1993 survey, or filling a hole with Chave (Chicago, IL): Much cleaner than the last bottle of this that I had. It was a little muted at first and took some time to actually start really expressing itself. But this was classic Giacosa, with its perfumed, airy red fruit and silky tannic structure. No real signs that this was an off vintage at all (is it? I always assumed it was.) I love the crisp, red berry profile here. To be fair, this is a bit thinner and lighter than the best Giacosas, but it's no slouch of a wine.
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Clear ruby with a garnet hue. Tar, roses, spice and leather with sweet red and dark fruit. Great acidity, medium weight palate with a very long finish. This is ready now.
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Blind "Grand Cru" with Lobster & Flannery Steak (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Served double blind. Red cherry with floral notes and plenty of earth. Slightly dirty, possibly bretty? Probably also getting tired. Good enough weight, but I didn't expect Giacosa. Not nearly as interesting as when last tasted in 2011. Probably 87-88 points tonight.
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Late night and didn't get nearly enough attention, but this came across as classic and traditional Nebbiolo if a little subdued and lacking that extra something you expect from Giacosa.
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"Grand cru" blinds (Chicago, IL): A slight hint of brett that's kind of atypical for Giacosa (and the region, really). At the same time there is some wispy red fruit and a bit of a floral perfume. The palate is pretty high in acid and earth tones; there's still red fruit but I think it's more dominated by acidity. The tannins are mostly resolved now; this isn't a bottle that has significant upside, given the weaker vintage.
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(Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano) Bricking medium red violet color with light floating sediment; appealing, dried berry, anise, dried cherry nose; tasty, silky textured, tart cherry, red berry, roses palate; long finish
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3/14/2023 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
1993 survey, or filling a hole with Chave (Chicago, IL): Much cleaner than the last bottle of this that I had. It was a little muted at first and took some time to actually start really expressing itself. But this was classic Giacosa, with its perfumed, airy red fruit and silky tannic structure. No real signs that this was an off vintage at all (is it? I always assumed it was.) I love the crisp, red berry profile here. To be fair, this is a bit thinner and lighter than the best Giacosas, but it's no slouch of a wine.
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3/14/2020 - jfpwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear ruby with a garnet hue. Tar, roses, spice and leather with sweet red and dark fruit. Great acidity, medium weight palate with a very long finish. This is ready now.
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8/31/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Blind "Grand Cru" with Lobster & Flannery Steak (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Served double blind. Red cherry with floral notes and plenty of earth. Slightly dirty, possibly bretty? Probably also getting tired. Good enough weight, but I didn't expect Giacosa. Not nearly as interesting as when last tasted in 2011. Probably 87-88 points tonight.
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8/31/2019 - Nanda wrote:
Late night and didn't get nearly enough attention, but this came across as classic and traditional Nebbiolo if a little subdued and lacking that extra something you expect from Giacosa.
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8/31/2019 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
"Grand cru" blinds (Chicago, IL): A slight hint of brett that's kind of atypical for Giacosa (and the region, really). At the same time there is some wispy red fruit and a bit of a floral perfume. The palate is pretty high in acid and earth tones; there's still red fruit but I think it's more dominated by acidity. The tannins are mostly resolved now; this isn't a bottle that has significant upside, given the weaker vintage.
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