Brovia Garblet Sue vertical

This was an excellent tasting hosted by Bob H. The wines showed really well and the food and company were great.

There were a few surprises. The 2006 underperformed compared to the others. Perhaps not a representative bottle in hindsight. The warmer vintages like 2000, 2007 and 2009 showed some vintage characteristics, but showed well. I came out of this with an appreciation of these wines and the Altenasso cru. I think I am a fan of vineyards composed of sand and limestone. I would happily drink any of these vintages, but if I had to pick favorites or rank them, I would put them in this order: 1999, 2012, 2001, 2000, 2011/2013, 2007, 2009, 2006.

• 1999 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  The first of a nine vintage vertical of Garblet Sue and we are off to a great start. Beautiful perfumey nose. Hard to identify anything in particular but I love the smell. Elegant, with cherry, light menthol and maybe some orange? Delicious and probably my favorite of the night along with the 2001.

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• 2000 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This is showing a little more age in the color than the 99. The nose is nice, but not as pretty. Also elegant, with a little darker fruit tone, light licorice and riper fruit. Softer, but I think there is still plenty of life here. This is good, but a tough comparison with the 99.

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• 2001 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Seeing my note from last fall, that bottle was clearly flawed after drinking this one. This followed the 2000, and at first the nose seemed more subtle and not giving up much. This is more youthful in color again compared to the 2000. Pretty, refined, red fruited and elegant. There is some fine tannin here. When I came back this later in the evening, the nose was more open and this was in line with the 99. A really nice wine.

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• 2006 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  The 2006 was an outlier in the tasting. A much bigger, more powerful nose. More complex, but also less refined and pretty. This seemed riper and more concentrated with licorice, and a maple and soy quality. There is a lot more tannin here. Later, the wine seemed to show better, but this was my least favorite in the tasting, and perhaps not a good representation of the vintage.

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• 2007 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Surprisingly, this showed better than the 06. More youthful color. Brighter more youthful nose. This is fruitier and more chewy. A lot different than the 06, and I like it more today. The warmer vintages we tasted today all showed well in comparison to the higher acclaimed vintages. I think that says something about their winemaking skills here.

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• 2009 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  I picked up a little VA on the nose initially. Either I got used to it, or it blew off because I stopped smelling it. My notes were brief on this but I wrote it is structured and I liked it after the VA was gone.

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• 2011 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  The last flight included the 11, 12, and 13. They all showed fairly similar and well. My notes were brief on this one. Structured, youthful, mixed red and darker fruit. Young but drinking well, too.

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• 2012 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This 2012 was beautiful and edged out the 11 and 13 right now. Aromatic nose. Youthful red fruit. Bright and structured. I picked up some rose and spice on this one. Really nice wine. I think 2012 might be an under appreciated vintage from what I have tasted.

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• 2013 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Garblèt Sué

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Structured and young. Red and darker fruit fruit. The 11, 12 and 13 all showed well, and this might have the most potential of the three, but right now the 12 is showing the best.

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