2010 Barolo Tasting; 1/14/2024-1/15/2024: The ‘10 Francia is a very promising young wine. The only issue this bottle had was being tasted next to the ‘10 Monfortino, which was more expressive and frankly better in every way, to a degree that’s kind of surprising given they came from the same vineyard.
The nose was a bit tight, but showed a beautiful and classic expression of Nebbiolo, with dark red cherry fruit, menthol, red floral tones, tar, and sage and other herbs.
On the palate, the wine is medium plus in body with medium to high acidity, showing quite a lot of fine grained tannin. It showed a super classic expression of pure red cherry fruit, mint, red florals, and tar, showing a similar core expression as the Monfortino, but lacking the savory complexity of that wine.
Of all the ’10s we tasted, I would say the Francia needs more time the most. Perhaps contrary to what you’d expect, the Monfortino is much more expressive and open right now than the Francia, which has more classic austerity.
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What a magnificent wine. Dark red fruits, tremendous depth and power, but a freshness and lift that made this graceful despite its brawn. This wine is only beginning to open for business, and has many, many years of life in front of it. I greatly preferred this to a Gaja Costa Russi opened alongside it.
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Mostly primary dark red fruit with just hints of tobacco. Approachable now as the structure is buried beneath the fruit. Obviously young but great even now with a clear path to improve with age. 95+
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The nose was dark, but also showed great freshness. I found ripe dark red cherries, tar, roses, tobacco, lavender and sage. On the palate, it is concentrated and richly textured but with surprisingly little perception of tannin - the texture is smooth from beginning to end, with perfect balance of acid, sweet fruit, and tannin. I found the flavor profile to be largely primary, with waves of sweet red cherry fruit, joined by tobacco, fresh herbs, and spices, with fine grained tannins finally becoming noticeable at the very back end of the palate, completed by a long finish.
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Abundant but reasonably soft tannins. Deep red and black fruits bounded with dark damp soil tones, coal dust, and hints of licorice. Still requires at least seven years to mellow and become more approachable. 93+
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Barolo 2010 & 2001 (chez moi): Powerhouse. Intense and fresh with a really serious (not kirsch) core of fruit; delicious now, actually, the clear winner in this set. Bright fruit, dancing, elegant. excellent on the third day, fresh and attractive and more open - lots of tannin, of course.
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Light red colour. Typical old fashioned Barolo aromas with lychee, tar and forest floor. Light and intense in the mouth. Very concentrated with a long finish.
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Giacomo Conterno visit (Giacomo Conterno, Monforte D'Alba): 40 years old vines. transparent light red-amber, red cherries & earthy aroma & flavours, full bodied, grip fine tannins, high acidity, rich flavours, complex, structured, long elegant finish.
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SALONE DEL GUSTO 2014; 10/26/2014-10/30/2014 (LINGOTTO FIERE TORINO): Suolo magro e calcareo. Un altro animale rispetto al Cerretta, un vino che va cercato, aerato e atteso. Lieve riduzione, un po' di volatile e non molti descrittori al momento. Ma nulla di cui spaventarsi, tutto andrà al suo posto....è solo un grande vino mascolino e austero che ha bisogno di pazienza. In bocca è più aereo e rarefatto rispetto al Cerretta, è bellissimo il confronto tra questo frutto più adulto, il tannino molto più fine, meno prorompente e meno asciugante. La salivazione è molto grassa e sugosa e non si sente la dolcezza del legno, anzi, è un laser a spirale che investe il palato per un finale incantevole di mineralità amara, quasi di arancia amara. Già buonissimo
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Five days in Barolo: A visit at Giacomo Conterno with Roberto Conterno (Monforte d'Alba): Roberto described the 2010 Baroli as "very tannic, but with subtle, smooth tannins, but very intense fruit." This offered very fresh aromas. Soft, with vibrant expression and a beautiful elegance to the aromas; floral, nice dried leafs. Soft palate entry, with pretty, fine grained tannins. Soft and tart on the palate. Puckering and fairly tart with aeration. Rich finish, with nice dial up and blossoming of fruit, structure, and acid. Huge acid, in fact, leading to nice tartness and puckering. Began tightening up in the glass, even. Overall a lovely wine with an impressive future ahead of it.
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3/30/2024 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of mushroom, red fruits, truffle, flora. Medium+ acidity and high tannin.
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1/14/2024 - Robmcl920 Likes this wine: 95 Points
2010 Barolo Tasting; 1/14/2024-1/15/2024: The ‘10 Francia is a very promising young wine. The only issue this bottle had was being tasted next to the ‘10 Monfortino, which was more expressive and frankly better in every way, to a degree that’s kind of surprising given they came from the same vineyard.
The nose was a bit tight, but showed a beautiful and classic expression of Nebbiolo, with dark red cherry fruit, menthol, red floral tones, tar, and sage and other herbs.
On the palate, the wine is medium plus in body with medium to high acidity, showing quite a lot of fine grained tannin. It showed a super classic expression of pure red cherry fruit, mint, red florals, and tar, showing a similar core expression as the Monfortino, but lacking the savory complexity of that wine.
Of all the ’10s we tasted, I would say the Francia needs more time the most. Perhaps contrary to what you’d expect, the Monfortino is much more expressive and open right now than the Francia, which has more classic austerity.
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10/12/2023 - JWS84 Likes this wine:
What a magnificent wine. Dark red fruits, tremendous depth and power, but a freshness and lift that made this graceful despite its brawn. This wine is only beginning to open for business, and has many, many years of life in front of it. I greatly preferred this to a Gaja Costa Russi opened alongside it.
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6/6/2021 - bill00 wrote: 95 Points
Mostly primary dark red fruit with just hints of tobacco. Approachable now as the structure is buried beneath the fruit. Obviously young but great even now with a clear path to improve with age. 95+
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8/3/2020 - Robmcl920 Likes this wine: 96 Points
The nose was dark, but also showed great freshness. I found ripe dark red cherries, tar, roses, tobacco, lavender and sage. On the palate, it is concentrated and richly textured but with surprisingly little perception of tannin - the texture is smooth from beginning to end, with perfect balance of acid, sweet fruit, and tannin. I found the flavor profile to be largely primary, with waves of sweet red cherry fruit, joined by tobacco, fresh herbs, and spices, with fine grained tannins finally becoming noticeable at the very back end of the palate, completed by a long finish.
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5/24/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Abundant but reasonably soft tannins. Deep red and black fruits bounded with dark damp soil tones, coal dust, and hints of licorice. Still requires at least seven years to mellow and become more approachable. 93+
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3/31/2015 - beatles wrote: 96 Points
Barolo 2010 & 2001 (chez moi): Powerhouse. Intense and fresh with a really serious (not kirsch) core of fruit; delicious now, actually, the clear winner in this set. Bright fruit, dancing, elegant. excellent on the third day, fresh and attractive and more open - lots of tannin, of course.
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11/26/2014 - AudunG wrote: 94 Points
Light red colour. Typical old fashioned Barolo aromas with lychee, tar and forest floor. Light and intense in the mouth. Very concentrated with a long finish.
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11/11/2014 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
Giacomo Conterno visit (Giacomo Conterno, Monforte D'Alba): 40 years old vines. transparent light red-amber, red cherries & earthy aroma & flavours, full bodied, grip fine tannins, high acidity, rich flavours, complex, structured, long elegant finish.
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10/28/2014 - galenico Likes this wine: 93 Points
SALONE DEL GUSTO 2014; 10/26/2014-10/30/2014 (LINGOTTO FIERE TORINO): Suolo magro e calcareo.
Un altro animale rispetto al Cerretta, un vino che va cercato, aerato e atteso. Lieve riduzione, un po' di volatile e non molti descrittori al momento. Ma nulla di cui spaventarsi, tutto andrà al suo posto....è solo un grande vino mascolino e austero che ha bisogno di pazienza.
In bocca è più aereo e rarefatto rispetto al Cerretta, è bellissimo il confronto tra questo frutto più adulto, il tannino molto più fine, meno prorompente e meno asciugante.
La salivazione è molto grassa e sugosa e non si sente la dolcezza del legno, anzi, è un laser a spirale che investe il palato per un finale incantevole di mineralità amara, quasi di arancia amara.
Già buonissimo
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7/2/2014 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 93 Points
Five days in Barolo: A visit at Giacomo Conterno with Roberto Conterno (Monforte d'Alba): Roberto described the 2010 Baroli as "very tannic, but with subtle, smooth tannins, but very intense fruit." This offered very fresh aromas. Soft, with vibrant expression and a beautiful elegance to the aromas; floral, nice dried leafs. Soft palate entry, with pretty, fine grained tannins. Soft and tart on the palate. Puckering and fairly tart with aeration. Rich finish, with nice dial up and blossoming of fruit, structure, and acid. Huge acid, in fact, leading to nice tartness and puckering. Began tightening up in the glass, even. Overall a lovely wine with an impressive future ahead of it.
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