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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 97.7 pts. and median of 98 pts. in 24 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by bill00 on 1/1/2021 & rated 99 points: Spectacular bottle. Benchmark Barolo. Perfectly sweet and ripe red cherry with classic notes of roses and tar. Still hugely structured and quite young but at the same time the tannins are so fine that it comes off as perfectly seamless. Drunk from a Conterno Sensory glass which I think helped to soften the wine and make it more approachable (a taste from a Zalto appeared more stern). I've had this wine several times in the past and this was the best experience by far. Could envision this being even better down the road as the structure is fully resolved. 99+ (3236 views) | | | Tasted by cct on 10/25/2019 flawed bottle: 1989 Retrospective at Leonti
Double decanted several hours ahead
Sadly corked. A shame as the underlying wine was impressive. (4081 views) | | | Tasted by cct on 2/2/2019 & rated 100 points: 1989 Piedmont Retrospective (New York): 2019 Alt Festa night 2
'89 Barolo and Barbaresco
More floral and subtly perfumed compared the the more overt and fantastic Falleto Riserva. A nose that is truly lung filling with roses, white truffle, spice, balsam, and redder fruit compared to the Falletto Riserva. A tremendous nose. On the palate, this embodies power without weight. It has incredible depth yet objectively, it is a mid weighted Barolo. Incredible grace and cohesion. There is a sweetness to the fruit, almost hard candy feel, but in no way cloying or candied (if that makes any sense at all). Red fruited nebbiolo, licorice, and huge inner mouth perfume on the near endless palate. A supremely elegant, effortless wine of impossible balance and harmony. Lung and soul filling. A wonder to experience. Perfect. Complete. Thank you MB! (5302 views) | | | Tasted by Eric Guido on 10/21/2018 & rated 99 points: Iconic bottles: Barolo & Barbaresco Tasting (Maialino, NYC Lexington and 21st): The bouquet was remarkably deep and layered with masses of pure black cherry and ripe strawberry fruit giving way to a mix of sweet mineral-infused Indian spice, hints of balsamic, and smoky crushed stone. On the palate, I found the most silky, fine textures imaginable, like a veil being pulled across the senses, ushering in vibrant, fleshy cherry fruit, offset by savory minerals and spice, with inner rose and cedar notes, as hints of fine tannin slowly mounted. The finish was long, showing the first signs of the ‘89’s twenty-nine years, as savory minerals, moist earth, and dried floral tones resonated amidst saturating dried cherries and spice. I am in awe of how the ‘89 Collina Rionda has lived up to all of the hype. (6413 views) | | | Tasted by dcwino on 9/14/2018 & rated 100 points: 1989 Piedmont Retrospective (Cinghiale, Baltimore): Incredibly precise, complex and detailed nose displaying cherry, dry cherry, caramel, balsamico, iron, rose, tar, leather, truffle and mineral. Perfectly harmonious palate, very finely layered subtle red fruit, silky, soft and fluid, bright acidity, strong iron mineral, still a hint of very fine tannins and the never ending finish. The nose constantly transforms. Just like a great GC Burgundy, it is incredibly complex, detailed and harmonious. The power, intensity and concentration is not obvious. It is a Zen like wine that remains calm and composed. Tom and I agree that this is an emotional wine for us. This bottle has to be the most “complete” Barolo of my life. (4113 views) | | | Tasted by cct on 9/14/2018 & rated 100 points: 1989 Nebbiolo at Cinghiale (Cinghiale, Baltimore): '89 Nebbiolo at Cinghiale
This was one of my bucket list wines, and this was the night to get to see it. Often this ends up in disappointment as my expectations would have been hard to have been higher.
Well, it takes at most a couple seconds to realize you are in the presence of perfection. A lung filing nose. hugely lifted and fresh, weightless yet profoundly deep nose. Roses, cherry, tar, truffle, amazing perfume. The perfume just continues onto the palate. Florals, balsam, truffle, Serralunga fruit power but with a graceful touch. This not only has everything, but everything in perfect harmony. This is not the broadest or most powerful wine of the night, but the most complete, and deepest. Sap, density without weight, an effortlessly perfect wine that words cannot adequately convey. Incredibly long. I have not had a better wine in my life. Others at the table said it. This is an emotional wine. Thank you TM. (5454 views) | | | Tasted by The Vines That Bind on 5/23/2018 & rated 94 points: G. Conterno v. B. Giacosa (Maialino): This is a highly expressive nose, very sweet and floral, pastels and roses, very beautiful. Easily the best bouquet of the night so far. This also has a cleanliness and purity that deviates from the rest of the wines tonight. This palate is also ripe and round and delicious up front. Texturally soft. Finally, Barolo night kicks into gear with this bottle outstanding form the pack. (3624 views) | | | Tasted by tinybubbles on 4/12/2017 & rated 93 points: Dark red cherry, soil tones and licorice. But a less than perfect bottle with a slightly dirty character. 93- (3782 views) | | | Tasted by ricknat1 on 2/24/2017 & rated 97 points: With Jim, Mannie, Rob, Bill and friends at Charlie Bird. Part of a flight of 9 1989s. my number 2 of the flight but many peoples number 1. Very sophisticated and while young, quite drinkable. (3468 views) | | | Tasted by tinybubbles on 2/24/2017 & rated 95 points: A sweetness to the palate with abundant raspberry and strawberry. Great finish with sweet fruit and dusty soil. This bottle showed more like a '90 than an '89. 95+ (2582 views) | | | Tasted by ralleceniw on 8/30/2016 & rated 99 points: Spectacular! Still lots of life left, heavy tar and menthols (3359 views) | | | Tasted by tinybubbles on 4/21/2016 & rated 97 points: Great acidity, bright fruit (red and black plum), and persistent tannins that require more time. A fabulously complex and intense wine. 7+ years away from beginning of its mature drinking window (3763 views) | | | Tasted by dcwino on 4/15/2016 & rated 99 points: Weekend with Eddie - Part 1 (Marea, New York City): Unbelievably youthful nose displaying black and red cherry, dry cherry, fruitcake, rose, tar, dark spices and strong presence of mineral. Incredibly youthful palate displaying excellent concentration, beautifully layered, quite chewy yet polished, strong iron like mineral expression, good acidity, still strong presence of tannins and incredibly long finish. Tom commented that the wine may need another quarter century to reach the peak and I can’t argue with Mr. Giacosa. Absolute privilege. The youngest and most concentrated of the flight. (4863 views) | | | Tasted by tinybubbles on 12/2/2015 & rated 95 points: Red cherry, light earth, rose petals, and faint licorice and eucalyptus. Fresh and too young to be consumed given what it will be one day. 95+ (3391 views) | | | Tasted by tinybubbles on 11/23/2015 & rated 97 points: Red cherry, sweet spice, raspberry, rose petals. Highly perfumed with violet and rose notes. Smooth, precise and long on the palate. Burgundian in style. Paired well with white truffle but the wine did not require the food to excel (3231 views) | | | Tasted by kenv on 11/14/2015 & rated 100 points: NK 1989 Barolo Dinner (Dovetail Restaurant, NYC): [Double-decanted at 2pm.] Crazy good wine. Complex, floral nose. Classic fruitcake, licorice, and tar. A riveting wine that vibrates in the back of my mouth. A monument. Tom thought he had brought the Falletto Riserva and several of us agreed this was the best Falletto Riserva until Ben pointed out it was actually the Rionda. Go figure. A very happy mistake by the all too generous Tom. (4438 views) | | | Tasted by BradE on 6/26/2014: This delicious wine paired perfectly with pizza under a beautiful June lunchtime sky. An absolute treat, that was everything Giacosa can be. Great bottle. (4360 views) | | | Tasted by Jossik on 12/10/2011 & rated 98 points: tono brodoso giacosiano, enorme, arancia, anche se naso evoluto. Bocca migliore della giornata con tannino dolce, lunga, ampia, piena, perfetta, da 100 punti, peccato per il naso un filo evoluto (6546 views) | | | Tasted by kenv on 10/14/2011 & rated 100 points: Barolo including a Giacosa Rionda Riserva Vertical (Maialino, Gramercy Park Hotel, NYC): [Opened at 1pm. Decanted at 5pm. Served at 7pm.] Stunning nose of black fruit and iron. Has amazing richness and length. Still perhaps 10 years from its peak.
9pm: Explosive in the mouth with unbelievable depth. Long sweet finish. Once again the best wine I've ever had. 101 points!!! (7912 views) | | | Tasted by kenv on 3/26/2011 & rated 100 points: Gala Dinner of La Festa del Barolo (Del Posto Restaurant, NYC): OMFG! As great as ever. Fantastic. Simply the greatest wine I've ever had. Very happy to have tasted this many times. (6475 views) | | | Tasted by dbkitc on 11/18/2010 & rated 100 points: OK – so this is the second time I have tasted this wine thanks to Tom and I can clearly state that it is the best wine I have ever had from Italy and among the top 10 wines experiences of my life. Similar character to the 78, but deeper (though the color actually looked older), greater intensity but with the same medium weight that allows this monument to be enjoyed with and not over food. To my taste this is simply perfect. (100) (6569 views) | | | Tasted by fclarity on 5/23/2010 & rated 94 points: This was another great wine from Murray's 49th birthday celebration. It showed a red center and somewhat oranging rims. The nose was surprisingly refined with the classic waxy, tar, and cherry scents.
The mouth was incredible from the start with a presence that felt (but didn't taste) like Burgundy. The super ripe and rounded tannins gained intensity as the wine opened but never were intrusive as they are with so many Barolos. The above flavors were accompanied by soil and a hint of tabacco in the mouth.
This wine was complex, long, and about as nice as they come. It was only open for a couple hours so it may well show even better in the future. While great now, I would opt for giving it 10+ years or extended decanting. It should easily last 30+ more years. (5061 views) | | | Tasted by Gregory Dal Piaz on 10/15/2007 & rated 96 points: A Knight at babbo (New York): Dark color, deep and brooding nose infused with dried herbs and sun baked clay tiles slathered in spicy loganberries. Seamless in the mouth with sweet dark fruit topped with menthol notes, subtle baking spices, spiced plums. A great plush yet linear mouthfeel and a very long finish all make this a complete package. No additional comments. (5762 views) | | | Tasted by Gregory Dal Piaz on 7/29/2007 & rated 97 points: Another night with old friends... (New York City): From pouring the nose here is quite expressive with a base of earth and scorched orange peel which getts fresher and more complex with each passing moment adding a bright iron tone, fresh road tar, incense and church candle, and later a huge camphor note. In the mouth this is decidedly fresher than the 1990 and while style possesing masses of tannins they are only a touch drying and well concealed in the rich core of dark fruit. The excellent richness is balanced by great minerality with lots of dark, spicy tones and macerated berry fruit. This is still young but the palate is integrating well for the biggest wine of the flight and the richly fruited tones gently turn to a blackraspberry note with a whisper of butchers wax lingering on the long finale. I was able to keep a bit of this for the entire evening and there was much discussion regarding it's ability to improve since it is at such a fine place already. I think there is some potential for upside here though less than might be expected and, as Tom said, i would love to drink all mine up over the next 20 years. (6125 views) |
| By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Cellar Favorite: 1978 & 1989 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Collina Rionda (Sep 2020) (9/1/2020)
(Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Collina Rionda Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, La Festa del Barolo 2017 (Oct 2017) (10/1/2017)
(Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Collina Rionda Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 9th Annual Wine Dinner and Auction to Benefit The Mount Sinai Hospital (Feb 2012)
(Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Collina Rionda) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Piedmont’s Glorious 1989 and 1990 Vintages Revisited (Feb 2010)
(Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Collina Rionda) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Bruno Giacosa Producer website | Importer website
IMPORTANT: Please read this guide to ensure that you are cataloging your wine correctly.
Links: Ken Vastola's fabulous guide to Giacosa labels
WINES OF THE WINERY "AZIENDA AGRICOLA FALLETTO"The grapes are grown in the winery’s own vineyards and vinified in their cellars. These wines are sold with a label bearing the wording: "Azienda Agricola FALLETTO"– di Bruno GiacosaNebbioloNebbiolo is a red grape indigenous to the Piedmont region of Italy in the Northwest. The grape can also be found in other parts of the world, though they are not as respected.
Nebbiolo is often considered the "king of red wines," as it is the grape of the famed wines of Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG, and Roero DOCG. It is known for high tannins and acidity, but with a distinct finesse. When grown on clay, Nebbiolo can be very powerful, tannic, and require long aging periods to reach its full potential. When grown on sand, the grape exhibits a more approachable body with more elegant fruit and less tannins, but still has high aging potential.
"Nebbiolo" is named for the Italian word, "nebbia", which means "fog", in Italian and rightfully so since there is generally a lot of fog in the foothills of Piedmont during harvest.
Nebbiolo is a late-ripening variety that does best in a continental climate that boasts moderate summers and long autumns. In Piedmont, Nebbiolo is normally harvested in October.
More links:
Varietal character (Appellation America) | Nebbiolo on CellarTrackerItaly Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorPiedmont Vignaioli Piemontesi (Italian only)
On weinlagen-infoLanghe Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Roero | Union of Producers of Albese Wines (Albeisa)BaroloRegional History:
The wines of Piedmont are noted as far back as Pliny's Natural History. Due to geographic and political isolation, Piedmont was without a natural port for most of its history, which made exportation treacherous and expensive. This left the Piedmontese with little incentive to expand production. Sixteenth-century records show a mere 14% of the Bassa Langa under vine -- most of that low-lying and farmed polyculturally. In the nineteenth century the Marchesa Falletti, a frenchwoman by birth, brought eonologist Louis Oudart from Champagne to create the first dry wines in Piemonte. Along with work in experimental vineyards at Castello Grinzane conducted by Camilo Cavour -- later Conte di Cavour, leader of the Risorgimento and first Prime Minister of Italy -- this was the birth of modern wine in the Piedmont. At the heart of the region and her reputation are Alba and the Langhe Hills. This series of weathered outcroppings south of the Tanaro River is of maritime origin and composed mainly of limestone, sand and clay, known as terra bianca. In these soils -located mainly around the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco -- the ancient allobrogica, now Nebbiolo, achieves its renowned fineness and power.
map of Barolo DOCG
An interesting thread on Traditional vs. Modern Barolo producers:
https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106291 |
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