Loads of upfront complex fruit, intense finish. Tastes more like 2003 than Giacosa Barolo. Would be perfect for a tasting or a rich meat dish like brasato.
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A small gathering at Bryan's (Undisclosed location in McLean, VA): Fully mature nose displaying sweet dry cherries, red cherry, black cherry, cherry compote, plum, tar, rose, licorice, light caramel, leather, sweet spices and earth. Medium concentration, finely layered red fruit, warm and round, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium to long very ripe sweet red and black fruit driven finish with leather at the end. The overripe 03 expression is still present both in the nose as very ripe fruit and the palate as being soft and round. Still enjoyable.
There is an immediate impression of power and sweet fruit at the same time the weight of fruit is light and elegant. Perfumed with dried rose petals - wonderful. Long and complex. Drinking now and has plenty of life ahead..
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A stupendous expression of Barolo. Interestingly I had their 2003 Barbaresco a couple days ago and while it was delicious, it is significantly lower in greatness compared to this classic barolo. I can't imagine it at much more of a great place in its lifespan. The nose is full of tar, earth, roses -- just keeps on coming. The palate has rich mouth feel, an unctuousness, but at the same time a cutting background acidity that keeps this wine balanced. More earth and dark berries. Tannins are still there to add a good note, but they are pretty integrated, so this is really drinking perfectly now.
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Annual Pilgrimage to Piedmont - 2020 Edition; 10/9/2020-10/11/2020 (Piemonte, Italy): Decanted and served blind. Very much a Barolo on the aromatics , dark cherry and soft tar. Spice. Was a bit rustic if we have to say and lacked the elegance we expected from Giacosa especially having tried the Roche del Falletto from 2003 ( Papies 94) which always fascinating. 91 for this though
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A very good bottle compared to most except the 90's versions of this wine. Opened about 4-5 hours before serving and was showing little at that point as I have come to expect. Crystal ruby with only slight browning at edge. Pretty potent tar at first, but roses once it had opened up more. Black cherry and pith on the palate, but with lively acidity and integrated grape tannins on the finish. Didn't taste like a hot vintage wine at all. I was thinking this would be a drink soon wine, but this has many years left in it. Don't doubt the Bruno!
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That is Barolo heaven. Decanted for 2 hours before serving. Colour: brownish garnet. Nose: out of this world - lively, voluptuous and perfumed, saturation of flavour - nettles, rose petal, black currant, tar. Palate: mature tannins, mouth drying but rounded. Long finish. 2003 was a difficult year in Piedmont but this bottle has not reached its peak. Quite an experience.
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Venue: La Bourgogne Bar à Vin Look:deep purple Smell: smoke, herb, truffle, black cherry, expressionless, road tar, rose pedal Taste:full body, strong but delicate tanning
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Incredible bit of barolo. nose is bigger than last time, full of tar, dark fruit, earth, floral. Palate is bigger too. Chewier, bigger in fruit. Earth and leather and minerals. Tannins are still big and beautiful and extend onward for a while.
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18c; no dcant, bottle opened about two hours before tasting; brilliant, coppered-red; gorgeous, florid nose of mint, pinks, tobacco, juniper; pointed attack, yet perfectly balanced, hanging in the mouth for a full minute; schist, bacon, prominent mint, capers, cherries, funghi....it’s ALL there; oh, Bruno, what a pleasure; 19.5
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Bryan's Epic Birthday Bash (Gwen): At dinner. Brief note. Noticeably ripe nose and palate show raspberry jam and baking spice. Quite monolithic right now. This could've used a long decant to open up and strut its stuff. Stuffing is most certainly there but needs air for sure and didn't have enough time with it to watch it go anywhere.
Drinking well, but could be even better in a few years. Dark fruit with firm, yet softening tannins--some classic Barolo tar overtones remain. Great balance. Beautiful wine.
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Moden bær karakter - retning kirsebær og søt jordbær, med innslag av tobakk, jord og løv. Saftig og bløt munnfølelse, men tydelig syre struktur og tørrende tannin. Pen finish. Noe varm med litt alko-stikk. Drikk opp.
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Beautiful expression of Barolo. Nose is neither soft nor big, just balanced wiffs of tar and floral. Palate might be viewed as a bit light, but that doesn't take into account the rich dark quality of the palate. There is earth and dark fruit and minerality. And tannins that just seem to silently appear, with no bombast or hugenss, just a balanced sense of drying and spice that goes on.
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Tasting at Corkscrew Museum (Corkscrew Museum in Barolo): Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour with garnet rim. Legs. Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with a lovely bouquet of truffles, mushrooms, earth, and red fruit. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, fine high tannins, full body. Pronounced flavor intensity, with savoury truffles, mushrooms, earth, red cherries, and strawberries. Long finish. Outstanding quality. Could still go on well for another 5 years at least. The standout wine of my Piedmont trip.
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At first a bit reticent, and maybe not surprisingly, less approachable than the 03 Asili from a few days ago. Quite structured and showing less heat than I feared. Quite ripe but not overripe, deep, but not heavy. It is marked by the vintage but not out of balance. With time, rose and tar (in the opposite order) came out. This is a powerful but not brutish wine still with perfume, maybe a deeper fruit profile than verges on candied, but still holding it together. Still pretty tannic, and long with some menthol on the back end. I suspect this may improve a bit over the next couple- few years. I will hold my remaining bottles for at least a few years with little fear.
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I was a bit apprehensive it might still be ferociously tannic, but positive Cellartracker notes persuaded me it could be ready. Immediately on popping the cork an other-wordly aroma filled my nostrils. On pouring, it had a rare sparkling translucence, despite its light brownish tinge. Certainly it was miles away from the over-extracted inky purple that one sometimes finds. On the nose, there was an extraordinarily powerful whiff of tar - or more specifically the tar-flavoured pastilles my mum used to buy when I had a blocked nose. Then a strong note of cassis - Annelise said black cherries, but it was stubbornly cassis to me. Then the magic combination as ripe strawberries came to the fore - quite like the strawberry cordial that I was (unexplicably) addicted to as a kid. On the palate, it had a round, satisfying, mouthfilling quality, and some port-like sweetness, but at the same time an incredible lightness and delicacy. Still a wee bit of tannin, but only evident after the glorious finish had died away. A special wine.
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Had the Pira Margheria, Giacosa Falletto and Conterno Cascina Francia, all in 2003. Same light colour in all three wine, all the producers are traditionalist with no new wood. The Pira managed quite well in this elevated company, and showed really cool fruit despite the vintage. More tar on the nose than the other two. Lighter fruit, but very good balance. The Giacosa had the most interesting nose, with black ink (Spanish!) and chorizo. Elegant mouthfeel with strong tannins. The Conterno had a very meaty nose and was the most full bodied (and less elegant). All three wine would be great with food. Decanted 3 hours. Today I would drink Giacosa, but I think Conterno will be as good with time.
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This did not suck. Had with Hot Karl on an amazing two man slide. Wonderful, wonderful wine. In some ways bested the Chambertin Clos de Beze. but really, who is counting?
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This is in a great place right now. Beautiful nose. Great balance and integration. Fruit is still forward and fresh. Very approachable, even without a decant.
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Enjoyed with a fine Italian meal in Zurich. A little thin a first. Opened up with decanting to show a refined earthliness and soft, supple tannins. Not a long finish. An elegant Barolo, perhaps I was looking for a little more body with one this young.
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Decidedly more modern in style. Lovely floral nose with roses, violets etc.. Except for the nose, I am not sure that I would have identified this as nebbiolo. This is very soft and more like a barbaresco than a barolo (but really not like either) with warm weather characteristics - more concentration, fruit-forward and seemingly less tannin. I doubt that this has the potential for long aging. This does not have the weight, balance or aromatic range of a great old-style barolo. It was a very pleasant wine to have with steak sitting outside on a warm Spring night.
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Paid sample at local store. Fairly classic in style with nice bricky color and nose of cherries. Softer attack than expected considering youth. Very enjoyable.
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As I approached this ridiculously young Barolo I wondered whether I’d be granted access. Drawing the cork and a small taste lead to an encounter with a bouncer who called himself ‘Mr Structure’ but in Giacosa style he was polite as he gruffly said ‘not in those shoes son’, a few hours in a decanter was necessary before trying again to gain access. Now a friendlier gatekeeper in pastels, wearing highly perfumed cologne controlled proceedings. There was still strength, power and rigidity but the exterior had softened. The sun of 2003 had accounted for a slight spirity lift on the nose along with baking some of the earthy components. In the mouth a sheath of unctuous, vinous sweet earth wrapped around scorched earth and graphite and the finish was firm and long. I’m glad I did persist with this monolith as it offered a wine that went beautifully with Sandor Palmai's Gnocchi with beef cheeks.
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6/25/2023 - Tree512 wrote: 93 Points
Loads of upfront complex fruit, intense finish. Tastes more like 2003 than Giacosa Barolo. Would be perfect for a tasting or a rich meat dish like brasato.
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2/10/2023 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
A small gathering at Bryan's (Undisclosed location in McLean, VA): Fully mature nose displaying sweet dry cherries, red cherry, black cherry, cherry compote, plum, tar, rose, licorice, light caramel, leather, sweet spices and earth. Medium concentration, finely layered red fruit, warm and round, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium to long very ripe sweet red and black fruit driven finish with leather at the end. The overripe 03 expression is still present both in the nose as very ripe fruit and the palate as being soft and round. Still enjoyable.
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12/24/2021 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 95 Points
There is an immediate impression of power and sweet fruit at the same time the weight of fruit is light and elegant. Perfumed with dried rose petals - wonderful. Long and complex. Drinking now and has plenty of life ahead..
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11/22/2020 - JWG wrote: 98 Points
A stupendous expression of Barolo. Interestingly I had their 2003 Barbaresco a couple days ago and while it was delicious, it is significantly lower in greatness compared to this classic barolo. I can't imagine it at much more of a great place in its lifespan. The nose is full of tar, earth, roses -- just keeps on coming. The palate has rich mouth feel, an unctuousness, but at the same time a cutting background acidity that keeps this wine balanced. More earth and dark berries. Tannins are still there to add a good note, but they are pretty integrated, so this is really drinking perfectly now.
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10/10/2020 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Annual Pilgrimage to Piedmont - 2020 Edition; 10/9/2020-10/11/2020 (Piemonte, Italy): Decanted and served blind.
Very much a Barolo on the aromatics , dark cherry and soft tar. Spice. Was a bit rustic if we have to say and lacked the elegance we expected from Giacosa especially having tried the Roche del Falletto from 2003 ( Papies 94) which always fascinating. 91 for this though
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4/5/2020 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very good bottle compared to most except the 90's versions of this wine. Opened about 4-5 hours before serving and was showing little at that point as I have come to expect. Crystal ruby with only slight browning at edge. Pretty potent tar at first, but roses once it had opened up more. Black cherry and pith on the palate, but with lively acidity and integrated grape tannins on the finish. Didn't taste like a hot vintage wine at all. I was thinking this would be a drink soon wine, but this has many years left in it. Don't doubt the Bruno!
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1/28/2020 - Dmax808 wrote: 93 Points
Still too young.
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4/22/2019 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted blind, looks young, showing some age with tertiary aromas, lovely Barolo
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4/6/2019 - Arnaud Cbn Likes this wine: 95 Points
That is Barolo heaven. Decanted for 2 hours before serving. Colour: brownish garnet. Nose: out of this world - lively, voluptuous and perfumed, saturation of flavour - nettles, rose petal, black currant, tar. Palate: mature tannins, mouth drying but rounded. Long finish. 2003 was a difficult year in Piedmont but this bottle has not reached its peak. Quite an experience.
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3/1/2019 - Wine Monicat Likes this wine: 95 Points
Venue: La Bourgogne Bar à Vin
Look:deep purple
Smell: smoke, herb, truffle, black cherry, expressionless, road tar, rose pedal
Taste:full body, strong but delicate tanning
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8/25/2018 - JWG wrote: 97 Points
Incredible bit of barolo. nose is bigger than last time, full of tar, dark fruit, earth, floral. Palate is bigger too. Chewier, bigger in fruit. Earth and leather and minerals. Tannins are still big and beautiful and extend onward for a while.
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7/11/2018 - chokkon Likes this wine:
18c; no dcant, bottle opened about two hours before tasting; brilliant, coppered-red; gorgeous, florid nose of mint, pinks, tobacco, juniper; pointed attack, yet perfectly balanced, hanging in the mouth for a full minute; schist, bacon, prominent mint, capers, cherries, funghi....it’s ALL there; oh, Bruno, what a pleasure; 19.5
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3/3/2018 - ESTEELE90 Likes this wine:
Bryan's Epic Birthday Bash (Gwen): At dinner. Brief note. Noticeably ripe nose and palate show raspberry jam and baking spice. Quite monolithic right now. This could've used a long decant to open up and strut its stuff. Stuffing is most certainly there but needs air for sure and didn't have enough time with it to watch it go anywhere.
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12/28/2017 - Didman wrote: 95 Points
Just a wonderful mature Barolo. All you ask for. Soft, yet lush and full of aged nebbiolo flavors.
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9/29/2017 - daniellobo wrote: 94 Points
Great wine! Behind the oxidized character there was tobacco, plum, earth and a hint of cherry. Seemed to last forever in the mouth.
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5/16/2017 - Theamaronefan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well, but could be even better in a few years. Dark fruit with firm, yet softening tannins--some classic Barolo tar overtones remain. Great balance. Beautiful wine.
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3/4/2017 - ove_stammrud wrote:
Moden bær karakter - retning kirsebær og søt jordbær, med innslag av tobakk, jord og løv. Saftig og bløt munnfølelse, men tydelig syre struktur og tørrende tannin. Pen finish. Noe varm med litt alko-stikk. Drikk opp.
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5/18/2016 - JWG wrote: 96 Points
Beautiful expression of Barolo. Nose is neither soft nor big, just balanced wiffs of tar and floral. Palate might be viewed as a bit light, but that doesn't take into account the rich dark quality of the palate. There is earth and dark fruit and minerality. And tannins that just seem to silently appear, with no bombast or hugenss, just a balanced sense of drying and spice that goes on.
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3/31/2015 - Mr T wrote:
very nice if somewhat simple...quite soft and very light colored...pleasant wine 90-92
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9/3/2014 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 97 Points
Tasting at Corkscrew Museum (Corkscrew Museum in Barolo): Appearance is clear, pale intensity, ruby colour with garnet rim. Legs.
Nose is clean, pronounced intensity, with a lovely bouquet of truffles, mushrooms, earth, and red fruit. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol, fine high tannins, full body. Pronounced flavor intensity, with savoury truffles, mushrooms, earth, red cherries, and strawberries. Long finish.
Outstanding quality. Could still go on well for another 5 years at least. The standout wine of my Piedmont trip.
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6/28/2014 - cct wrote: 91 Points
At first a bit reticent, and maybe not surprisingly, less approachable than the 03 Asili from a few days ago. Quite structured and showing less heat than I feared. Quite ripe but not overripe, deep, but not heavy. It is marked by the vintage but not out of balance. With time, rose and tar (in the opposite order) came out. This is a powerful but not brutish wine still with perfume, maybe a deeper fruit profile than verges on candied, but still holding it together. Still pretty tannic, and long with some menthol on the back end. I suspect this may improve a bit over the next couple- few years. I will hold my remaining bottles for at least a few years with little fear.
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10/17/2012 - wineamateur wrote:
I was a bit apprehensive it might still be ferociously tannic, but positive Cellartracker notes persuaded me it could be ready. Immediately on popping the cork an other-wordly aroma filled my nostrils. On pouring, it had a rare sparkling translucence, despite its light brownish tinge. Certainly it was miles away from the over-extracted inky purple that one sometimes finds. On the nose, there was an extraordinarily powerful whiff of tar - or more specifically the tar-flavoured pastilles my mum used to buy when I had a blocked nose. Then a strong note of cassis - Annelise said black cherries, but it was stubbornly cassis to me. Then the magic combination as ripe strawberries came to the fore - quite like the strawberry cordial that I was (unexplicably) addicted to as a kid. On the palate, it had a round, satisfying, mouthfilling quality, and some port-like sweetness, but at the same time an incredible lightness and delicacy. Still a wee bit of tannin, but only evident after the glorious finish had died away. A special wine.
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9/19/2012 - UTPK wrote:
Had the Pira Margheria, Giacosa Falletto and Conterno Cascina Francia, all in 2003. Same light colour in all three wine, all the producers are traditionalist with no new wood. The Pira managed quite well in this elevated company, and showed really cool fruit despite the vintage. More tar on the nose than the other two. Lighter fruit, but very good balance. The Giacosa had the most interesting nose, with black ink (Spanish!) and chorizo. Elegant mouthfeel with strong tannins. The Conterno had a very meaty nose and was the most full bodied (and less elegant). All three wine would be great with food. Decanted 3 hours. Today I would drink Giacosa, but I think Conterno will be as good with time.
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8/28/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
This did not suck. Had with Hot Karl on an amazing two man slide. Wonderful, wonderful wine. In some ways bested the Chambertin Clos de Beze. but really, who is counting?
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5/27/2012 - RationalDenial wrote:
This is in a great place right now. Beautiful nose. Great balance and integration. Fruit is still forward and fresh. Very approachable, even without a decant.
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3/28/2011 - burr wrote: 93 Points
Delicious. Not as much red fruit as expected, very nice nose.
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9/25/2009 - Joshiemac wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyed with a fine Italian meal in Zurich. A little thin a first. Opened up with decanting to show a refined earthliness and soft, supple tannins. Not a long finish. An elegant Barolo, perhaps I was looking for a little more body with one this young.
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5/26/2009 - vindictive wrote:
Decidedly more modern in style. Lovely floral nose with roses, violets etc.. Except for the nose, I am not sure that I would have identified this as nebbiolo. This is very soft and more like a barbaresco than a barolo (but really not like either) with warm weather characteristics - more concentration, fruit-forward and seemingly less tannin. I doubt that this has the potential for long aging. This does not have the weight, balance or aromatic range of a great old-style barolo. It was a very pleasant wine to have with steak sitting outside on a warm Spring night.
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12/29/2008 - lumpyelbow wrote: 91 Points
Paid sample at local store. Fairly classic in style with nice bricky color and nose of cherries. Softer attack than expected considering youth. Very enjoyable.
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8/1/2008 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
As I approached this ridiculously young Barolo I wondered whether I’d be granted access. Drawing the cork and a small taste lead to an encounter with a bouncer who called himself ‘Mr Structure’ but in Giacosa style he was polite as he gruffly said ‘not in those shoes son’, a few hours in a decanter was necessary before trying again to gain access. Now a friendlier gatekeeper in pastels, wearing highly perfumed cologne controlled proceedings. There was still strength, power and rigidity but the exterior had softened. The sun of 2003 had accounted for a slight spirity lift on the nose along with baking some of the earthy components. In the mouth a sheath of unctuous, vinous sweet earth wrapped around scorched earth and graphite and the finish was firm and long. I’m glad I did persist with this monolith as it offered a wine that went beautifully with Sandor Palmai's Gnocchi with beef cheeks.
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3/22/2007 - TDV wrote: 93 Points
Armit Italian tasting (Lansdowne Club): Lots of cherry and tar. Softer tannin than the Asili and generally more balanced. More Nebbiolo-y.
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