1998 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Ghemme

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 88 points

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  8/12/2014 - SAND Likes this wine:

  Appearance: Clear, transparent red on its way towards brick orange.
  Nose: Dark cherries, some liqourice, hints of tar and black pepper, some rose petals hiding between autumn leaves. With more air the autumn forest bouquet opens up and yields pure, classic mature Nebbiolo pleasure.
  Taste & palate: Medium to light bodied, nice acidity (as expected in this type of northern Piemontese Nebbiolo), not immediately revealing very much fruit, but after a few sips it becomes clear that the fruit and acidity are very closely "intertwined" and following each other. Quite long taste and aftertaste (if one may make such a distinction). And I would say quite classy and elegant but not without power (no punching fist but rather like a firm hand in a silk glove).
  What do all these attempts at descriptions tell me? That this is a complex wine. Initially seemingly just over the hill - a wine more for the nose than for the mouth, but then they show up one after the other; autumn forest and mushroom smells, clear but restrained acidity, nice fruit, firmness, structure, long lasting tastes…
  A lovely, classic, northern Nebbiolo, lighter but also more elegant than many Barolos or Barbarescos.
  The wine comes alive in the glass and appears younger the more air it gets. I would not be surprised if this 16 years old Nebbiolo would keep evolving, slowly and nicely for another 2-3, perhaps 4-5(?) years. As this is my last bottle, I, for one, will not find out. But by all means, this is very mature and drinks superbly now (and for those who are not so fond of mature Nebbiolo it might even appear to be "over the hill" already). If you have more than one bottle (and probably also if you only have one), open one now, air it, enjoy and judge for yourself.
  A food & meditation wine and what a wonderful Tuesday surprise!

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  3/18/2014 - Vlens wrote:

  Nose is very enticing with dark (amarena) cherries and cigar box on a backbone of sous bois. Unfortunately it’s a completely different story on the palate. Medium bodied with little to no fruit and overpowering acidity. Notes of soy sauce, mint, cigar box. Still interesting enough to drink a glass, but I’m afraid the rest went into the sink.
  
  Perhaps we were unlucky and had an off-bottle, but if not this wine is on a fast downward slide. Drink up!

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  5/16/2013 - NiklasW wrote: 88 Points

  Decanted, some sediment. Quite a pretty nose after about 30 mins of air, cherry, violets and a slight earthy character. The palate is dried out, this is losing the fruit now, still has lots of tannins though. On the whole enjoyable, especially with food (a nice grilled greasy pork chop), but may be on the decline now.

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  10/5/2012 - avp wrote:

  Ripe fruit of darker tone on the nose: black cherries to plums and mulberries. Lifted perfume character, mushrooms, liquorice and damp leaves.
  Quite fullbodied and fruity though perfectly dry at the same time. Ripe, plentiful and juicy tannins and ripe fruit with acidic brightness coming through. Meaty texture, touch of balsamico, graphite and damp leaves. Good length.
  A hugely enjoyable expession of Nebbiolo. Richer but cooling clay effect here. At a nice place now, but definitely no hurry. For 17,90€ this is ridiculously good.

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