Barolo big guns

Wine bar
Tasted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 by AJ72 with 594 views

Introduction

A chance to look at some of the best producers from the region e.g Giacosa, G. Conterno both Mascarello's

Flight 1 (6 Notes)

2004 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 99 Points

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

This is the best young Barolo I have ever encountered. This is a beast of a wine, monolithic, untamed, wild. A sleeping giant only needing time to unleash its full potential. It's hard to describe how good this is because it's not there yet and probably wont be for another twenty years. That being said however it's still worth opening it just to marvel at its proportions. For me this wine is full of everything that I love about wines from this region, tar, roses, sour, savoury, sweet and mindblowingly firm tannins which seem to hold everything together without being coarse or dry. This sits stylistically at the other end of the scale to the very lovely G.Mascarello Monprivato which is more elegant. I would prefer the Mascarello Monprivato to drink now as I think its showing nicely but the Conterno is more exciting today and will only get better. This is a yardstick example and stood head and shoulders above the rest.

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2004 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 95 Points

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

Third time I've had this. Again similar notes to previous probably got a bit lost in all the comparisons between others in the flight as it's that sort of wine. Whilst it still showed as the beautiful wine that it is I probably didn't give it the same thought as I did on the first occasion I had it. Thats the trouble with a flight as you always gravitate towards a winner or a wine that stands out. That being said this showed lots of character of earth, spice and tar. I think it drinks well now but seems like it won't change for years. This has all the character of Piedmont in a sort of Burgundian way.

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2006 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 96 Points

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

Although they are starting to rise in price this is consistently the best value top shelf Barolo for me. Bartolo Mascarello Barolo's are legendary, even more so than the legend Giacosa's (there I said it!). Everything I am after from this region is almost always present here and I love this style. A solid core of sweet fruit wrapped by wrasping tannins and savoury sour cherry type notes which all compliment each other. It was mentioned by one person that despite the complimentary aforementioned notes there was a level of Brett which did not go unnoticed........ Everyone has their views on this subject I'm sure but if there was Brett here it didn't bother me in the slightest. Still quite raw but starting to emerge from its shell and not a waste to open now.

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1997 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba 92 Points

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

This was good but lacked the intesity to be great. I have had a few of Giacosa's wines now. Whilst I like there overall subtlety, typicity and finesse I think they are overpriced. Many of the wines I tried I thought were bottles that weren't stored properly as they seemed a little tired. However this wine was stored perfectly and as I look back reminded me of the other wines I've had over the years. Quite a light colour (nothing wrong with that) showing orange at the edges. The nose is showing secondary characters of mushroom but there is still a lovely fragrance which encapsulates the regions quality. The palate is lightish almost seems a bit dilute but is still beautifully balanced and nuanced. Not a blockbuster but I think is on the decline.

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2005 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera 62 Points

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

I know I just mentioned Brett being okay in the Mascarello (if it's there at all). But this was a clanger. Very dry astringent woody palate which screws up into a ball of unpleasantness on the finish. Not sure if anybody else agrees but I found the Brett too much. A shame because when I visited the Domaine they were lovely people and a beautiful property. Sorry.

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2004 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Barolo Bussia Cascina Dardi 89 Points

Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

A good wine. Not overly complex but very good value and shows nice regional qualities. An enjoyable drink but not exciting.

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