Glorious! One of our best wine experiences from the cellar this year. At first it presented with acidity that drowned the fruit (and worried me). Decanted, waited an hour and tried it with salami (super good!) and bruschetta with prosciutto (seemed a little metallic). Another hour passed and it started to open up, then really came into its own with lamb shanks al la matignon. The nose became a mosaic of fennel, rich fruit, effusive dark notes, red flowers, etc. We saved the last half pour for yet another half hour after dinner and declared it a huge success. I feel we hit it at a peak, but probably could have enjoyed it at least a few more years. Other than the slight dissonance at the beginning, it showed no sign of senescence.
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Brick coloured, some sediment. Medicinal notes, pepper mint, hint of cognac, mature with high acidity, hint of VA. High tannins, open but could also last longer.
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Deep red center, red rim fading to orange. Classic Nebbiolo nose of tar, fur, tart redcurrants, attractive whiskey notes. Smooth but very good acidity and tannin still, orange, grilled meat, red cherries, leather, oak, good length. Excellent barolo, driving well now but has the structure to last for 5+ more years.
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Medium brown-red with ruby glints. Medium intensive nose with principal notes of tar and cooked plums and with time increasingly dusty, dried flowers. In fact resembling a potpourri of dried petals and fruit. In the mouth it is full with well integrated high acidity, but with extremely firm, slightly rustic tannins. The fruity, dusty flavours have a very long, lingering finish. (Drunk from a half bottle)
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Did not decant. Opened about an hour before serving. Served with grilled beef ribs. Nose was initially closed in with astringent, but not bitter, tanins in the mid-range and finish. Wine opened up after about 45 minutes to light tar, orange peel and violets in the initial flavors and mid-range, astringent tanins tapered off but were still present, good length in the finish. This is a good Barolo, but not a great one. Enjoyable, but needs 2-3 years. Will try again in 2015 or 2016.
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Great Barolo - Lot's of sediment, herbal, chocolate, tar, (almost) leathery, orange peel, light spice. Just what you'd expect from a barolo and drinking well right now.
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good nose,cherry, red currant,tar,floral. On the plate, nice acidity, sweet tannin, ripe dark cherry, herbs, tea leaves, medium full body, nice mouth fill, great with lamb chops( that's my dinner with this wine). Very enjoyable for the price.
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Purchased off the wine list at Michael Chiarello's new restaurant Bottega in Yountville. Super tight upon opening. Medium bodied and fairly tannic. After a little air the wine started to open and exposed a nice cherry characteristic. I really liked the nose on this wine. It was packed with red fruit & black licorice. The wine paired beautifully with the Goats Milk Braised Lamb Shank. 50+5+14+15+6=90
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Good wine, good typicity, but the vintage shows in the lack of freshness and lack of aromatic lift. Comes off a bit heavy, though well balanced and structured. Needs time and will be good but never great.
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This has to be the best wine I've had this year. The color is a lot lighter than I expected with a light garnet shade that gets lighter towards the edges. Even the legs run faster than I would have thought but once your nose gets close to the glass all color is forgotten. Tea leaves grab the front of the nose while spicy blackberries continue from there. Tobacco is hiding in there somewhere, the spicey kind, like GrandPa used to smoke.
Mouth feel is key on the first sip. The fruit is huge but the beautifully integrated tannins mixed with perfect acidity make me want to lay it down for five years and re-visit then. The fruit is black berry and black cherry on top of smoke. It's full bodied and there isn't a part of the mouth that isn't covered in a flavor. The finish has that old metal chair feel...not metallic but rusty. Complex.
Finishing up takes forever and my mouth is still watering as I write.
14.5% EtOH
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Still very young right now -- seemed more modern in style -- more fruit forward with aromas of fresh cherries. Wait on this one -- until the tannins calm down a bit.
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11/15/2022 - jenniaa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Glorious! One of our best wine experiences from the cellar this year. At first it presented with acidity that drowned the fruit (and worried me). Decanted, waited an hour and tried it with salami (super good!) and bruschetta with prosciutto (seemed a little metallic). Another hour passed and it started to open up, then really came into its own with lamb shanks al la matignon. The nose became a mosaic of fennel, rich fruit, effusive dark notes, red flowers, etc. We saved the last half pour for yet another half hour after dinner and declared it a huge success. I feel we hit it at a peak, but probably could have enjoyed it at least a few more years. Other than the slight dissonance at the beginning, it showed no sign of senescence.
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9/12/2020 - Frijole wrote:
burgundy red, medium clarity, brownish hue
Nose: black cherry, cranberry, plum, tobacco, leather, chocolate, cola, oak
Pal: black cherry, cranberry, plum, leather, tobacco, chocolate, wet earth, dirt, minerals, cola, oak
Feel: medium, savory, acidic
Finish: medium
T8
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9/29/2016 - arvidpalmqvist wrote:
Brick coloured, some sediment. Medicinal notes, pepper mint, hint of cognac, mature with high acidity, hint of VA. High tannins, open but could also last longer.
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7/27/2016 - chokkon Likes this wine:
20c; no decant; clear coppered-red; delicate floral nose; brisk tannins, bright acidity, supple fruit, long (mouth-sucking) finish ; prominent minerals, schist, overriding red fruit, mint, caramel; a tinny, 'old school' barolo; 18
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1/19/2016 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep red center, red rim fading to orange.
Classic Nebbiolo nose of tar, fur, tart redcurrants, attractive whiskey notes.
Smooth but very good acidity and tannin still, orange, grilled meat, red cherries, leather, oak, good length.
Excellent barolo, driving well now but has the structure to last for 5+ more years.
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5/17/2015 - Ken332 wrote:
Bottle was maderized, but if one enjoys old wines (although this one was far from old), it is interesting.
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4/13/2014 - jdinkin1 wrote: 90 Points
Dark restrained fruit. Dusty. Sandy tannins. Very nice with veal checks with mushrooms
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7/12/2013 - L-C. wrote: 88 Points
Medium brown-red with ruby glints. Medium intensive nose with principal notes of tar and cooked plums and with time increasingly dusty, dried flowers. In fact resembling a potpourri of dried petals and fruit. In the mouth it is full with well integrated high acidity, but with extremely firm, slightly rustic tannins. The fruity, dusty flavours have a very long, lingering finish. (Drunk from a half bottle)
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6/29/2013 - Ken332 wrote: 88 Points
Did not decant. Opened about an hour before serving. Served with grilled beef ribs. Nose was initially closed in with astringent, but not bitter, tanins in the mid-range and finish. Wine opened up after about 45 minutes to light tar, orange peel and violets in the initial flavors and mid-range, astringent tanins tapered off but were still present, good length in the finish. This is a good Barolo, but not a great one. Enjoyable, but needs 2-3 years. Will try again in 2015 or 2016.
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6/20/2013 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very smooth, deceptively light fruit with classic tar, violets, good length. Has a lot of structure.
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4/19/2011 - dsilver wrote: 91 Points
Spice, meat. Still some grip.
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2/9/2011 - tshahar wrote: 89 Points
Nothing amazing here, maybe too young as it was quite flat
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1/30/2011 - ekenneth wrote: 94 Points
Great Barolo - Lot's of sediment, herbal, chocolate, tar, (almost) leathery, orange peel, light spice. Just what you'd expect from a barolo and drinking well right now.
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11/14/2010 - chayward wrote: 90 Points
Very intense nose: floral, light red fruit, earthy, and spicy. Still has substantial tannins and a long finish. Very nice.
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12/27/2009 - Kellious wrote: 91 Points
good nose,cherry, red currant,tar,floral. On the plate, nice acidity, sweet tannin, ripe dark cherry, herbs, tea leaves, medium full body, nice mouth fill, great with lamb chops( that's my dinner with this wine). Very enjoyable for the price.
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2/21/2009 - ScottS wrote: 90 Points
Purchased off the wine list at Michael Chiarello's new restaurant Bottega in Yountville. Super tight upon opening. Medium bodied and fairly tannic. After a little air the wine started to open and exposed a nice cherry characteristic. I really liked the nose on this wine. It was packed with red fruit & black licorice. The wine paired beautifully with the Goats Milk Braised Lamb Shank.
50+5+14+15+6=90
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11/1/2008 - pbjosh wrote: 89 Points
Good wine, good typicity, but the vintage shows in the lack of freshness and lack of aromatic lift. Comes off a bit heavy, though well balanced and structured. Needs time and will be good but never great.
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6/17/2008 - chateaumiller wrote: 96 Points
EXTRAORDINARY
This has to be the best wine I've had this year. The color is a lot lighter than I expected with a light garnet shade that gets lighter towards the edges. Even the legs run faster than I would have thought but once your nose gets close to the glass all color is forgotten. Tea leaves grab the front of the nose while spicy blackberries continue from there. Tobacco is hiding in there somewhere, the spicey kind, like GrandPa used to smoke.
Mouth feel is key on the first sip. The fruit is huge but the beautifully integrated tannins mixed with perfect acidity make me want to lay it down for five years and re-visit then. The fruit is black berry and black cherry on top of smoke. It's full bodied and there isn't a part of the mouth that isn't covered in a flavor. The finish has that old metal chair feel...not metallic but rusty. Complex.
Finishing up takes forever and my mouth is still watering as I write.
14.5% EtOH
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2/16/2008 - Frijole wrote:
burgundy center, slightly cloudy, silver edges
Nose: burnt cherries, earth, tar, silver, thyme, touch mint
Pal: burnt cherries, tar, earth, tannins, nebbiolo tang, smoke
Feel: medium/long
Finish: med/long
TC8
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2/1/2008 - win wrote: 89 Points
Still very young right now -- seemed more modern in style -- more fruit forward with aromas of fresh cherries. Wait on this one -- until the tannins calm down a bit.
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