Agreed that this is everything you would want in an aged Nebbiolo.
Blood, mushrooms, tar/asphalt, leather, cooked red cherries, salted/cured pork, tomato leaf and a sweetness/sugariness on the nose. Almost butterscotch. The fruit on the palate is fresher - not cooked - but still shows as red cherries. The palate also adds coffee grounds and a nice spice note at the finish. High intensity of both flavors and aromas.
Medium + body, medium + acid, GREAT medium + tannins that show no signs of tiredness. They almost get more intense the more you drink this. Very long, minute + finish. A powerful Barbaresco, as befits the Rabaja cru. Could mistake it for Barolo. At peak now; and will likely remain here for a bit.
Good pairing with a roasted pork shoulder over polenta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
NV Bruno Giacosa Asili and Rabajà (La Brasserie, NYC): [Double-decanted around 11am.] Big, smokey, red fruit nose jumps from the glass. But in the mouth, the fruit is overwhelmed by tannin. Not quite sure what to make of this. Maybe it needs more time, but that would be odd for this ripe vintage. 92?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose really reminded me of a burgundy. Light red fruits, some funk, lightly grilled meet, earthly notes, maybe a hint of floral. Definitely a bit of a light alcohol hit. Medium bodied with a good acidity. Taste was red fruits, light earth, some bitter herbal notes. Very strong tannins with a good bit of astringency. Needs a while in a decanter. This was fantastic with a duck ragu, but much better with food. I think needs a bit of time for the tannins to integrate but is certainly on the initial mature phase. I would drink with a 2 hr decant now, or give another 10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
a very tasty wine. wish I had been able to give it a little more airtime (about 2-3 hours for this bottle) but delicious deep red fruits, sweet spices, some underlying earthy tones. such an expressive nose. felt far younger than its 21 years. bright, fresh, and vibrant. a beautiful pair with truffle ravioli. This bottle still had plenty of time left in it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open and radiant with notes of sweet red berries, raspberries, brown sugar, crushed violets, herbal notes too, licorice, some sweet spices. It‘s medium+ bodied, has medium+ acidity and medium tannin. Good length. A very pretty, perfumed and aromatic Rabaja that is peak drinking now. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
VA to begin with, which blows off, still quite wayward with celery salt aromas; on the palate it has bonfire notes and is diaphanous and kaleidoscopic. Typical Giacosa. Thrilling and brilliant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nebbiolos, white truffles, Volume III (Chicago, IL): While the red label Santo Stefano was by far the better wine, this was the more open and expressive wine, showing lots of perfume and elegance right now. A hint of black fruit, but mostly on the red side of the spectrum. On the palate, there's a slight high-toned quality that seems to indicate that a little more time (or air) is needed, but this is the better drinking of the 1998 pair tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blind: guessed Nebbiolo and figured Barolo. Safe bet. I guess that the entire flight was Nebbiolo so I figured there'd be Barbaresco mixed in the flight too. I don't know producers well enough to play with the big boys.
This was my favorite. It looks like a light PN or Nebbiolo in the glass but the nose says Nebbiolo. The perfume nose was outstanding. Red fruit and very fine yet prevalent tannins wrap in a light toast. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind, as part of a 4 wine flight of various Giacosa, with all wines opened about 5 hrs before consuming. Lovely with a tangy and lightly creamy profile. There is a purity of red fruit that is perfumey, fragrant. At the end of the meal, as I tasted that last bit of the wine, the aromatics evolved to a brewed coffee with a light caramel. What a gorgeous wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 4 hours and was a beautiful wine. Leather, saddle, dark fruit, forest floor, earth tones, umami and sweet candy. A perfectly aged Nebbiolo from the master. Went well with meatballs and pasta. No rush - plenty left in the tank. Big fan of the Rabaja vineyard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Most educational tasting for my guests, especially following a Caymus and Opus One. Talk about rocking their palates. Old world Nebbiolo with 20 years of age: orange rind, tart cranberry, leather, sandalwood and subtle oak. Fully mature and resolved tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1998 Barolo and Barbaresco Retrospective; 3/24/2018-3/31/2018 (Ai Fiori): turns out - this is the first Giacosa i have ever had - "way back" in 2006 (to be fair - I only got into wine in 2003 or so...) and i loved it then. BUT it was also not going up against a lineup like the one tonight...It showed darker cherry tones than the Asili, with more plush fruit in the mid, hint softer, riper. There is some tar and earth under the ripe black cherry as well, and the structure to support it. I think it would have done well in any other flight today - but the Barbaresco flight was too strong.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1998 Barolo & Barbaresco – A 20-year retrospective (AI Fiori): While the Asili was the vibrant and immaculate beauty, the Rabaja was the dark and muscled stallion. Here I found a slight restrained dark fruited bouquet with black cherry and hints of plum lifting from the glass, as dusty soil and mineral tones emerged. On the palate, it was rich and spicy, showing mineral-inflected black raspberry and tart cherry, while hints of slightly unresolved tannin settled on the senses. The finish was long and earthy with saturating black and red fruits, lasting minerality, and hints of tannin holding strong.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful piece of work -- nose is light sweet tar primarily with a bit of cherries in the background and some minerality. Color is remarkable as it comes out of the bottle -- almost looks like a rose, but slightly orangey, bricky. Darkens up somewhat after hitting the air for a bit. Palate is smooth, smooth, smooth with dark cherries, mushrooms. Tannins build slowly but very significantly at the finish. Just a tad less wonderful than the 97 Giacosa barolo we had yesterday, but what a delight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nez qui semble être plus sucré.Un nez de bouillon de poulet(note de Dégel) (mais pas en bouche).Un peu tertiaire et il manque un peu de fruits.Sur la cassonade.C'est quand même très bon au gôut mais j'aurais aimé le boire il y a 3-5 ans.Le cave en a bu 1-2 autres qui étaient magnifiques par contre. 90 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have seen the notes and heard from a friend that this has shown some sherry characteristics, but I got none. It was lighter than I have experienced for this vineyard, but had some floral notes and with red berries and some tar/black earth on the palate. Nice medium body and plenty of length given that it never over-powers. I think it will be solid for quite a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
[At Ben's. Decanted around 4pm.] Takes a half hour to open up. The perfume is lovely. Black fruit and spice cake nose. Medium body. Juicy red fruit. Long cherry finish. Some tannin still notable on the finish, but delicious to drink tonight with a little air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of textbook Giacosa dark cherries and herbs, color is purple, the tannins are still dusty but the backbone is there with excellent core of fruit - especially cherries. The wine, while delicious still is in its infancy. It will develop for decades to go still. Feel free to open and enjoy but this will be even better in a decade or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6 hour decant. Core of cherry fruit but less pronounced than 98 Scavino drunk side by side. More robust and while drinking well now has at least another decade in the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Giacosa/ Gaja 1990s Comparison and Dinner (Ballaro - Highwood IL): Beautifully floral with savory spice aromas and plenty of red cherry. Same flavors with excellent nuance. Elegant, long finish. Decanted for 4-5 hours, then returned to bottle, cork re-inserted for the next 8+ hours before serving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gaja / Giacosa Dinner (Ballaro, Highwood, IL): Full, layered nose with bright red cherries, florals and herbs. The palate is truly unreal with so much depth. Delicious cherry fruit with florals, tar, herbs and earth -- every layer is very precise. Stunning as it keeps unveiling more and more depth and length. Decanted for 4.5 hours and returned to a corked bottle for another 7-8 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group: Barolo & Barbaresco (Cafe Lurcat, Mpls, MN): Very small pour, just enough to wish i had more. Nice nose with sweet brown sugar, floral, lavender, leather, lovely. The palate has raisin, prune, red cherry, brown sugar, resolved and lengthy on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Barbaresco (New York Vintners, NYC): Double decanted, then slow-o'ed at 3pm. Smoky black and red fruit nose. Tannic, backward and structure. Amazingly so for a 98, but the fruit is showing and this wine has surprising elegance given its power.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The ’98 Giacosa Rabajà was much more pretty and elegant than I had expected as it opened in the glass to reveal a beautiful bouquet of dried flowers, red fruits, tobacco and undergrowth. On the palate, it was elegant, focused, and dare I say ethereal in its feminine structure. Dried red fruits were made juicy by its brisk acidity and lasted long throughout the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at Spadaros in Scarsdale with FAD. Did not decant, but should next time. Pretty medium garnet color, very generous and pleasant, aromatic nose of cherries & sweet floral notes. Wonderful nose! Medium bodied, still loads of fruit--sweet red cherries mostly--but some tertiary elements too: tar, animal tones & the like. Still fairly tannic, but not interfering whatsoever with one's enjoyment of this lovely barb. A truly delicious wine, still very youthful, but with all elements nicely integrated, great finesse, excellent complexity & length. Delightful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another young 16-yr old wine. Had this in the same flight as the '99 Gaja SSL. This certainly came across more elegant and enjoyable (for today's drinking) than the Gaja. Could smell flowers; Red-fruit profile on the palate, with just a tad (mild) of sweetness. Very smooth/silky tannins. Good length too... Des mentioned this seemed almost like the "Mugnier" of the Italians. Hope to taste this again in another decade or so...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious. Still very young. Crystalline ruby. Wonderful nose of spice, cinnamon, crushed red fruit, and rose petals. Well structured, long finish. A fabulous Giacosa from a very uneven vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful, aromatic nose that manages to convey both a floral perfume and deep, smokey and tarry scents. Great finesse on the supremely elegant palate, with a long, sweet finish. Just brilliant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a truly a big wine, but is still the queen - more subtle than the barolos of the same vintage. Soy, tarmac and flowers. Big wine at the start of its drinking window. Lovely. Makes me want to cellar more Barbaresco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Superbowl 2013 at my house with Brooklynguy and Bruce (My house): Bottle # 2081. Brooding, showing much darker plummy fruit than Nebbiolo red, with softer tannins and some dark liquorice notes, but also showing a bit of a roasted aspect, causing me to suspect some heat damage along the way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We had some cheeses: Manchego, Humbolt fog, Saint Agur and Morbier. Con pulled this one and it was an absolute stunner! The nose is just gorgously aromatic. One of those mezmerizing moments. The palate is drinking well though young and brooding. It works well with the harder cheeses. If I owned this wine, I would hold it for another 5 yrs minimum. It can only turn magical with time in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light red brownish colour; pepper, spices, dark fruit, forest floor; silky, smooth, deep fruity taste, licorice; long aftertaste; excellent/extra ordinary
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
just beginning to show that spectacular Giacosa sweetness after 3 hrs in the decanter. Sweet cherries on the nose with a brooding, deep spine of tannin and fruit. Will only get better with time. Significantly more open on day 2. Tannins are fine, but substantial.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tried at the "Stars of Piedmont 1998 Barbarescos and Barolos" tasting of Roberson wine in London last week. The Barbaresco flight also included the Brico Asili Bernadot by Ceretto, La Spinetta Starderi and Costa Russi by Gaja.The Barbaresco Rabaja by Giacosa was the youngest of the Barbarescos tried. Good body, long finish, however too tannic at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened too soon! Drank well with Steak Osso Buco at an Italian '96 to '98 tasting. One of the top 3. Fab nose! Fruity, earthy, carmel with a tad too much tannin. Probably would have been a better in 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nice floral nose with tar, licorice, earth. a wonderful expression of nebbiolo. nice balanced mouth with some round tannins, complexity and a nice finish. double decanted this morning , held in bottle all day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Boy I really get tired of rating Giacossa wines.....THEY ALWAYS ROCK! Rose, cherry, tar, licorice with brute force style fruit that persist thru the high tannins left in the wine. Amazes me how they get full bodied with a soft attack. I think they have "special" something they put in these!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was a bit nervous about this wine because I was not certain about its provenance, but there was nothing wrong with this wine. Gorgeous, savory aromas of cured meat, leather, spice, and tar, supplemented by a distinct floral component in the background. Juicy and grippy on the palate, with notes of licorice, sour cherries, red currants, and shiitake mushrooms. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing right out of the bottle - complex, great nose, substantial and very nice fruit (med dark, but with bright cherry notes, and not a hint of sappy jamminess), substantial chewy and finely integrated tannins, explosive. Just got better over 2+ hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Randy's birthday at Tribeca Grill. This wine flat-out rocked and all of us loved it. There is a yin/yang here of power and finesse. A bit of a leaning towards the roasted chestnut/melted chocolate/tar side of Nebbiolo, more so than the red fruit and roses side. Excellent balance. Not too tannic. Drinking well now with only an hour or two of air, but lots of upward potential for many years of cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
unreal nose of warm strawberry preserves, spicy cherries and roses, I could smell from 4 feet away. The palate is bit dominated by tart acidity but fruit and tannin are very balanced. Won't go near this for another 10 years. Huge upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
may god strike me dead, jock is right; giacosa trumps gaja. there were more layers of fruit and structure here. roses, cherry, saddle leather, at least there were enough distinctive flavors to describe. moderate tannin, so decant or hold. this is one of the more accessible giacosas i've tasted of late, a comment i have seen posted before from other tasters.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
New Year's Eve at Steve & Barb's house. Decanted 1.5 hours. Very dark ruby in color. Aromatically this wine was quite closed. On the palate there were sensations of chocolate and sour cherries. Drying tannins on the finish. This needs at least another 10 years to really show what it has, but all the makings of a great wine seem to be there. Excellent with the melt in your mouth short ribs and not nearly as good on it's own. 50+12+12+8+8 = 90++
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intensely aromatic nose with earth, licorice, mint, dark chocolate, and orange peel. Flavors of chocolate, cherry, cocoa, and tea with lemon. Grippy and long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
great nose. elegant. that nice mix of roses, red fruit, cherrie, spices, tar.... very very nice. and than that fat fruit in the mouth. I already dtecyted some mushroom... isn't that a bit early? great structure, but I wonder if the structure will hold for many years. On trhe other hand: I saved some for some days and after 5 days the wine was still a joy. that must say something.
It didn't deliver the OOHHHs and AHHHHs of the Pepe. but it is a truly great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took 4+ hours to reveal itself but excellent once it did. Mid-weight, with a texture that combines delicacy and power. Dark red fruits, cranberry, and a hint of soy. Nice acidity, but with an appealing sappiness. Plenty of structure and likely to improve (though outside of my range of experience).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Day After...and my first Giacosa (Count's Manor): my first Giacossa and WOW! a baby - yes ...but after 2-3 hours decanting it started to come around... this was the only wine that was completly empty before the end of the dinner. (we werent spitting and there was about a glass left in allthe others)
at first the nose was amarone-like almoust, sweet fruit, dry pineapple note. later more salty (soy?) and cocoa, with rich cherry. ripe rich fruit in the middle(cherry, blackberry...), powerfull tannins that made sure we know its too young, amazing acidity. loong finish...EXCELLENT!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/4/2023 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 95 Points
Agreed that this is everything you would want in an aged Nebbiolo.
Blood, mushrooms, tar/asphalt, leather, cooked red cherries, salted/cured pork, tomato leaf and a sweetness/sugariness on the nose. Almost butterscotch. The fruit on the palate is fresher - not cooked - but still shows as red cherries. The palate also adds coffee grounds and a nice spice note at the finish. High intensity of both flavors and aromas.
Medium + body, medium + acid, GREAT medium + tannins that show no signs of tiredness. They almost get more intense the more you drink this. Very long, minute + finish. A powerful Barbaresco, as befits the Rabaja cru. Could mistake it for Barolo. At peak now; and will likely remain here for a bit.
Good pairing with a roasted pork shoulder over polenta.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2023 - kenv Likes this wine: 92 Points
NV Bruno Giacosa Asili and Rabajà (La Brasserie, NYC): [Double-decanted around 11am.] Big, smokey, red fruit nose jumps from the glass. But in the mouth, the fruit is overwhelmed by tannin. Not quite sure what to make of this. Maybe it needs more time, but that would be odd for this ripe vintage. 92?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2021 - mrbry83 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted for sediment for 2 hrs, returned to btl for slow ox 4hrs. Explosive nose, everything you'd want in aged nebbiolo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2021 - ericindc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose really reminded me of a burgundy. Light red fruits, some funk, lightly grilled meet, earthly notes, maybe a hint of floral. Definitely a bit of a light alcohol hit. Medium bodied with a good acidity. Taste was red fruits, light earth, some bitter herbal notes. Very strong tannins with a good bit of astringency. Needs a while in a decanter. This was fantastic with a duck ragu, but much better with food. I think needs a bit of time for the tannins to integrate but is certainly on the initial mature phase. I would drink with a 2 hr decant now, or give another 10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2019 - mattstolz11 Likes this wine: 93 Points
a very tasty wine. wish I had been able to give it a little more airtime (about 2-3 hours for this bottle) but delicious deep red fruits, sweet spices, some underlying earthy tones. such an expressive nose. felt far younger than its 21 years. bright, fresh, and vibrant. a beautiful pair with truffle ravioli. This bottle still had plenty of time left in it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2019 - Rupert wrote:
Singed, tarry, a pungent streak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Open and radiant with notes of sweet red berries, raspberries, brown sugar, crushed violets, herbal notes too, licorice, some sweet spices. It‘s medium+ bodied, has medium+ acidity and medium tannin. Good length. A very pretty, perfumed and aromatic Rabaja that is peak drinking now. Excellent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2019 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 95 Points
VA to begin with, which blows off, still quite wayward with celery salt aromas; on the palate it has bonfire notes and is diaphanous and kaleidoscopic. Typical Giacosa. Thrilling and brilliant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2018 - Nanda wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for ~10 hours. This is rocking and so damn expressive. Layers upon layers. Really fun right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2018 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Nebbiolos, white truffles, Volume III (Chicago, IL): While the red label Santo Stefano was by far the better wine, this was the more open and expressive wine, showing lots of perfume and elegance right now. A hint of black fruit, but mostly on the red side of the spectrum. On the palate, there's a slight high-toned quality that seems to indicate that a little more time (or air) is needed, but this is the better drinking of the 1998 pair tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - brigcampbell wrote:
Blind: guessed Nebbiolo and figured Barolo. Safe bet. I guess that the entire flight was Nebbiolo so I figured there'd be Barbaresco mixed in the flight too. I don't know producers well enough to play with the big boys.
This was my favorite. It looks like a light PN or Nebbiolo in the glass but the nose says Nebbiolo. The perfume nose was outstanding. Red fruit and very fine yet prevalent tannins wrap in a light toast. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Tasted blind, as part of a 4 wine flight of various Giacosa, with all wines opened about 5 hrs before consuming. Lovely with a tangy and lightly creamy profile. There is a purity of red fruit that is perfumey, fragrant. At the end of the meal, as I tasted that last bit of the wine, the aromatics evolved to a brewed coffee with a light caramel. What a gorgeous wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2018 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 4 hours and was a beautiful wine. Leather, saddle, dark fruit, forest floor, earth tones, umami and sweet candy. A perfectly aged Nebbiolo from the master. Went well with meatballs and pasta. No rush - plenty left in the tank. Big fan of the Rabaja vineyard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2018 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still red/purple color, showing a lot of minerality, waves of complexity, very nice now but still a baby with many years of life remaining.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2018 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Most educational tasting for my guests, especially following a Caymus and Opus One. Talk about rocking their palates. Old world Nebbiolo with 20 years of age: orange rind, tart cranberry, leather, sandalwood and subtle oak. Fully mature and resolved tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2018 - Mlermontov wrote: 93 Points
1998 Barolo and Barbaresco Retrospective; 3/24/2018-3/31/2018 (Ai Fiori): turns out - this is the first Giacosa i have ever had - "way back" in 2006 (to be fair - I only got into wine in 2003 or so...) and i loved it then. BUT it was also not going up against a lineup like the one tonight...It showed darker cherry tones than the Asili, with more plush fruit in the mid, hint softer, riper. There is some tar and earth under the ripe black cherry as well, and the structure to support it. I think it would have done well in any other flight today - but the Barbaresco flight was too strong.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
1998 Barolo & Barbaresco – A 20-year retrospective (AI Fiori): While the Asili was the vibrant and immaculate beauty, the Rabaja was the dark and muscled stallion. Here I found a slight restrained dark fruited bouquet with black cherry and hints of plum lifting from the glass, as dusty soil and mineral tones emerged. On the palate, it was rich and spicy, showing mineral-inflected black raspberry and tart cherry, while hints of slightly unresolved tannin settled on the senses. The finish was long and earthy with saturating black and red fruits, lasting minerality, and hints of tannin holding strong.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2018 - JWG wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful piece of work -- nose is light sweet tar primarily with a bit of cherries in the background and some minerality. Color is remarkable as it comes out of the bottle -- almost looks like a rose, but slightly orangey, bricky. Darkens up somewhat after hitting the air for a bit. Palate is smooth, smooth, smooth with dark cherries, mushrooms. Tannins build slowly but very significantly at the finish. Just a tad less wonderful than the 97 Giacosa barolo we had yesterday, but what a delight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - Ennike wrote: flawed
Totally undrinkable. Like a mix of vinegar and sweet Port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2018 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 94 Points
WOTN at super bowl soiree
cherries in harmony with earth
long length on the palate
delicious
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2018 - phil the agony wrote: 90 Points
Nez qui semble être plus sucré.Un nez de bouillon de poulet(note de Dégel) (mais pas en bouche).Un peu tertiaire et il manque un peu de fruits.Sur la cassonade.C'est quand même très bon au gôut mais j'aurais aimé le boire il y a 3-5 ans.Le cave en a bu 1-2 autres qui étaient magnifiques par contre.
90 pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2017 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have seen the notes and heard from a friend that this has shown some sherry characteristics, but I got none. It was lighter than I have experienced for this vineyard, but had some floral notes and with red berries and some tar/black earth on the palate. Nice medium body and plenty of length given that it never over-powers. I think it will be solid for quite a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2017 - Dako wrote: flawed
Oxidized and undrinkable as well; bought on release and cellared the entire time. Two bottles left--to be opened pronto but can only hope.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2017 - Montecalvo wrote: flawed
Oxidized. Dead and undrinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2017 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 92 Points
7hr decant. Fruit not as pronounced as I prefer. Going to wait another 5 years before having another bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2017 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
[At Ben's. Decanted around 4pm.] Takes a half hour to open up. The perfume is lovely. Black fruit and spice cake nose. Medium body. Juicy red fruit. Long cherry finish. Some tannin still notable on the finish, but delicious to drink tonight with a little air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2016 - jal wrote: 93 Points
Nose of textbook Giacosa dark cherries and herbs, color is purple, the tannins are still dusty but the backbone is there with excellent core of fruit - especially cherries. The wine, while delicious still is in its infancy. It will develop for decades to go still. Feel free to open and enjoy but this will be even better in a decade or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2016 - wineguy75 Likes this wine: 94 Points
6 hour decant. Core of cherry fruit but less pronounced than 98 Scavino drunk side by side. More robust and while drinking well now has at least another decade in the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Giacosa/ Gaja 1990s Comparison and Dinner (Ballaro - Highwood IL): Beautifully floral with savory spice aromas and plenty of red cherry. Same flavors with excellent nuance. Elegant, long finish. Decanted for 4-5 hours, then returned to bottle, cork re-inserted for the next 8+ hours before serving.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2016 - Nanda wrote: 97 Points
Gaja / Giacosa Dinner (Ballaro, Highwood, IL): Full, layered nose with bright red cherries, florals and herbs. The palate is truly unreal with so much depth. Delicious cherry fruit with florals, tar, herbs and earth -- every layer is very precise. Stunning as it keeps unveiling more and more depth and length. Decanted for 4.5 hours and returned to a corked bottle for another 7-8 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior note; sadly last bottle...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2016 - LW31 wrote: flawed
Suspect heat damage. Raisin quality predominated alas.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decanted then SO'd for a few hrs, lovely roses & cherries, mod. tannin, med. finish; ready to drink with the decant but no rush
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2015 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 93 Points
Underbart mogen klassisk Barbaresco. Riktigt bra!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2015 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Intriguing but the tannins make this difficult to enjoy as a sipper. Got much better with food. Not awe inspiring but solid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Barolo & Barbaresco (Cafe Lurcat, Mpls, MN): Very small pour, just enough to wish i had more. Nice nose with sweet brown sugar, floral, lavender, leather, lovely. The palate has raisin, prune, red cherry, brown sugar, resolved and lengthy on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2015 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
Barbaresco (New York Vintners, NYC): Double decanted, then slow-o'ed at 3pm. Smoky black and red fruit nose. Tannic, backward and structure. Amazingly so for a 98, but the fruit is showing and this wine has surprising elegance given its power.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The ’98 Giacosa Rabajà was much more pretty and elegant than I had expected as it opened in the glass to reveal a beautiful bouquet of dried flowers, red fruits, tobacco and undergrowth. On the palate, it was elegant, focused, and dare I say ethereal in its feminine structure. Dried red fruits were made juicy by its brisk acidity and lasted long throughout the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2015 - BFG wrote: 94 Points
A beautiful wine. Elegant, with great purity, and still a little restrained. I would put it at 5 years short of maturity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
Very solid stuff. Lost some of the fruit, but drinking well after some air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2014 - cephomer Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank at Spadaros in Scarsdale with FAD. Did not decant, but should next time. Pretty medium garnet color, very generous and pleasant, aromatic nose of cherries & sweet floral notes. Wonderful nose! Medium bodied, still loads of fruit--sweet red cherries mostly--but some tertiary elements too: tar, animal tones & the like. Still fairly tannic, but not interfering whatsoever with one's enjoyment of this lovely barb. A truly delicious wine, still very youthful, but with all elements nicely integrated, great finesse, excellent complexity & length. Delightful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2014 - etyc Likes this wine:
Another young 16-yr old wine. Had this in the same flight as the '99 Gaja SSL. This certainly came across more elegant and enjoyable (for today's drinking) than the Gaja. Could smell flowers; Red-fruit profile on the palate, with just a tad (mild) of sweetness. Very smooth/silky tannins. Good length too... Des mentioned this seemed almost like the "Mugnier" of the Italians. Hope to taste this again in another decade or so...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2014 - reichken wrote: 92 Points
Young red fruit driven wine, fills the mouth, well balanced, needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
Very! Nice stuff. Needs a bit of air to open
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - SteveHyde Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious. Still very young. Crystalline ruby. Wonderful nose of spice, cinnamon, crushed red fruit, and rose petals. Well structured, long finish. A fabulous Giacosa from a very uneven vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2013 - Billigan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful, aromatic nose that manages to convey both a floral perfume and deep, smokey and tarry scents. Great finesse on the supremely elegant palate, with a long, sweet finish. Just brilliant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2013 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a truly a big wine, but is still the queen - more subtle than the barolos of the same vintage. Soy, tarmac and flowers. Big wine at the start of its drinking window. Lovely. Makes me want to cellar more Barbaresco.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2013 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 94 Points
En fantastiskt bra klassisk Barbaresco!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2013 - Pknut wrote:
Superbowl 2013 at my house with Brooklynguy and Bruce (My house): Bottle # 2081. Brooding, showing much darker plummy fruit than Nebbiolo red, with softer tannins and some dark liquorice notes, but also showing a bit of a roasted aspect, causing me to suspect some heat damage along the way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2011 - gregg g wrote:
We had some cheeses: Manchego, Humbolt fog, Saint Agur and Morbier. Con pulled this one and it was an absolute stunner! The nose is just gorgously aromatic. One of those mezmerizing moments. The palate is drinking well though young and brooding. It works well with the harder cheeses. If I owned this wine, I would hold it for another 5 yrs minimum. It can only turn magical with time in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2011 - Miceri wrote: 96 Points
Light red brownish colour; pepper, spices, dark fruit, forest floor; silky, smooth, deep fruity taste, licorice; long aftertaste; excellent/extra ordinary
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/8/2010 - paulst wrote: 94 Points
Light but deep cherry with rich earthy tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2010 - Milhous wrote:
just beginning to show that spectacular Giacosa sweetness after 3 hrs in the decanter. Sweet cherries on the nose with a brooding, deep spine of tannin and fruit. Will only get better with time. Significantly more open on day 2. Tannins are fine, but substantial.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2010 - the godfather wrote: 94 Points
spectacular
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2010 - carlwhat wrote:
young, but balanced. loved the richness in the mouth. great length and density. lovely showing...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2009 - paulst wrote: 89 Points
Suttle soft light blackberry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2009 - paulst wrote: 93 Points
Sweet deep earthy cherry blackberry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2009 - paulst wrote: 85 Points
Deep sherry like with brownish red tint and some cherry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2009 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Tried at the "Stars of Piedmont 1998 Barbarescos and Barolos" tasting of Roberson wine in London last week. The Barbaresco flight also included the Brico Asili Bernadot by Ceretto, La Spinetta Starderi and Costa Russi by Gaja.The Barbaresco Rabaja by Giacosa was the youngest of the Barbarescos tried. Good body, long finish, however too tannic at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2009 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
Mature deep sherry like fruit; round balanced smooth with soft ripe tannins; musty; deep cherry blackberry light chocolate; moderate finish;
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2009 - Hermes wrote: 95 Points
Opened too soon! Drank well with Steak Osso Buco at an Italian '96 to '98 tasting. One of the top 3. Fab nose! Fruity, earthy, carmel with a tad too much tannin. Probably would have been a better in 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2009 - goofy Yno wrote: 95 Points
nice floral nose with tar, licorice, earth. a wonderful expression of nebbiolo. nice balanced mouth with some round tannins, complexity and a nice finish. double decanted this morning , held in bottle all day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 94 Points
too young, blah, blah, blah. when do we get to drink this again?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2009 - jivey wrote: 97 Points
Boy I really get tired of rating Giacossa wines.....THEY ALWAYS ROCK! Rose, cherry, tar, licorice with brute force style fruit that persist thru the high tannins left in the wine. Amazes me how they get full bodied with a soft attack. I think they have "special" something they put in these!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 94 Points
Italian Offline with Loren Sonkin (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix): Ruby color. Bing cherry aromatics. Tastes of blackberry, earth, caramel and cranberry. Very well balanced. Nice depth of fruit in the mid palate. Long complex finish. Bottle # 5283.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 94 Points
I was a bit nervous about this wine because I was not certain about its provenance, but there was nothing wrong with this wine. Gorgeous, savory aromas of cured meat, leather, spice, and tar, supplemented by a distinct floral component in the background. Juicy and grippy on the palate, with notes of licorice, sour cherries, red currants, and shiitake mushrooms. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2008 - Happybob wrote: 94 Points
Amazing right out of the bottle - complex, great nose, substantial and very nice fruit (med dark, but with bright cherry notes, and not a hint of sappy jamminess), substantial chewy and finely integrated tannins, explosive. Just got better over 2+ hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2008 - Pknut wrote:
Randy's birthday at Tribeca Grill. This wine flat-out rocked and all of us loved it. There is a yin/yang here of power and finesse. A bit of a leaning towards the roasted chestnut/melted chocolate/tar side of Nebbiolo, more so than the red fruit and roses side. Excellent balance. Not too tannic. Drinking well now with only an hour or two of air, but lots of upward potential for many years of cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2008 - the godfather wrote: 93 Points
unreal nose of warm strawberry preserves, spicy cherries and roses, I could smell from 4 feet away. The palate is bit dominated by tart acidity but fruit and tannin are very balanced. Won't go near this for another 10 years. Huge upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
G7 (Pat): Blackberry, cherry, earth and leather. Very well balanced. Soft, elegant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
may god strike me dead, jock is right; giacosa trumps gaja. there were more layers of fruit and structure here. roses, cherry, saddle leather, at least there were enough distinctive flavors to describe. moderate tannin, so decant or hold. this is one of the more accessible giacosas i've tasted of late, a comment i have seen posted before from other tasters.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2007 - JeffGMorris wrote: 90 Points
New Year's Eve at Steve & Barb's house. Decanted 1.5 hours. Very dark ruby in color. Aromatically this wine was quite closed. On the palate there were sensations of chocolate and sour cherries. Drying tannins on the finish. This needs at least another 10 years to really show what it has, but all the makings of a great wine seem to be there. Excellent with the melt in your mouth short ribs and not nearly as good on it's own. 50+12+12+8+8 = 90++
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2007 - magyarsvensk wrote: 95 Points
Intensely aromatic nose with earth, licorice, mint, dark chocolate, and orange peel. Flavors of chocolate, cherry, cocoa, and tea with lemon. Grippy and long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2007 - paulst wrote: 88 Points
Port like with much heat; blackberry; rough start and smooth finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2007 - Scheper wrote:
The groups #3 and my #2.
great nose. elegant. that nice mix of roses, red fruit, cherrie, spices, tar.... very very nice.
and than that fat fruit in the mouth.
I already dtecyted some mushroom... isn't that a bit early? great structure, but I wonder if the structure will hold for many years. On trhe other hand: I saved some for some days and after 5 days the wine was still a joy. that must say something.
It didn't deliver the OOHHHs and AHHHHs of the Pepe. but it is a truly great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2007 - djb wrote: 92 Points
Took 4+ hours to reveal itself but excellent once it did. Mid-weight, with a texture that combines delicacy and power. Dark red fruits, cranberry, and a hint of soy. Nice acidity, but with an appealing sappiness. Plenty of structure and likely to improve (though outside of my range of experience).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2006 - Mlermontov wrote: 95 Points
The Day After...and my first Giacosa (Count's Manor): my first Giacossa and WOW! a baby - yes ...but after 2-3 hours decanting it started to come around... this was the only wine that was completly empty before the end of the dinner. (we werent spitting and there was about a glass left in allthe others)
at first the nose was amarone-like almoust, sweet fruit, dry pineapple note. later more salty (soy?) and cocoa, with rich cherry.
ripe rich fruit in the middle(cherry, blackberry...), powerfull tannins that made sure we know its too young, amazing acidity. loong finish...EXCELLENT!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment