, there is youth to them. The feel shows off excellent depth and balance with red cherries, strawberries, plums, tobacco leaf, roses, herbs, tar, licorice, and spice notes.
Overall: This feels like it is entering its drinking window, but very much on the early side. There is still a bit of chunkiness that can be smoothed out with time, but if you give it enough air, it will show itself really well.
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11/22/2021 - David_K wrote: 93 Points
Gets better every time I have it - in 2015 on release, in 2018, and today. In a great spot right now and probably for the next few years. A cool profile despite the warm year, this is just very well-balanced. Too bad it's my last one!
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11/20/2021 - Sotto325 wrote: 90 Points
This has been terrific but, despite the past notes, decanting for 90 minutes killed the fruit. So upon opening, plenty of typical tannins, and after 20 minutes, some nice, allbe they lighter, dark cherry and tar notes, with a distinct dark briary sense, all wrapped in a medium body. But the majority of the bottle after the excessive decant left a flat flavor.
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10/22/2021 - A_rytter wrote:
Lovely, quite secondary nose. Tar, chocolate, and slight dark fruits. Not sweet or fruity despite the year. More fruity taste. Quite some acidity and acidity
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9/25/2021 - Eugenedinapoli Likes this wine:
ruby with shade of orange on the rim and pour. Nicely styled and balanced with dense concentrated flavors delivered with finesse. Has both modern and traditional characteristics. Delicious and very interesting.
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8/6/2021 - MWiking wrote: 93 Points
Börjar bli så moget och så gott. 😮
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6/14/2021 - Quaffing in Colorado wrote: 94 Points
Add orange peel to the previously mentioned notes of cherry, mint, tar, and rose/violet aromatics. Beginning to show bricking and slight orange color on the rim with well-integrated tannins and secondary nuances while still having energy and tension. Never brooding, it is more lithe than muscular, and is in a great drinking window with suggested one hour decant while still evolving over several hours. Great with food or without.
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5/29/2021 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific aromas, silky, elegant and medium body as expected for this vintage. Great.
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1/15/2021 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Pop and pour(!). These 2011s are showing very well right now. On the nose: ripe wild strawberry, blood orange, violets...so bright and hi-toned with a touch of VA...lovely. On the palate: fantastic acidity, more blood orange, black cherry, soft tarry notes, good density, and then a bright, but still very tannic, finish. Could do with more time open, but will follow over several days.
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1/14/2021 - bemeyer wrote: 97 Points
Really nice, complex and full body. Wait a few years or decant on next bottle
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6/5/2020 - sdrucker1000 wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic Barolo. Cherry, wood, a little tar. Still a little tannins but nothing overwhelming. We drank without a decant and was great from the start.
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3/30/2020 - Sotto325 wrote: 93 Points
This is indeed a ready-to-drink quality Barolo! Not the pale auburn, old wood, and tar/cherry model, but close. Not new world but definitely a touch of that. A finely-tuned nose of cherry, smoke, tobacco and oak, with a very dark--indeed, much darker in the past year-- with a palate led by incredibly dark cherry with tar and oak overtones (less rose). A very full finish, and while the secondary complexity that comes with age is showing, it is not yet complete. Recommended with an hour in the decanter.
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2/28/2020 - CADomer Likes this wine: 94 Points
A great bottle of wine, showing the personality of the vintage and class of the estate. Radiant and giving, with classic notes of bright red stone fruit, chalky minerality, violets, and mint. There is a lot of pleasure in this wine and I look forward to future bottles.
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2/26/2020 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 93 Points
An excellent, surprisingly accessible Barolo. Drunk over two evenings, during which it only developed a touch more savoury tar. Deep red. An attractive bouquet of red cherries, raspberries, orange zest, rose florals, brown spices and menthol. Very ripe, a suggestion of stewed plums. The spicy oak elements on the bouquet and palate not over-prominent. In the mouth, fresh and bright. Open-textured with energetic acidity and tactile tannins. Sour red cherries, old leather, dry clay, minerals, tobacco and creosote. A touch of umami. Reflecting the vintage, quite ripe. Hides its 14.5% ABV well. Ready to go now. Drink over the next 20 years.
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1/13/2020 - Miamidivorcelawyer Likes this wine: 93 Points
beautiful expression of nebiolo made in a slightly more modern style but with the pedigree of an old world wine. opened after a 2 hour decant and evolved into a lush wine of cherries, wild petite frais and a finish with notes of stewed fruits.
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1/11/2020 - AWBryce wrote:
judicious use of oak, ripe berries; big tannin and structure, needs a ton of time...
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10/12/2019 - RuneW Likes this wine: 91 Points
The color is medium garnet. On the nose, the classic Nebbiolo markers - ripe cherries and roses, with some mature elements of tar, mushroom, forest floor and old, weatherworn wood. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, with fruit reminiscent of sour cherries, fresh and well balanced acidity and fine grained tannins. All in all a lovely, open and well structured wine, on the verge of adulthood. Ready to drink? Yes, I would say so. But there is no rush.
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9/26/2019 - Stanrocks Likes this wine: 90 Points
Once passed the oaky first notes the wines evolves a lot into some bright Barolo with hints of leather and minty eucalyptus, interesting mix of both evolution and fresh notes, quite a nice palate too, could be 91 and ore getting better with oxydation, as the wine is just a bit worked out too much for my taste that day and generally. Still a very enjoyable and quite good Barolo from a complicated area when they are young. Keep it for 5 more and it ll show greatly I believe
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7/17/2019 - MWiking wrote: 92 Points
Har öppnar upp lite men behöver fortfarande tid
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7/9/2019 - chatters wrote:
Angelica wine club - Raclette night (Strand Cellars, Croydon): Quite oak spiced, pot pourri, dried orange peel, plums and cherry. Juicy, mouth watering acidity, fruit a little muted on the palate, lashings of grippy tannins are talc textured, persists long. Nice. But, for me, a little young.
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4/16/2019 - J o e wrote: 91 Points
14.5% ABV. Ruby red fading to orange at the rim. This really needs some coaxing to get going. After plenty of air, sweet red cherries, blood orange, rose water and roasted herbs can be readily discerned. There are lots of red fruits on the medium-bodied palate, counterbalanced by minerals and lots of late-arriving tannins, the latter really lingering on the gums. Very young and rather foreboding at the moment, this only hints of its ultimate potential. I would wait a better part of a decade before opening another bottle. 91+.
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1/1/2019 - danstrings Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bright, silky, fresh Barolo.. Nice.
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10/9/2018 - David_K Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just a mouthful of fun, yummy Nebbiolo fruit. Don't let the warm vintage reputation fool you - there is nothing hot, roasted, or cooked about this wine. It's red-fruited and silky and lithe, and, yes, softer than the more classic vintages, but there's no shame in that. I suspect it will drink well for some time.
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8/23/2018 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine: 90 Points
beautiful nose of rose and cherry. On the palate, this wine showed cherry, balsamic notes. This is a good wine from a poor year. it lacks the structure of a good year but that said, we enjoyed this wine with some soprasetta and soft cheese. The tannins are quite soft and the overall body and structure of this wine is lighter than in good years. best drunk over the next few years. Grasso is a great producer but again, after you drink this wine you know why I recommend only buying baroli in good/great years! In hot years, you don't get the phenolic ripeness and the standout tannins and the acidity is a bit muted.
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5/15/2018 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Barolo & Barbaresco $50 Double Blind (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Vibrant see through crimson, rim is almost onion skin; candied rose, sweet cherry, fresh, great nose though very youthful, voluptuous; sour red fruit on the palate, a mineral note on the back reminiscent of nickel, strawberry and cherry, easy to drink, acid drive is not as strong on finish, easy to drink; called '11 Produtorri Rabaja.
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5/15/2018 - Cailles wrote: 93 Points
Burgundian texture and finesse, bright red fruit and some darker cherry, nice minerality, ash/tar. Not the most complex or deep wine but the one wine that evening we ordered a second bottle of as it was drinking beautifully and easy after a 45 minutes decant.
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4/14/2018 - Sotto325 wrote: 92 Points
A second bottle that was not decanted for the full hour and needed it. A little unbalanced at first, but then the smoke, moist earth, leather and mild tar emerged with dark cherry overtones. The nose was full with cherry, smoke and tar and the ultimate balance was perfect with food. It does seem that different bottles will require a bit more time. A tiny bit of bottle variation is also possible.
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3/25/2018 - Sotto325 wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely delicious now. And surprising, given how young it is. Grasso extracts in this minor vintage and simple "villages' Barolo a true sense of Nebbiolo and terroir. A dark blackish color produces nose of mild violets, tar, some dark moist earth and cherry. But all mild tones without the depth or extraction of a great riserva in a great vintage. A wine made in the modern Piedmont style--decidedly NOT New World but definitely made to drink early. And well worth it to do so. Decanted for an hour after a long slo ox. It was mellifluous from the go and added smokey notes as the evening wore on. Well made.
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2/24/2018 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
I haven't tasted this in almost 3 years (when I last tasted it at the winery). Needs about an hour to open up a little. Pretty notes of crushed flowers, sweet red berries, some sweet spices, some mint, minerality and pine tree. It's medium-full bodied, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is even softer than I remembered. Good length. A pretty, accessible and aromatic Gavarini that is not on the level of the very best vintages (like 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013) but accessible earlier. Good stuff and a particularly good value.
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1/14/2018 - Milliontown wrote: 90 Points
Love these earlier drinking Barolo vintages. All sour cherry and bright fruit, maintaining good acidity and length. Crunchy texture, serious in style but approachable now I think. Great producer helps. Decanted for one hour.
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1/13/2018 - MWiking wrote: 91 Points
extremt stängt vin. Ver inte ifrån sig något som helst utan våld.
allt finns där men just nu, gränsfall till ogenomträngligt, behöver mycket tid. 91 för dagens provning. Kommer garanterat växa (91-94)
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8/6/2017 - jnocera Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light ruby red in color... lighter color than expected. Nose doesn't give up much but maybe a hint of cherry fruit and oak. On the palate this is still a young, tannic wine. Oak is the dominant flavor on the palate with a hint of vanilla and cherries. A few reviews said this is ready to drink but I think this needs a few more years. Tasting note based on a 45 minute decant.
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7/6/2017 - CRAUBER4242 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine rocked! Decanted for 30-45 minutes and enjoyed over the next hour. An awesome lush nose of dark berry, red stone fruit, mushroom and flowers leading to a an awesome palate with smooth tannin and nice acidity. Enjoyed at the Farmer's Union for my birthday.
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5/29/2017 - chatters wrote:
Vinosphere (Town Hall, Sydney): Polished oak, cream, vanilla, cherry fruit. Tight chewy tannins, big bold, massive in fact. Time required.
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5/9/2017 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Mediun brick. Fruit forward nose with excellent Barolo typicity, tobacco, sandal wood, cherry. Rich palate, good acidity, tannins still young of course but can be consumed wih a short decant.
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5/1/2017 - Euge67 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Un Barolo corretto senza difetti fatto bene, che restituisce in bocca una buona piacevolezza. A distanza di ore, con l'aria, si scompone un po' diventando un po' "duro" di difficile beva.
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9/3/2016 - kevinacohn wrote:
Ordered at Centro Storico in Serralunga at the urging of Alessio, whose opinion I trust implicitly. Boy was he right about this bottle. An immediately expressive nose showing cherries, rose petals, lavender, cinnamon, leather, and potpourri. The tannins are sweet and grainy and the acid makes this light on its feet, the 14.5% alcohol barely noticeable. With air, flavors of blueberry, cassis, and candied red fruits. A wine to sit with. Phenomenal now, otherworldly later? Rated 3 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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5/29/2016 - despore wrote: 92 Points
Evolved so much over 6 hours, tannins still firm but fruit more apparent, bouquet rich, still young but showing well.
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2/25/2016 - Aravind Asok wrote:
K&L Wines of Italy Tasting (Peterson Automotive Museum LA): Light red to orange on the edges. Showing dark cherries on the nose with dark chocolate and a slight nuttiness. Full bodied, but great vibrant acidity and loads of tannin on the finish.
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2/10/2016 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
A look into some 2011 Barolos (My place, Chicago IL): Nose: The nose has a pronounced red fruit quality with fresh picked berries, red cherries, raspberries, roses, violets, roasted herbs, and a touch of licorice that sneaks in.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and some massive tannins. The structure is punishing, but beneath it lies some real beauty with red berries, red cherries, spice tones, licorice, and tar notes.
Overall: This is just a baby. It feels like it has a lot of room to grow, but even with 6 hours of air, it is holding back.
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2/10/2016 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Sneak Peak of 2011 Barolo (Chez Keith): Nose is brighter and more red fruited than the Casa Mate tasted side by side. Serious spice component in the aromatic. Similarly, in the mouth this is lighter and brighter than the Casa Mate. What it does have in common is a polished, smooth fruit and sweet tannin. Concentrated. Long and lifted finish. Later in the evening this had picked up another layer of depth and more chalkiness in the finish. Double decanted ~6 hours before tasting.
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2/10/2016 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
2011 Barolo peek (Chicago, IL): (Double decanted about six hours before serving.) This had a relatively restrained nose and it wasn't showing off so many high-toned aromas as its Casa Mate sibling. I loved the dust on the nose here. The palate was a bit simple at this point, showing really light and sweet red fruit. This came across a touch confected as well, but there was certainly excellent restraint here. Again, the acidity was a touch light, and taking much of a back seat to the sweet red fruit.
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12/9/2015 - coremill wrote: 86 Points
2011 Barolo Tasting (Chez John Morris): With its sweet cherry fruit, vermouth-esque spice, hint of vanilla, and slight kick of alcohol, the nose reminds me strongly of a good Manhattan. That's not really what I want my Barolo to be like, though. Blacker fruit on the palate, dense and tannic, lots of concentration, finishes tarry and chocolatey with perceptible alcohol. There's power here but it's more oak-derived than fruit flavors. Not bad but not my thing. My #6.
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12/4/2015 - rlove wrote: 92 Points
Lifted bouquet of cherry, raspberry, cedar, and liquorice. Sweet cherry on the palate. Structured and gorgeous. This shows that 2011 energy but with a darker frame. With air this is already accessible but the patient will be rewarded. Drink starting 2018.
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11/18/2015 - rlove wrote: 91 Points
Visit to Elio Grasso (Monforte d'Alba, Piemonte, Italy): Lifted, floral bouquet of cherry, rose, cedar, and licorice. Sweet red & dark berries on the palate. Already quite accessible.
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10/20/2015 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Tasting at Elio Grasso (Monforte d'Alba, Piedmont, Italy): Light garnet. Full nose is layered and complex with plum, black cherry, fresh cut herbs, clove and mint. Round and fleshy on the palate with bright acidity and refined sweet tannin. Complete wine that is drinking well already. 91-94
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10/7/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
Raid Len's Cellar #11: Cola, redcurrant, eucalyptus and cherry. Sweet fruited palate, though there is a savoury character in behind that stops it from being mono-dimensional. Very good overall.
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7/14/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
The 2011 Gavarini Chiniera showed a lively and pretty bouquet of woodland pine and cedar with bright cherry, raspberry and licorice. On the palate, I found tart cherry and cranberry which darkened and sweetened as it traveled across the senses, adding balsamic tones and mint going into the finish. This was showing the 2011 exuberance, with it's focused fruit and silky finessed textures, yet still as a young Nebbiolo, with hints of fine tannin lingering on the close.
Day 2: The nose is a little deeper and darker now, with that whiff of mint and anise that I usually associate with this wine. The 2011 Gavarini Chiniera shows no signs of decline after 24-hours in a sealed, 1/2 sized bottle. The palate has picked up a note of fresh tobacco and medicinal herb, while also closing a bit from last night, as tannins appear more pronounced now. In fact, this is more of what I would expect from a young Gavarini Chiniera. I’m enjoying the grip on the finish, and a dark and bitter twang that puckers the cheeks.
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7/4/2015 - Drankard wrote: 93 Points
The Gavarini displays high-toned, bright red fruit aromas with a touch of spice and oak, literally jumping from the glass. You can smell the aromas from a distance. Naturally, this is tight and tannic at this stage but a very pure, fresh and slender beauty that offers impeccable precision and elegance. I prefer the 2009 at this stage and at a nice discount too.
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5/18/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
Vinosphere Tasting: Some heat, tar and spicy oak. Tannins are fine, providing good structure while not dominating. Has good length and drive.
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4/22/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
More red fruit on the nose than the Casa Mate, floral, less tar notes. Softer and a bit more open on the palate as well, still restrained and tight with good grip. Nice length. 92-93+
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4/4/2015 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasted at winery visit.
In 2011 the differences between the Gavarini Chiniera and the Casa Mate are nicely marked. While the Gavarini Chiniera is growing on lighter calcarous sand and higher altitude, the Casa Mate is growing on heavier soil with a higher clay content and on a lower altitude.
The Gavarini Chiniera is already pretty open for business, with very pretty perfumed notes of crushed flowers, red berries, cinnamon and other sweet spices. It’s only medium+ in body but has enough mid-palate density to be balanced, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is silky and ripe. Good length. A very pretty and perfumed Barolo from this great vineyard. It doesn’t have the weight or the sheer class/perfection of the 2010 or the 2008 but it will be drinking earlier and is very pretty.
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11/8/2014 - Eric wrote:
A fabulous birthday in Piemonte (Piedmont, Italy): Tar. Newspaper (think ink more than paper). Dark berry. Serious. Brooding. Some violet popping up now along with pepper and smoke. Quite precise in the mouth. Mmm, opening up. Juicy, pure, firm and focused. Driven. This is not an "easy" wine, but it is impressive. Very masculine.
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