Year 2 - Super Tasting 1 of 6 - Dave does Barolo

Dave wanted to drink some nice Barolo in his stash and the group really wanted to further investigate how Barolo ages and taste them at different stages of development.

Dave got the mother of all black truffles, a gigantic baseball sized truffle from southern Italy. Perhaps not the most aromatic truffle ever but meaty and earthy for sure.

Sturgeon Caviar with Creme Fraîche and Brioche

• 1999 Bollinger Champagne R.D. Extra Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Tasted out of magnum. Pours a golden honey yellow. Nose is initially a touch muted at fridge temperature. Palate on the other hand is very rich, round, and showing the complexity to come. Leaning to the fresher side by bollinger standards, but still solidly in the bollinger house style. Notes of seabreeze, brown sugar, green apple, hints of caramel and brown spices. Palate has such excellent balance. Dosage, creaminess, acid are all in an excellent spot. Notes of fresh ginger, and mineral poke through as it is exposed to air. Not a knockout at this point, and I think it could improve with time.

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Wild Mushroom Risotto with Fresh Black Truffle

• 1955 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Pours a gorgeous shade of red with quite a bit of orange and brown on the rim. A really funky, wet wood, shoe polish, and varnished furniture note on the nose on first pour, with a hint of of tea, cherries, tar and some brown spices poking through. The red fruit is present but really fading. Palate is very nice with tannins that have faded a fair bit but are still present and a strong note of cherries and tar on the moderate to short finish.

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• 1978 Prunotto Barolo Riserva Cannubi 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Much more primary than the 55 Borgogno Riserva served before it. Interesting and complex nose of mint, bubblegum, cured meat, iron, soy, dried flower petals, and earthy truffley soil. The tannin on this feels like it has really integrated nicely which leads to a very nice mouthfeel on this. Overall I really didn't feel this was bringing the fireworks but was very solid and enjoyable.

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• 1982 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This was initially very reduced, wreaking of burning rubber. This lessened with air but was still there. Nose of slightly candied red fruit, contrete dust and sweaty saliene. Palate is still quite structured with massively mouth puckering tannin and fierce acid. A bit of a tough wine to enjoy, but I suppose a very traditional expression.

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• 1985 Marchesi di Barolo Barolo Cannubi 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  I found this and the following '85 to be remarkably similar. Both dark, clean expressions with plenty of fruit and some maturity. Nose of powdered candy, bubblegum, licorice, anise and mushroom. Palate has a fair bit of acid, with the tannins beginning to integrate into the complete package. Another enjoyable wine lacking the wow factor.

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• 1985 Fontanafredda Barolo Vigna La Rosa 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Very similar to the wine poured previous. Nose of cold black tea, brown spices, some slightly fading red fruit and a hint of celery. Tannins and acid are less prevalent than the previous with some sweet red fruit on the finish

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Gnocchi with Braised Veal Cheek, Porcini Mushroom and Fresh Black Truffle

• 1999 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  A complex, but very wild, and peculiar showing. Nose of mint, high toned lemon (akin to dishwasher detergent), ashtray, urinal puck. Palate is pleasing repeating lemon cleaner notes, finish is light but fairly long. Seems to have potential for future development, if a bit bizarre. Strangely I still kind of liked this.

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• 1999 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Initally was extremely reduced with tarry, burning rubber tire notes. It did seem to blow off a fair bit. Nose of sweat, saliene, funk, rubber, undergrowth, and black currant. Palate isn't too dryingly tannic with some sweet fruit leaving a slightly sweet impression. Nicely done with some definite upside.

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• 1999 Luciano Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Wow! And here we have WOTN. I'm a really old-world guy who loves rustic, red fruited wines and this was quite the opposite: dark, ripe, and clean, however there's just something about Sandrone I love. Popped and poured and ready to go right away. Nose is plush and certainly modern leaning. Absolutely stunning nose of balsamic, brown sugar, hints of high toned citrus, a little bit of coffee, melange of purple, blue and black berry fruit and leather. So fantastically complex. Palate is plush, with big but soft, silky tannin. Finish is very long. Just lovely.

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• 1999 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This was a somewhat controversial wine. Nose was evidently oxidized and cooked, but curiously smelled like a high quality tawny port, which kind of redeemed it and made it drinkable for me. This showed cooked dark fruit with cedar and a slight rancio note with a palate resembling dark chocolate. Not at all typical for a barolo but an interesting bottle nonetheless.

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Artisan Truffelino, Proscuitto di Parma
Bastardo del Grappa, Testun Al Barolo, Pecorino Duro – Crotonese

• 2003 Triacca Sforzato di Valtellina San Domenico

  Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Sforzato di Valtellina

  Nose and palate show raisins, dates, dried cranberries, brown spice, licroice and a little VA with some definite heat. Palate is totally dry and finishes fairly long finishng on dried fruits and spice.

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• 2005 Triacca Sforzato di Valtellina San Domenico

  Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Sforzato di Valtellina

  Even more VA than the last wine. Nose of Balsamic, pine, dark fruit, some spice. Again totally dry, decent length of finish finish. Interesting wines but not really my style.

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This was an informative dinner that really left me wanting to have more Sandrone in my cellar. Very nice wines and a great group to taste with. Till next time.