1997 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Barolo Bussia Vigna dei Dardi

Community Tasting Notes (5) Median Score: 89 points

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  1/26/2023 - JohnMcIlwain Likes this wine:

  A throwback bottle from the Berkeley Wine Co era, when I was just a pup and the infamous Robert Chadderdon was just a fax or phone call—never an email—away. Double-decanted at 1:30 PM for dinner at 8:30. Fantino 1997 Barolo Vigna dei Dardi has a darkish (given the age) garnet robe with some bricking on the rim. The nose is backwards and a bit unforgiving upon opening. Double decanting and a bit of time wake things up. The nose offers aromas of dried rose, raspberry seed, loamy earth, and bit of balsam with some oxidative wisps and an intriguing—if faint—brothy/umami note . The palate is more overtly fruit driven with mulberry and raspberry compote on the attack, with earthy, and game/leather notes following. There’s a black soil and tarry earth character making up the core with dusty rose water and strawberry sucrosity carrying on to the mid-length finish. Good acidity and warmth rather than heat; nicely resolving and definitely ripe tannins here. Neither the end all nor it’s neighbor be all, but I have no complaints on this raw Maine evening and certainly believe this over-performed the Suckling-favored vintage. Re-buy? At less than $50 way back when, a steal. If you want brilliance or superlatives, maybe look elsewhere in 1997. That said, this is satisfying indeed.

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  3/4/2014 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points

  Nose: Lovely and balanced nose with roasted herbs, roses, dark red cherries, anise seed, strawberries, and some tar notes. There is excellent medium depth to this with a seamless quality as well.
  
  Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. The structure is far from overbearing and is well balanced with roasted herbs, dark red cherries, incense, anise seed, and tar notes.
  
  Overall: This is drinking beautifully right now. The structure is still there for further aging, but this is in a perfect place right now.

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  10/13/2008 - Wicker Parker wrote:

  A beautiful, pure, "traditional" Barolo wine that's approachable now but is only beginning to mature. This is all about roses and cherry, but its nascent complexity shows excellent depth. The tannins are beautiful and not at all harsh, but I wish we'd decanted this and tracked its progress over a longer time.

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  6/8/2008 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points

  Trip to Boston; 6/4/2008-6/9/2008: excellent showing for this wine, mushroos and perhaps truffles, ripe cherry, young still, rich fruit in the middle - quite complex, good finish. a blend of old and new here - and i think with a bit more time it will show even more complexity.

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  5/3/2008 - billyg wrote: 88 Points

  Raspberry with cassis on the nose. Raspberry, prune, cassis, and a hint of basil followed by sour cherry and black pepper. After 2.5 hours getting some tomato and celery in the mid-palate and finish. Long finish yet medium bodied.

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