1999 Giuseppe Contratto Barolo Cerequio

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 90.3 points

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  10/7/2019 - Weinberg Falls wrote: 92 Points

  Was initially worried by the totally defunct cork, which crumbled completely. Once the funk blew off however, this had an enchanting Barolo nose - black cherry, woodsmoke, hibiscus, raisiny chutney. Bright and mineral on the palette, elegant plum and blackberry compote, leather and warming alcohol towards the back of the tongue. Lingering spiced and earthy finish. Not massively complex, but satisfying and lush. This was in a good place, and should be drunk. 92-93

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  10/11/2018 - forceberry wrote: 90 Points

  13,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
  
  Dark, somewhat developed and gently translucent black cherry color with a pale pomegranate rim. At first the brooding nose feels quite dry and savory, but with air it slowly turns sweeter with aromas of ripe dark forest fruits, wizened red plums, some sweet-toned oak spice, a little bit of mocha, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a hint of plum compote and a touch of dried figs. The wine is dense, medium-bodied and surprisingly non-concentrated for the brooding, sweet-toned nose that leads you to expect a more powerful wine. The wine feels quite well-proportioned with intense flavors of fresh dark berries, toasty oak spice, some sweet mocha oak, a little bit of pruney dark fruit, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a hint of tart lingonberry and a touch of sour cherry bitterness. Although there is a sweet edge to the flavors, the overall character is pretty dry. The structure relies both on the high acidity and still rather firm and grippy tannins. The finish is grippy and quite powerful with very persistent flavors of brooding oak spice, tart cranberries and lingnberries, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of woody oak spice and a hint of sanguine iron.
  
  A quite brooding and pretty savory Barolo that feels like it has been rather modern and oaky beast - i.e. definitely not my kind of wine - in the past, but now the wine is starting to hit its stride. The oakier tones are getting integrated underneath the fruit and the overall feel is quite balanced with fine harmony between the sweeter and more savory tones. Most likely the wine will continue to develop and get better over many more years, so there's definitely no need to hurry with this one. Expect the score to go up with age.

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  10/22/2006 - jdshinn wrote: 89 Points

  Classic old world style

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