Needed about 30 min in the glass to open up but this continued to improve throughout dinner without the slightest hint of fading. I disagree with those suggesting this is over the hill. This is in a perfect spot and will drink well for at least another 5 plus years. Impeccable balance with just the right amount of fruit throughout. The finish went on and on. This was exactly what I was hoping for. This paired well with courses of northern Italian cuisine. Revisit 2027
Still wonderfully balanced and graceful Med + Acidity with smooth, supple tannins Fruit still delivering, red cherry, red plum Drinking beautifully...don't wait
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Medium Garnet Red plum, sweet rose, mushroom, red cherry
Med+ acid, Med + tannins with a tight grip and quite rustic, palate adds some smoked meat, forest floor, worcestershire and spice notes Med + Finish Still a big wine after 20+ years
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Piedmont gang lunch at Solo Ristorante. Tasted semi-blind. Drank in Grassl Cru. Aired about 2-3 hours in bottle already. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of dark red cherries, violets, brooding earth. Fresher classic sour red cherries with each new pour from the bottle. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), integrated though somewhat dry high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of dried red cherries, dark red plum, savoury meat, leather, earth and spice layers. The classic sour red cherries with fresh pours. Very long finish. Very good quality. Overall nice Barolo and what a nice long finish. Though I would say drink this sooner rather than later - my palate preference.
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very traditional is style, rustic for sure, felt like the little fruit that was present was in the back seat, some meaningful tannin and loads of tar... not as pleasant as moderately aged Barolo, wondering if this would be better in ten years or perhaps the fruit is fading and its already on its way down?... guessing the later (at least for this bottle)... came back to add that I drank this over two nights, and now have seen the other notes -- they make sense to me -- drink up
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Hurts my soul to “downgrade” a Giacosa but, alas, simply an average bottle tonight.
Plenty of bricking, which is lovely, yet suggests this is very fully mature. Feminine and soft, with prune, fig and stewed fruit notes on the nose. Fruit is fading fast on the palate, and not much acidity to complement our charred meat course. Perhaps an off bottle but, drink up regardless!
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Decanted for 2 hours. Nose of red fruits (mostly cherry), cedar, and spice. These follow on the palate with a medium weight, fully integrated tannins, but with the acid slightly overwhelming the fruit. May be on the downside with the fruit fading. Drink up soon!
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+ Tasted over two days. Decanted for 2 hours+ on the first day + Color: garnet core with a slightly brownish rimmage, very clear + Nose: dried leaves/ forest floor, leather, menthol, cherries, (cedar) cigar box, floral and spice notes, noticeable alcohol + Palate: leather, sour cherries, menthol, sweet tobacco leaf, floral characteristics, good structure, relatively well balanced, + Finish: dusty, drying tannins, cherries, menthol, lasts 40+ seconds + Overall: fruit forward attack is kept in check almost immediately by solid structure, the mid-palate is quite drying from the tannins so it should have a lot of life left in it, mid-palate transition to finish provides another peek at the sour cherries, very enjoyable after decanting for 2+ hours, tasted over two hours the first day and it continued to improve almost minute by minute. + Day 2 - slightly bronwer color, similar overall palate with noticeable mellowing of tannins which lead to better overall balance. Wow, those sour cherries are really coming through, very enjoyable. Still could use some decanting time though, maybe another 2 hours? Rated 93 due to the potential left in the wine.
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Brownish red color. Sweet earthy aroma. Red cherries, well integrated tannins. Strong grip when initially opened - much smoother after a 5 hour decant.
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Color: Rusted Ruby - really showing some serious bricking throughout Smell: earth, tar, roses, and dried red fruits akin to potpouri Taste: tart red cherries, strawberry preserves, forest floor, and hints of dried beef Overall: A complex and interesting wine that deserves attention. I'm not sure that this is worth the $100+ price tag that I paid for it...but it is quite excellent. It changed regularly over the first 1-2 hours and has finally settled since it's been open for 4+ hours. I'm going to have to check out more from other wines and this proucer.
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For an ordinary "village" this is quite extraordinary. Broad, complex nose. This is beautifully coming round now. Very long. Beautiful. No hurry to drink this, this is built for the long run. But nice to drink now also.
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Italian Wine Primer (Rainbow Room, NYC): ($80) deep cranberry color. Leather (wet) , orange on the nose, on the palate dark fruit, vanilla; initally had an acetone flavor but it dissappeared as the wine softed significantly over the 2 hrs. With 2-3 hrs decanting offered more pleasure than I expected despite its youth and traditional style.
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2/23/2024 - astroman wrote:
1999 2000 Barolo Barbaresco (Gemma): Impressions. Not in the best stage, sherry and jammy
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12/23/2023 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 94 Points
Needed about 30 min in the glass to open up but this continued to improve throughout dinner without the slightest hint of fading. I disagree with those suggesting this is over the hill. This is in a perfect spot and will drink well for at least another 5 plus years. Impeccable balance with just the right amount of fruit throughout. The finish went on and on. This was exactly what I was hoping for. This paired well with courses of northern Italian cuisine. Revisit 2027
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9/14/2023 - LiteItOnFire wrote:
TBD
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10/29/2021 - nynrgtrader@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Still wonderfully balanced and graceful
Med + Acidity with smooth, supple tannins
Fruit still delivering, red cherry, red plum
Drinking beautifully...don't wait
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2/6/2021 - nynrgtrader@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Medium Garnet
Red plum, sweet rose, mushroom, red cherry
Med+ acid, Med + tannins with a tight grip and quite rustic, palate adds some smoked meat, forest floor, worcestershire and spice notes
Med + Finish
Still a big wine after 20+ years
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9/24/2020 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
Piedmont gang lunch at Solo Ristorante. Tasted semi-blind. Drank in Grassl Cru. Aired about 2-3 hours in bottle already.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of dark red cherries, violets, brooding earth. Fresher classic sour red cherries with each new pour from the bottle. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), integrated though somewhat dry high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of dried red cherries, dark red plum, savoury meat, leather, earth and spice layers. The classic sour red cherries with fresh pours. Very long finish.
Very good quality. Overall nice Barolo and what a nice long finish. Though I would say drink this sooner rather than later - my palate preference.
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9/12/2020 - johnh1001 wrote: 90 Points
Good but much more advanced than I expected
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5/29/2020 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 91 Points
very traditional is style, rustic for sure, felt like the little fruit that was present was in the back seat, some meaningful tannin and loads of tar... not as pleasant as moderately aged Barolo, wondering if this would be better in ten years or perhaps the fruit is fading and its already on its way down?... guessing the later (at least for this bottle)... came back to add that I drank this over two nights, and now have seen the other notes -- they make sense to me -- drink up
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11/15/2019 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted with steak. Tannins softening but still quite chewy. A lovely mid+ weight Barolo. 13.5%
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8/31/2019 - JazzManWine Does not like this wine:
Wine has faded. Past its drinking window.
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10/5/2017 - nortonnose wrote: 90 Points
Hurts my soul to “downgrade” a Giacosa but, alas, simply an average bottle tonight.
Plenty of bricking, which is lovely, yet suggests this is very fully mature. Feminine and soft, with prune, fig and stewed fruit notes on the nose. Fruit is fading fast on the palate, and not much acidity to complement our charred meat course. Perhaps an off bottle but, drink up regardless!
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7/4/2017 - VlgJeff wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Nose of red fruits (mostly cherry), cedar, and spice. These follow on the palate with a medium weight, fully integrated tannins, but with the acid slightly overwhelming the fruit. May be on the downside with the fruit fading. Drink up soon!
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3/13/2017 - BFG wrote: flawed
Corked.
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9/16/2012 - elise wrote: 93 Points
+ Tasted over two days. Decanted for 2 hours+ on the first day
+ Color: garnet core with a slightly brownish rimmage, very clear
+ Nose: dried leaves/ forest floor, leather, menthol, cherries, (cedar) cigar box, floral and spice notes, noticeable alcohol
+ Palate: leather, sour cherries, menthol, sweet tobacco leaf, floral characteristics, good structure, relatively well balanced,
+ Finish: dusty, drying tannins, cherries, menthol, lasts 40+ seconds
+ Overall: fruit forward attack is kept in check almost immediately by solid structure, the mid-palate is quite drying from the tannins so it should have a lot of life left in it, mid-palate transition to finish provides another peek at the sour cherries, very enjoyable after decanting for 2+ hours, tasted over two hours the first day and it continued to improve almost minute by minute.
+ Day 2 - slightly bronwer color, similar overall palate with noticeable mellowing of tannins which lead to better overall balance. Wow, those sour cherries are really coming through, very enjoyable. Still could use some decanting time though, maybe another 2 hours? Rated 93 due to the potential left in the wine.
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6/29/2012 - tkim42 wrote: 93 Points
Brownish red color. Sweet earthy aroma. Red cherries, well integrated tannins. Strong grip when initially opened - much smoother after a 5 hour decant.
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2/5/2011 - Kirk Grant wrote: 91 Points
Color: Rusted Ruby - really showing some serious bricking throughout
Smell: earth, tar, roses, and dried red fruits akin to potpouri
Taste: tart red cherries, strawberry preserves, forest floor, and hints of dried beef
Overall: A complex and interesting wine that deserves attention. I'm not sure that this is worth the $100+ price tag that I paid for it...but it is quite excellent. It changed regularly over the first 1-2 hours and has finally settled since it's been open for 4+ hours. I'm going to have to check out more from other wines and this proucer.
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11/8/2009 - MauriceE wrote: 92 Points
For an ordinary "village" this is quite extraordinary. Broad, complex nose. This is beautifully coming round now. Very long. Beautiful. No hurry to drink this, this is built for the long run. But nice to drink now also.
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5/21/2007 - the godfather wrote: 89 Points
My first Giacosa. Planning on taking down a Riserva next month, can't wait. This wine needed more decanting.
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9/23/2006 - EyeDoc wrote: 95 Points
This is just sublime. Approachable at this early age will likely improve over the years.
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1/22/2005 - 97mjr wrote:
Italian Wine Primer (Rainbow Room, NYC): ($80) deep cranberry color. Leather (wet) , orange on the nose, on the palate dark fruit, vanilla; initally had an acetone flavor but it dissappeared as the wine softed significantly over the 2 hrs. With 2-3 hrs decanting offered more pleasure than I expected despite its youth and traditional style.
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