Warm, reddish brown color, on the paler side; on the nose leather dust, rose petals and quite a bit of tannin. On the palate at first quite soft and smooth, then the tannins kick in, together with noticeable acidity. The finish is attenuated. The wine shows its age and - at first - seems a little tired, but after 2 hours of exposure to air is coming out "full throttle" like the genie out of the bottle, strutting its stuff: Tar, leather, wet forest floor and a great aristocratic demeanor. Almost a miracle! My wife was absolutely enthusiastic about it. Wonderful foil to the slow cooked lamb shoulder!
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Warm reddish-brown color, a little less intense than the Brezza Sarmassa tasted alongside.. To my taste this was less complex, more closed onto itself and also a tad more austere than the Sarmassa. Some people preferred it over the Sarmassa; I was not one of them. Still: a good wine; an old style Barolor which went well with the accompanying goose..
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Brownish red color; on the nose typical smells of old Barolo: lovage, licorice, damp earth, autumnal forest, truffles etc., etc. On palate quite forceful and intense; this wine has a strong presence at the table, no shrinking violet here! It has good balance with a firm tannin/acidic backbone. Quite refined. Will last for at least another 5 years
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2013 Acker BYO at TriBeCa Grill (New York City): Bricking almost-opaque blood. Big, big, dusty, mineral nose; just an immense nose; tobacco, iron, porcini mushroom, licorice, iron/blood, bitter chocolate; wow! The palate is a beast, offers a hit of sweet cherry then wham! the tannic hammer comes down. The fruit is wild and complicated -- Jalapeño chili, cherry, cranberry, mulberry, roasted herbs. Freaking awesome, but not for the faint of heart. Good, not great, tannic and youthful finish. Miles to go before it sleeps, miles to go before it sleeps. Later, the nose became super umami saturated -- nori, kelp, and other weird, saline mysteries... (my wine)
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Impromptu lunch – 96 Salon, 02 Monfortino, 02 Jayer Gilles Echezeaux and etc. (Friend's house): Splash decanted, seems a bit more masculine and austere than the last bottle opened only three days prior. Sweet dry red fruits, licorice, anise, tar, leather, soy and mineral. Masculine, silky and cool with nicely integrated tannins. This is still youthful but the nose is predominantly tertiary. Masculine overall impression. This is a classic Barolo with strong presence of mineral, iron and tar Based on the last two bottles, I highly recommend.
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I wonder if it is bottle variation or the cold and damp weather but this bottle showed incredibly well compare to the last. Pop and pour, expressive nose of intensely sweet dry red fruits, fig newton, licorice, anise, fig newton, tar, leather, soy, ash and mineral. Much more generous fruit expression which nicely counter balances the tannins, silky, mineral and cool palate impression and long seamless finish. Masculine overall impression yet beautiful fruit makes the wine much less austere than the last bottle. This is a classic Barolo with strong presence of mineral, iron, tar and smoke. Very much Monfortino like but less balsamic note. Based on this bottle, I highly recommend. Serving with white truffle, egg and cream didn't hurt.
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Sweet nose of fudge and chocolate covered raisins. Some ripe dark berry fruit, cooling herbs and PV-like medicinal - almost brooding - character. Medium to fullbodied grainy palate with bright acidic backbone, chocolate truffles, raisiny fruit and dusty earth coming through. Long. Needs time IMO. In a "yummy" phase with some more brooding character coming through as well. I'd like to see more of that.
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Decanted an hour and a half before consumption. This had fairly intense color with nice transparency. Pretty wine overall, with gorgeous nose, offering heavy fennel bulb and sweet licorice notes. Nice earthiness with berry undertone as well. Very expressive aromatics. Palate entry showed more fennel and it then transitions to fairly gritty tannins that build rapidly, but still offered nice balance showing nice acid. Soft, seductive texture in its presence on the palate. On the finish this showed persistent heavy tannins and this only got more intensified as the night went on... no mellowing. Not offering many flavors on the finish other than the tannic clout. Never really shut down, and drank well throughout the time. Sure, it got a little hard at the end, but still very enjoyable. I'd say this wine needs about 10 years to really begin showing itself. I'm not mad we drank this as it's at a good check-in point, but I'd hold.
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Pop and pour, extremely mineral nose displaying iron, earth, tar, fruit cake, soy, leather, anise, dry fig and a hint of flower as the end note. The palate is very lean and comes with mouth coating dry tannins. With 24 hours of air, strong ash/scorched earth note as well as iron, tar, flower, charred steak, soy, leather, walnut and dry fruits. Although the color is very youthful, the flavor is mostly tertiary. It is also a semi rustic masculine wine with strong mineral expression and monstrous structure. The Barolo fanatics looking for iron, tar, smoke and rose will love this wine, perhaps around mid 90s, but most folks who look for obvious fruits will scratch their heads. I would highly recommend minimum 12 hours of decanting.
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Obviously more youthful than the Borgogno with good dark fruits..great nose of tar, leather, cherries. Big in the mouth but tannins not aggressive. Agree, this one will last a long time. 94 pts.
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An explosive nose of tar, leather and licorice greets the consumer of this outstanding example of perfectly aged nebbiolo. Well-crafted, the wine is fleshy and full-bodied with a lasting finish. Surprisingly vibrant and spunky the wine should be consumed as it has the potential to slide downhill in the next few years. Drink and enjoy as soon as the opportunity presents.
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Giacomo Conterno, Cascina Francia Barolo tasting 2010 (Maialino, NYC Lexington and 21st): The nose immediately shows mint with saddle leather and dark red fruit. On the palate is where this wine scored a lot of points as it showed a resolved and velvety, round mouth feel with cherry, herbs, roses and hint of burnt sugar. The finish was long and tapered away with red fruit and rose. This was one of my top three of the evening, coming in third place for me.
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Initially this was slightly more reserved than the 87. But after a while it opened in the glass. In the nose it revealed many of the same characteristics of the 87, but in the mouth it was much more masculine. The fruit was darker, the tannins were more aggressive and the finish was longer. Again an amazing wine and I really liked the pure expression of nebbiolo that this flight presented. One of my friends commented that this was how Mother Nature had intended nebbiolo to taste like. I have one bottle of the 88 left, and will keep this for a while as I think it will improve even more over the next few years. 95+ points.
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(at Cinghiale – Baltimore) Deeper garnet/cola color. Nose is very earthy – ink, animal, rare steak. Layered and complex though still light on its feet. Missing a bit of flesh – only a small nit. (92)
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7/1/2023 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Warm, reddish brown color, on the paler side; on the nose leather dust, rose petals and quite a bit of tannin.
On the palate at first quite soft and smooth, then the tannins kick in, together with noticeable acidity. The finish is attenuated.
The wine shows its age and - at first - seems a little tired, but after 2 hours of exposure to air is coming out "full throttle" like the genie out of the bottle, strutting its stuff: Tar, leather, wet forest floor and a great aristocratic demeanor. Almost a miracle! My wife was absolutely enthusiastic about it.
Wonderful foil to the slow cooked lamb shoulder!
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12/25/2019 - Bandreas Likes this wine:
Warm reddish-brown color, a little less intense than the Brezza Sarmassa tasted alongside..
To my taste this was less complex, more closed onto itself and also a tad more austere than the Sarmassa.
Some people preferred it over the Sarmassa; I was not one of them.
Still: a good wine; an old style Barolor which went well with the accompanying goose..
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12/20/2014 - cct wrote: flawed
Dill and celery seed. VA. Bruised apples. Flawed. NR
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12/16/2014 - Bandreas Likes this wine: 90 Points
Brownish red color; on the nose typical smells of old Barolo: lovage, licorice, damp earth, autumnal forest, truffles etc., etc.
On palate quite forceful and intense; this wine has a strong presence at the table, no shrinking violet here!
It has good balance with a firm tannin/acidic backbone. Quite refined.
Will last for at least another 5 years
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12/4/2014 - dcwino wrote: flawed
Mostly Baroli gathering at Aggio (Aggio restaurant, Baltimore): My contribution. It seemed slightly off with noticeable nail polish/VA note. Very mineral driven wine. MY batch had a noticeable bottle variation.
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12/17/2013 - Matt Neel Likes this wine:
2013 Acker BYO at TriBeCa Grill (New York City): Bricking almost-opaque blood. Big, big, dusty, mineral nose; just an immense nose; tobacco, iron, porcini mushroom, licorice, iron/blood, bitter chocolate; wow! The palate is a beast, offers a hit of sweet cherry then wham! the tannic hammer comes down. The fruit is wild and complicated -- Jalapeño chili, cherry, cranberry, mulberry, roasted herbs. Freaking awesome, but not for the faint of heart. Good, not great, tannic and youthful finish. Miles to go before it sleeps, miles to go before it sleeps. Later, the nose became super umami saturated -- nori, kelp, and other weird, saline mysteries... (my wine)
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11/29/2013 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Impromptu lunch – 96 Salon, 02 Monfortino, 02 Jayer Gilles Echezeaux and etc. (Friend's house): Splash decanted, seems a bit more masculine and austere than the last bottle opened only three days prior. Sweet dry red fruits, licorice, anise, tar, leather, soy and mineral. Masculine, silky and cool with nicely integrated tannins. This is still youthful but the nose is predominantly tertiary. Masculine overall impression. This is a classic Barolo with strong presence of mineral, iron and tar Based on the last two bottles, I highly recommend.
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11/26/2013 - dcwino wrote: 96 Points
I wonder if it is bottle variation or the cold and damp weather but this bottle showed incredibly well compare to the last. Pop and pour, expressive nose of intensely sweet dry red fruits, fig newton, licorice, anise, fig newton, tar, leather, soy, ash and mineral. Much more generous fruit expression which nicely counter balances the tannins, silky, mineral and cool palate impression and long seamless finish. Masculine overall impression yet beautiful fruit makes the wine much less austere than the last bottle. This is a classic Barolo with strong presence of mineral, iron, tar and smoke. Very much Monfortino like but less balsamic note. Based on this bottle, I highly recommend. Serving with white truffle, egg and cream didn't hurt.
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6/5/2013 - avp wrote:
Sweet nose of fudge and chocolate covered raisins. Some ripe dark berry fruit, cooling herbs and PV-like medicinal - almost brooding - character.
Medium to fullbodied grainy palate with bright acidic backbone, chocolate truffles, raisiny fruit and dusty earth coming through. Long.
Needs time IMO. In a "yummy" phase with some more brooding character coming through as well. I'd like to see more of that.
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5/31/2013 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 93 Points
Decanted an hour and a half before consumption. This had fairly intense color with nice transparency. Pretty wine overall, with gorgeous nose, offering heavy fennel bulb and sweet licorice notes. Nice earthiness with berry undertone as well. Very expressive aromatics. Palate entry showed more fennel and it then transitions to fairly gritty tannins that build rapidly, but still offered nice balance showing nice acid. Soft, seductive texture in its presence on the palate. On the finish this showed persistent heavy tannins and this only got more intensified as the night went on... no mellowing. Not offering many flavors on the finish other than the tannic clout. Never really shut down, and drank well throughout the time. Sure, it got a little hard at the end, but still very enjoyable. I'd say this wine needs about 10 years to really begin showing itself. I'm not mad we drank this as it's at a good check-in point, but I'd hold.
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3/21/2013 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour, extremely mineral nose displaying iron, earth, tar, fruit cake, soy, leather, anise, dry fig and a hint of flower as the end note. The palate is very lean and comes with mouth coating dry tannins. With 24 hours of air, strong ash/scorched earth note as well as iron, tar, flower, charred steak, soy, leather, walnut and dry fruits. Although the color is very youthful, the flavor is mostly tertiary. It is also a semi rustic masculine wine with strong mineral expression and monstrous structure. The Barolo fanatics looking for iron, tar, smoke and rose will love this wine, perhaps around mid 90s, but most folks who look for obvious fruits will scratch their heads. I would highly recommend minimum 12 hours of decanting.
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11/14/2012 - rnellans wrote: 94 Points
Obviously more youthful than the Borgogno with good dark fruits..great nose of tar, leather, cherries. Big in the mouth but tannins not aggressive. Agree, this one will last a long time. 94 pts.
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6/1/2012 - TonyTiger Likes this wine: 97 Points
An explosive nose of tar, leather and licorice greets the consumer of this outstanding example of perfectly aged nebbiolo. Well-crafted, the wine is fleshy and full-bodied with a lasting finish. Surprisingly vibrant and spunky the wine should be consumed as it has the potential to slide downhill in the next few years. Drink and enjoy as soon as the opportunity presents.
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1/20/2012 - LWI wrote: 93 Points
A Weekend in Excess; 1/20/2012-1/21/2012 (Trondheim, Norway): A surprising combination of fresh candy and red unripe apples on the nose; fresh and long, some cool flowers. The acid and tannins are pronounced. Very fine wine.
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10/26/2010 - DaleW wrote:
Some guesses for modernista, but they got before long. Chewy, big, suffered a bit being next to the a pointe ’78 Borgogno but I liked. B+
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5/16/2010 - UTPK wrote:
Two bottles, both totally oxidised and muddy. Not much fruit left.
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3/28/2010 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 96 Points
Giacomo Conterno, Cascina Francia Barolo tasting 2010 (Maialino, NYC Lexington and 21st): The nose immediately shows mint with saddle leather and dark red fruit. On the palate is where this wine scored a lot of points as it showed a resolved and velvety, round mouth feel with cherry, herbs, roses and hint of burnt sugar. The finish was long and tapered away with red fruit and rose. This was one of my top three of the evening, coming in third place for me.
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6/13/2009 - NicolaiS wrote: 95 Points
Initially this was slightly more reserved than the 87. But after a while it opened in the glass. In the nose it revealed many of the same characteristics of the 87, but in the mouth it was much more masculine. The fruit was darker, the tannins were more aggressive and the finish was longer. Again an amazing wine and I really liked the pure expression of nebbiolo that this flight presented. One of my friends commented that this was how Mother Nature had intended nebbiolo to taste like. I have one bottle of the 88 left, and will keep this for a while as I think it will improve even more over the next few years. 95+ points.
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6/10/2009 - dbkitc wrote: 92 Points
(at Cinghiale – Baltimore) Deeper garnet/cola color. Nose is very earthy – ink, animal, rare steak. Layered and complex though still light on its feet. Missing a bit of flesh – only a small nit. (92)
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