Pleased to be trying this again after 7 years! Decanted for sediment. Med garnet w/ a tawny hue. Med+ red cherry, plum, mushroom, forest floor, and dried herbs. Dry, w/ plenty of fruit left. Med+ acidity, tannins and alcohol. Med+ body, w/ med+ flavor intensity & length. Beautifully balanced and well-integrated, it is fully in its optimal drinking window. This traditional, Barolo has several years left to go.
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In a good spot. Nicely developing but there is still fruit and the tannins are nice and fine. But more advanced than previous bottle. These are good to go. 4
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Into its drinking window and lovely despite the lack of development . The cherry fruit is sweet and ripe but not jammy and it feels like it has the structure to improve. Try again 2024. 4.
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Crimson in color. 14% ABV. Subtle nose of red fruits, wet pavement, earth and flowers. Medium body with ample acidity. Elegant and somewhat rustic. Sour cherries, anise, tobacco and tar on the palate. Nice length on the finish with mostly resolved tannins. Beautiful Barolo that is absolutely ready to drink. Not quite as good as the ’00 I had this time last year.
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Cherries and brown earthiness, somewhat structured with soft tannins, excellent balance, medium body, decent length. Such a consistent and reliable producer.
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I preferred this wine in 2014 (last bottle I tried) when it had nice fruit, structure, and delicacy. Now it's lost some delicacy and structure. Still plenty of sour cherry type fruit and very nice to drink with some pasta with vodka cream sauce and spicy andouille sausage. I'm not sure this wine is one that benefits much past the 12-15 year mark, but who knows.
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The wine has a clear, garnet color. It has a muted nose of blue violets. There are still some drying tannins on the palate with some fading red fruits, forest floor, mushrooms and saddle leather. It is very enjoyable, but not outstanding as the fruit has faded quite a bit.
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Clear, medium garnet with tawny hues. The nose is earthy, with mushroom, forest floor, some tar, roses and minty dried herbs. The nose is fairly closed and developed. The palate is dry, but much more fruit-driven than the nose, with ripe red cherry and dried black plum. The acidity is medium (+) to high as are the drying tannins. The alcohol is likewise medium (+) to high at 14%. This is a medium (+) to full- bodied wine, with medium (+) flavor intensity and length. It displays great balance and restrained power. It is drinking very well now and may continue to improve and soften with further aging.
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Note: I use a rating scale for which 85 represents a very good wine.
Opened and decanted (narrow bottom decanter) for 1.5 hours or so. The wine improved meaningfully as a result of the (it is a Barolo). As others have noted, black cherry flavors, tannins not quite as soft as I hoped they would be. I have another, and I will wait a few (5) years to revisit. Could have been a little smoother (maybe).
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This really sang with dinner last night - didn't make notes then, but tasting today, ungassed, it is slightly rusty/brown, might have been a shade more ruby last night - fresh, fruity, and right in the zone, this was yummy.
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Pale garnet. Polished, smooth and well balanced leathery, tar, cherry fruit, soft tannins and nice acids. Drinking well now with at least another 5-10 years ahead.
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Nose: Lovely and feminine with red fruits, cherries, tar, strawberries, roses, and all sorts of wild flowers. There is nice depth with nice depth.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. Balanced and pretty with red cherries, tar, strawberries, wild flowers, and incense on the back end.
Overall: A pretty Marcarini. This grew more with air and became even more pretty.
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With about an hour of air, the palate shows black cherry intermixed with "browner" aspects such as the scent of beef soup and bullion cube, along with a bit of pine. This is good enough, but lacks the high notes and florality of really good Barolo. The texture and the structure are softening, and there is also a ton of sediment.
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I hesitated over opening an ‘01 Barolo, but the La Serra typically drinks younger than the Brunate, and with some air this showed well. Floral, black cherries, enough tannin that I’m in no hurry, but not at all hard. B+/B
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Right out of the bottle, what a nose....complex with all the classic Nebbiolo characteristics of anise, flowers and a great meaty/earthy note - it keeps me coming back to smell it over and over. The palate is medium bodied and silky through mid-palate with flavors of black raspberry, a bit of plum and just a hint of floral spice. Time in the bottle has helped the tannins and acid to be perfectly integrated, but they are still noticeable, to the point that the finish ends just a little bit chalky - not quite gritty but clearly showing some remnants of the structure. The nose alone makes it worth the price of admission, and while I wish the palate was a bit more nuanced, it has developed nicely over the last couple of years. I might wait another year or two to drink my last bottle just to see what happens, but I think this has hit its stride and is best now and over the next 2-3 years at most.
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Medium clear garnet in color; Sacrificed young for the team as we had not tasted wines from this producer. This wine was completely young and primary but with good structure and balance. It did not have any rough edges but also not much nuance. Young and frisky nebbiolo with lots of florals and minerality. Hold a few more years but probably not a long-term (10+ years) wine. [~$40 and well-priced; Drinking well now but still needs time]
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This initially showed some nice rose flower and black cherry fruit but it shut down very quickly with only some volatile mint notes remaining. Big strucuture and tannins. I would leave this alone for now.
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Very tight, not giving up much flavor at this point. Even the nose was muted. The structure is there, though, so this might turn out quite nice down the road. A little hard to say right now.
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8/27/2023 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pleased to be trying this again after 7 years! Decanted for sediment. Med garnet w/ a tawny hue. Med+ red cherry, plum, mushroom, forest floor, and dried herbs. Dry, w/ plenty of fruit left. Med+ acidity, tannins and alcohol. Med+ body, w/ med+ flavor intensity & length. Beautifully balanced and well-integrated, it is fully in its optimal drinking window.
This traditional, Barolo has several years left to go.
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2/9/2023 - jdamaral@rogers.com wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful, mature Barolo with soft balsamic and light rose notes. So light and intense. Just what i look for in old Nebbiollo. My last 2001.
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1/11/2023 - Chris Davies Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a good spot. Nicely developing but there is still fruit and the tannins are nice and fine. But more advanced than previous bottle. These are good to go. 4
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2/20/2022 - Chris Davies Likes this wine: 90 Points
Into its drinking window and lovely despite the lack of development . The cherry fruit is sweet and ripe but not jammy and it feels like it has the structure to improve. Try again 2024. 4.
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5/31/2021 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Crimson in color. 14% ABV. Subtle nose of red fruits, wet pavement, earth and flowers. Medium body with ample acidity. Elegant and somewhat rustic. Sour cherries, anise, tobacco and tar on the palate. Nice length on the finish with mostly resolved tannins. Beautiful Barolo that is absolutely ready to drink. Not quite as good as the ’00 I had this time last year.
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12/8/2020 - sbfoote wrote: 91 Points
Cherries and brown earthiness, somewhat structured with soft tannins, excellent balance, medium body, decent length. Such a consistent and reliable producer.
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6/16/2020 - WhinyWiner wrote: 89 Points
I preferred this wine in 2014 (last bottle I tried) when it had nice fruit, structure, and delicacy. Now it's lost some delicacy and structure. Still plenty of sour cherry type fruit and very nice to drink with some pasta with vodka cream sauce and spicy andouille sausage. I'm not sure this wine is one that benefits much past the 12-15 year mark, but who knows.
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12/18/2018 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine has a clear, garnet color. It has a muted nose of blue violets. There are still some drying tannins on the palate with some fading red fruits, forest floor, mushrooms and saddle leather. It is very enjoyable, but not outstanding as the fruit has faded quite a bit.
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5/29/2018 - ciaovito wrote: flawed
Corked. Memorial Day
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9/27/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: flawed
SLDS October 2017: Likely heat damaged.
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12/2/2016 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 93 Points
Clear, medium garnet with tawny hues. The nose is earthy, with mushroom, forest floor, some tar, roses and minty dried herbs. The nose is fairly closed and developed. The palate is dry, but much more fruit-driven than the nose, with ripe red cherry and dried black plum. The acidity is medium (+) to high as are the drying tannins. The alcohol is likewise medium (+) to high at 14%. This is a medium (+) to full- bodied wine, with medium (+) flavor intensity and length. It displays great balance and restrained power. It is drinking very well now and may continue to improve and soften with further aging.
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9/11/2016 - John Nezlek wrote: 89 Points
Note: I use a rating scale for which 85 represents a very good wine.
Opened and decanted (narrow bottom decanter) for 1.5 hours or so. The wine improved meaningfully as a result of the (it is a Barolo). As others have noted, black cherry flavors, tannins not quite as soft as I hoped they would be. I have another, and I will wait a few (5) years to revisit. Could have been a little smoother (maybe).
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8/26/2016 - winot Likes this wine: 93 Points
This really sang with dinner last night - didn't make notes then, but tasting today, ungassed, it is slightly rusty/brown, might have been a shade more ruby last night - fresh, fruity, and right in the zone, this was yummy.
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6/10/2016 - michael47 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pale garnet. Polished, smooth and well balanced leathery, tar, cherry fruit, soft tannins and nice acids. Drinking well now with at least another 5-10 years ahead.
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10/26/2014 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Lovely and feminine with red fruits, cherries, tar, strawberries, roses, and all sorts of wild flowers. There is nice depth with nice depth.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. Balanced and pretty with red cherries, tar, strawberries, wild flowers, and incense on the back end.
Overall: A pretty Marcarini. This grew more with air and became even more pretty.
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2/6/2014 - Pknut wrote:
With about an hour of air, the palate shows black cherry intermixed with "browner" aspects such as the scent of beef soup and bullion cube, along with a bit of pine. This is good enough, but lacks the high notes and florality of really good Barolo. The texture and the structure are softening, and there is also a ton of sediment.
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2/5/2014 - achim_m wrote: 90 Points
Consitantly a great value.
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1/7/2014 - DaleW wrote:
I hesitated over opening an ‘01 Barolo, but the La Serra typically drinks younger than the Brunate, and with some air this showed well. Floral, black cherries, enough tannin that I’m in no hurry, but not at all hard. B+/B
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12/27/2013 - Winetex wrote:
Not the wine it should have been. The cork was soaked, perhaps heat damage? 88 points but should be much better.
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8/11/2013 - presterjohn Likes this wine:
good, still young and tightly wound but quite floral and interesting. just enough acidity but the balance is a little heavy and broad
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7/9/2012 - davidga75 wrote:
Right out of the bottle, what a nose....complex with all the classic Nebbiolo characteristics of anise, flowers and a great meaty/earthy note - it keeps me coming back to smell it over and over. The palate is medium bodied and silky through mid-palate with flavors of black raspberry, a bit of plum and just a hint of floral spice. Time in the bottle has helped the tannins and acid to be perfectly integrated, but they are still noticeable, to the point that the finish ends just a little bit chalky - not quite gritty but clearly showing some remnants of the structure. The nose alone makes it worth the price of admission, and while I wish the palate was a bit more nuanced, it has developed nicely over the last couple of years. I might wait another year or two to drink my last bottle just to see what happens, but I think this has hit its stride and is best now and over the next 2-3 years at most.
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1/15/2010 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 91 Points
Superconcentrated, with masses of violet, dried red fruits and licorice character. Very nice acidity and a long, flavorful finish. - JD91
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10/21/2006 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
Medium clear garnet in color; Sacrificed young for the team as we had not tasted wines from this producer. This wine was completely young and primary but with good structure and balance. It did not have any rough edges but also not much nuance. Young and frisky nebbiolo with lots of florals and minerality. Hold a few more years but probably not a long-term (10+ years) wine. [~$40 and well-priced; Drinking well now but still needs time]
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10/16/2006 - marc d wrote:
This initially showed some nice rose flower and black cherry fruit but it shut down very quickly with only some volatile mint notes remaining. Big strucuture and tannins. I would leave this alone for now.
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10/5/2006 - Spencer wrote: 92 Points
Almost painfully young. but concentrated and balanced, with a great spicy and earthy character that I really like. This should age beautifully.
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3/30/2006 - bhornby wrote: 88 Points
Nice wine, but was not overly impressed. Not worth the price to my view.
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9/24/2005 - MBannon wrote: 89 Points
Very tight, not giving up much flavor at this point. Even the nose was muted. The structure is there, though, so this might turn out quite nice down the road. A little hard to say right now.
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