Opened this in honour of Pio Boffa the larger than life Piedmont ambassador who recently passed away from COVID-19. Really enjoyed this as it balanced traditional with modern. RIP Pio.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Better than my last tasting of this. Still tertiary notes, but a bit fresher, with no soy. Popped and tasted 4 hours before dinner at Goldhill. Drank the rest in Conterno Sensory glass - which enhanced it and made the acidity crisper and the wine overall have a fresher better expression. Appearance clear after standing prior to dinner, but sediments towards last third of bottle. Legs. Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of chocolate, tertiary earth, some mushrooms (more obvious in Gabriel glass), dark leather, dark red plums, black plums, sour red cherries. Additional cherry compote, licorice, minerally earth after air and in Conterno Sensory glass. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol (14.5%), puckery high tannins that are structured and mouth-coating, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of molten chocolate, savoury earth with mushrooms bits and a bit of leafy forest floor, dark plums, sour red cherries, old dark lather, sweet tea leaves. Long structured finish. Very good quality. Well loved by all at the table. Complex and drinking well. This bottle probably better provenance than the last one I tried that was more advanced with soy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ox-blood, bricking rim Sweet earth, some mushrooms, balsamic vinegar, figs, leather, Tastes like the nose. Sweet notes. Nicely balanced. Longish finish. Drinking perfectly right now. All finesse. I think this vintage has peaked. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Italian wine swap session. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet brown colour. Legs. Lots of sediment towards end of bottle. Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of soy, dark mossy earth, vegetation. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), soft powdery resolved high tannins, full body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of soy, tertiary earth, dark green moss, dried up fruit and prunes, cocoa powder. Interestingly wakes up from tertiary slumber with more air >24hours, and shows soft dark plums and leather, with less soy. Medium finish, medium+ on 2nd taste. Good quality. But nonetheless, quite scary how evolved this tastes considering it is only a 2005. Possible provenance issue, but I have heard that this label either doesn't age well, or does so erratically. From Cascina Ornato cru in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oxblood in color, bricking rim, full bodied Faint fruit. All leather, tobacco, mushrooms, touch of stewed plums. Big wine, but all finesse now. No idea why last notes suggested being thin. Hardly the case. Smooth, well balanced, long finish. Tannin has integrated, but still noticeable. Underlying hint of sweetness. Tastes like the nose. Drink up now or hold for no more than 2 more years.
Drank over four hours Oxblood colored, full bodied Meaty, cigar box, some dark cherries Big tannin with slight acidity and a medium finish. A little thin, but enjoyable none the less. Taste follow the nose. It's in its peak drinking window right now. Drink it if you have it.
Montecristo No. 2
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear pale ruby; clean faint nose of cherries, pepper, soil and light rose; pfn with addition of cocoa; medium body; huge tannins; medium finish; medium acidity; dry; juicy but a little thin and austere; we didn’t enjoy it as much as the Pio classic Barolo, which packed a better balanced punch
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had at the Westin Excelsior in Florence Italy. The wine was very nice with lots of oak and tabaco. We ordered at the restaurant and there wasn't time for a decant or to let it open. But we had a full Italian meal over the course of 2-3 hours so we had lots of time to experience it's evolution. At 110 Euro on the menu I think it was a pretty good value considering it was in the restaurant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A decent Barolo that has good back bone and a nice bouquet of rose petals, red fruit. Dark in color it is a mid weight offering and offers a decent finish with good tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/26/2023 - dbm2465 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still plenty of dark fruit and body. Balanced tannins and acidity still present. Glad we drank it but it will likely last several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2021 - ToshaJolene wrote: flawed
Not corked at all but off.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2021 - PlanetX wrote: 91 Points
Opened this in honour of Pio Boffa the larger than life Piedmont ambassador who recently passed away from COVID-19. Really enjoyed this as it balanced traditional with modern. RIP Pio.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2021 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 92 Points
Better than my last tasting of this. Still tertiary notes, but a bit fresher, with no soy. Popped and tasted 4 hours before dinner at Goldhill. Drank the rest in Conterno Sensory glass - which enhanced it and made the acidity crisper and the wine overall have a fresher better expression.
Appearance clear after standing prior to dinner, but sediments towards last third of bottle. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of chocolate, tertiary earth, some mushrooms (more obvious in Gabriel glass), dark leather, dark red plums, black plums, sour red cherries. Additional cherry compote, licorice, minerally earth after air and in Conterno Sensory glass. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol (14.5%), puckery high tannins that are structured and mouth-coating, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of molten chocolate, savoury earth with mushrooms bits and a bit of leafy forest floor, dark plums, sour red cherries, old dark lather, sweet tea leaves. Long structured finish.
Very good quality. Well loved by all at the table. Complex and drinking well. This bottle probably better provenance than the last one I tried that was more advanced with soy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2021 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ox-blood, bricking rim
Sweet earth, some mushrooms, balsamic vinegar, figs, leather,
Tastes like the nose. Sweet notes. Nicely balanced. Longish finish. Drinking perfectly right now. All finesse. I think this vintage has peaked. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2020 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 90 Points
Italian wine swap session. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, garnet brown colour. Legs. Lots of sediment towards end of bottle.
Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of soy, dark mossy earth, vegetation. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), soft powdery resolved high tannins, full body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of soy, tertiary earth, dark green moss, dried up fruit and prunes, cocoa powder. Interestingly wakes up from tertiary slumber with more air >24hours, and shows soft dark plums and leather, with less soy. Medium finish, medium+ on 2nd taste.
Good quality. But nonetheless, quite scary how evolved this tastes considering it is only a 2005. Possible provenance issue, but I have heard that this label either doesn't age well, or does so erratically.
From Cascina Ornato cru in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2020 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oxblood in color, bricking rim, full bodied
Faint fruit. All leather, tobacco, mushrooms, touch of stewed plums.
Big wine, but all finesse now. No idea why last notes suggested being thin. Hardly the case. Smooth, well balanced, long finish. Tannin has integrated, but still noticeable. Underlying hint of sweetness. Tastes like the nose.
Drink up now or hold for no more than 2 more years.
Smoked a Paul Stulac Screaming *Eagle (SUN) *sic
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
4/20/2019 - Kingdionysos Likes this wine: 92 Points
Reb brick robe with very small orange reflections despite age. Cherry nose. Structured tannins surrounding fruitiness, earthiness and leather.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2018 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rar visiting
Drank over four hours
Oxblood colored, full bodied
Meaty, cigar box, some dark cherries
Big tannin with slight acidity and a medium finish. A little thin, but enjoyable none the less. Taste follow the nose. It's in its peak drinking window right now. Drink it if you have it.
Montecristo No. 2
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2018 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Clear pale ruby; clean faint nose of cherries, pepper, soil and light rose; pfn with addition of cocoa; medium body; huge tannins; medium finish; medium acidity; dry; juicy but a little thin and austere; we didn’t enjoy it as much as the Pio classic Barolo, which packed a better balanced punch
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2017 - LFCHALA wrote: 93 Points
Great Barolo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - Gian wrote: 88 Points
Cherry, spicies , on the palate full bodied, dust tannins, modern style , need 2 or 3 years more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2017 - Empirate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Restaurant purchase, no decanter.
Tight and dusty on initial pour but opened up after 30 minutes or so and showed very nicely.
Comes across as an old world style. I would say lots of life ahead but plenty of enjoyment now. 92+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/28/2015 - Timk257 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 5 hours before approachable. Even then I'll wait two years and try to get beyond high alcohol and heavy tanin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2012 - MrD wrote: 91 Points
Had at the Westin Excelsior in Florence Italy. The wine was very nice with lots of oak and tabaco. We ordered at the restaurant and there wasn't time for a decant or to let it open. But we had a full Italian meal over the course of 2-3 hours so we had lots of time to experience it's evolution. At 110 Euro on the menu I think it was a pretty good value considering it was in the restaurant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2012 - Chrisw97 wrote: 91 Points
A decent Barolo that has good back bone and a nice bouquet of rose petals, red fruit. Dark in color it is a mid weight offering and offers a decent finish with good tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2011 - il_diavolo wrote: 91 Points
Trip to Alba: Tasting Barolo 2007s (Alba, Piemonte (and surrounding towns)): dark cherry, quite fruit forward style and quite a bit of oak coming through. It's a good wine for the style (california boldness in piedmont).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2011 - pehm1231 wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Fleshy texture with a medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2010 - hairynosedwombat wrote: 90 Points
Very peppery, solid. Great with steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2009 - ews3 wrote: 94 Points
Zachys Fall 2009 Food & Wine Extravaganza (The Lighthouse at Pier Sixty (NYC)): really nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment