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Chicago Italian Lovers round 12- 04 Nebbiolo Blind
Domaine Wine Storage, Chicago IL
Tasted September 4, 2014 by KeithAkers with 585 views
Introduction
This was the 12th installment of the Chicago Italian Lovers group, and this month's theme was a 10 year blind retro tasting of Nebbiolo in general. The theme was kept a bit more open on purpose so we could get in a few non-barolos. Also, for fun, instead of just doing letters A, B, C, we gave names of players from either the Seahawks or Packers were used for the wines.
Flight 1 - Opening Whites/Bubbles (3 notes)
White - Sparkling
2004 Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé
93 points
Nose: The nose completely pops with red and green apples, yeasty tones, fresh baked bread, pears, baking spices, peaches, and some mineral tones. There is excellent depth and class to the nose and you just want to keep on smelling it.
Taste: Medium bodied with noticeable medium/high acidity. The structure is very youthful with red and green apples, fresh baked bread, white fruits, pears, minerals, and a good amount of baking spices.
Overall: While this is clearly young, it's also extremely good. There is a real sense of class and balance to this along with a lovely morning bakery-ness too that is quite enjoyable.
Taste: Medium bodied with noticeable medium/high acidity. The structure is very youthful with red and green apples, fresh baked bread, white fruits, pears, minerals, and a good amount of baking spices.
Overall: While this is clearly young, it's also extremely good. There is a real sense of class and balance to this along with a lovely morning bakery-ness too that is quite enjoyable.
White - Sparkling
2010 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine
91 points
Nose: There is a bit of a lush characteristic to the nose with fresh picked berries, roses, white fruits, mineral tones, green apples, and some white florals. There is excellent depth to this as well.
Taste: Medium bodied with high acidity. While the structure is very youthful, it isn't overbearing as the lushness of te nose continues on the palate with fresh picked red berries, white fruits, minerals, roses, and green apples.
Overall: Though there is a lushness to te fruit, the wine is well balanced along with having a precision to it. This was yet another lovely showing for this.
Taste: Medium bodied with high acidity. While the structure is very youthful, it isn't overbearing as the lushness of te nose continues on the palate with fresh picked red berries, white fruits, minerals, roses, and green apples.
Overall: Though there is a lushness to te fruit, the wine is well balanced along with having a precision to it. This was yet another lovely showing for this.
White - Off-dry
2004 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese (Golden Capsule)
91 points
Nose: The nose is extremely well balanced with a petrol base as well as green apples, pears, quince, and a hint of minerals. There is excellent complexity, but it does lack that next gear of depth.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity. The feel is very smooth and refined with green apples, quince, minerals, and pears.
Overall: This is a very tasty Riesling that is really coming into its own. There is a ways to go, but it's drinking great right now.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity. The feel is very smooth and refined with green apples, quince, minerals, and pears.
Overall: This is a very tasty Riesling that is really coming into its own. There is a ways to go, but it's drinking great right now.
Flight 2 - Flight 1 (4 notes)
A- Percy Harvin
B- Eddie Lacey
C- AJ Hawk
D- Randall Cobb
Red
2004 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Cannubi
90 points
Nose: The nose is gorgeous and savory with dark red cherries, mint, roasted herbs, roses, red fruits, tar, and some cinnamon spices too. There is excellent depth with it showing more of a modern intensity.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity and big tannins. The structure is extremely youthful and imposing with dark red cherries, roasted herbs, red fruits, an tar lurking underneath. The palate is basically all in the attack and it falls off from there unfortunetly.
Overall: The nose and the palate were diametrically opposed. This was certainly on the young side and I would like to see where it goes as there was a ton to love on the nose.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity and big tannins. The structure is extremely youthful and imposing with dark red cherries, roasted herbs, red fruits, an tar lurking underneath. The palate is basically all in the attack and it falls off from there unfortunetly.
Overall: The nose and the palate were diametrically opposed. This was certainly on the young side and I would like to see where it goes as there was a ton to love on the nose.
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Red
2004 Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis
93 points
Nose: The nose has a perfumed coolness to it with strawberries, red florals, roasted herbs, tar, fresh picked berries, spice tones, red cherries. The nose is deep with a layering effect that is starting to emerge.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is certainly very young, but there is a sweetness to the tannins with strawberries, red florals, roasted herbs, tar, and red cherries.
Overall: This still very young. That said, it showed great blind and has a very attractive side to it. I would love to see where this goes with time.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is certainly very young, but there is a sweetness to the tannins with strawberries, red florals, roasted herbs, tar, and red cherries.
Overall: This still very young. That said, it showed great blind and has a very attractive side to it. I would love to see where this goes with time.
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Red
2004 Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco
91 points
Nose: There is a marked intensity to the nose from the previous wine with some oak, smoke, dark red cherries, licorice, roasted herbs, and spice notes. The nose is wound a little tight and the oak is showing a bit.
Taste: Fuller bodied with medium+ acidity and chew tannins. The structure is definitely youthful, but the tannins feel like they may be driven slightly more by the oak as opposed to the grape. Even still, there is some raw power to the tones of smoke, dark red cherries, a touch of wood, licorice, dark berries, and some roasted herbs.
Overall: While there is some oak to the wine, it doesn't feel too obtrusive. This does need a good amount of time though so it can settle down and show what it really has.
Taste: Fuller bodied with medium+ acidity and chew tannins. The structure is definitely youthful, but the tannins feel like they may be driven slightly more by the oak as opposed to the grape. Even still, there is some raw power to the tones of smoke, dark red cherries, a touch of wood, licorice, dark berries, and some roasted herbs.
Overall: While there is some oak to the wine, it doesn't feel too obtrusive. This does need a good amount of time though so it can settle down and show what it really has.
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Red
2004 Palmina Nebbiolo Stolpman Vineyard
flawed
I wasn't sure what to make of this. It felt like there was some VA on the nose and the palate was a bit wonky too unfortunetly.
Flight 3 - Flight 2 (4 notes)
E- Marshawn Lynch
F- Greg Suggs
G- Jordy Nelson
H- HaHa Clinton-Dix
Red
2004 Michele Chiarlo Barolo Brunate
93 points
Nose: The nose was just flowing from the get go with roasted herbs, red cherries, menthol notes, dark red berries, roses, tar, and a touch of wildflowers. There is excellent depth already with a very attractive savory side to it too.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. The structure is youthful with the tannins being on the sweeter side, but it isn't overwhelming. Beneath the structure lie roasted herbs, menthol, dark red berries, red cherries, roses, and some wild flowers on the back end.
Overall: This showed beautifully. There is a very savory side and the modern oak didn't come off as readily appearant versus the other modern producers in the tasting. While this can definitely age longer, it does feel like it is coming together really well right now.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. The structure is youthful with the tannins being on the sweeter side, but it isn't overwhelming. Beneath the structure lie roasted herbs, menthol, dark red berries, red cherries, roses, and some wild flowers on the back end.
Overall: This showed beautifully. There is a very savory side and the modern oak didn't come off as readily appearant versus the other modern producers in the tasting. While this can definitely age longer, it does feel like it is coming together really well right now.
Red
2004 Mauro Sebaste Barolo Brunate
88 points
Nose: The nose is nice and balanced with red cherries, spice notes, roasted herbs, red fruits, berries, tar, and roses. While there is good complexity to the nose, it's more surface tones and there is some depth that is lacking.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. The feel is refined and balanced with red cherries, earth notes, spices, roasted herbs, red fruits, tar, and some bits of roses on the back end. As with the nose, there is good complexity, but it's lacking depth.
Overall: If this had more than surface tones on the nose and palate this would be a fantastic Barolo. As is, it's lacking somewhat, but it is quite enjoyable.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. The feel is refined and balanced with red cherries, earth notes, spices, roasted herbs, red fruits, tar, and some bits of roses on the back end. As with the nose, there is good complexity, but it's lacking depth.
Overall: If this had more than surface tones on the nose and palate this would be a fantastic Barolo. As is, it's lacking somewhat, but it is quite enjoyable.
Red
2004 Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra
91 points
Nose: There is an attractive quiet intensity to the nose with roasted herbs, dark red cherries, earth tones, florals, berries, some leather, and a touch of oak. There is excellent depth, but it is coiled up a but at the moment and it takes a few passes to get everything.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with higher acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is certainly imposing right now, but underneath lie roasted herbs, sour red cherries, floral notes, berries, leather, and some oak.
Overall: This certainly needs time. The materials are there for something great, but one needs to hold off so they can truly enjoy it.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with higher acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is certainly imposing right now, but underneath lie roasted herbs, sour red cherries, floral notes, berries, leather, and some oak.
Overall: This certainly needs time. The materials are there for something great, but one needs to hold off so they can truly enjoy it.
Red
2004 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato
92 points
Nose: There is an understated and savory quality to the nose with strawberries, fresh picked berries, roses, earth tones, roasted herbs, spice notes, and a decent bit of tar. There is excellent depth, but it doesn't feel like it's giving close to what it will have.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is extremely youthful, but the feel is deft and balanced with strawberries, roses, fresh picked berries, spice tones, and some tar notes on the back end.
Overall: This wasn't all too surprising when it was revealed. This clearly has a ton of life left and it only shows the general skeleton at this time.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is extremely youthful, but the feel is deft and balanced with strawberries, roses, fresh picked berries, spice tones, and some tar notes on the back end.
Overall: This wasn't all too surprising when it was revealed. This clearly has a ton of life left and it only shows the general skeleton at this time.
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Flight 4 - Flight 3 (4 notes)
I- Clay Matthews
J- Richard Sherman
K- Max Unger
L- Aaron Rodgers
Red
2004 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito
93 points
Nose: Though it is on the tighter side, the nose is gorgeous, savory, and perfumed with licorice, roasted herbs, red cherries, violets, white truffles, tar, and fresh picked berries. There is excellent depth to this to go with the complexity, though it does take a few goes to get everything.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and youthful tannins. There is a sweetness to the tannins, but the acidity is extremely noticeable. Though the structure does dictate the palate somewhat, there is excellent balance to roasted herbs, licorice, red cherries, white truffles, violets, and tar.
Overall: This showed extremely well, but it has a lot more to give. The structure is showing strongly, but the complexity and class of the wine is showing strongly as well. I would love to see where this goes with time.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and youthful tannins. There is a sweetness to the tannins, but the acidity is extremely noticeable. Though the structure does dictate the palate somewhat, there is excellent balance to roasted herbs, licorice, red cherries, white truffles, violets, and tar.
Overall: This showed extremely well, but it has a lot more to give. The structure is showing strongly, but the complexity and class of the wine is showing strongly as well. I would love to see where this goes with time.
Red
2001 Vietti Barolo Rocche
91 points
Nose: There is a perfumed and lusher take to the fruit with red cherries, red fruits, spice tones, mint, roses, earth, truffles, roasted herbs, and wild flowers. The nose is very complex with excellent balance. It is still very youthful as there isn't too much layering to it at the moment.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and gripping tannins. The structure is very youthful and near overpowering with red cherries, spice tones, mint, truffles, and wild flowers.
Overall: There is a lot going on with this wine, but it isn't close to ready yet. This was an excellent snap shot at where it is and it feels like it can get a lot better.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity and gripping tannins. The structure is very youthful and near overpowering with red cherries, spice tones, mint, truffles, and wild flowers.
Overall: There is a lot going on with this wine, but it isn't close to ready yet. This was an excellent snap shot at where it is and it feels like it can get a lot better.
Red
2004 Vietti Barolo Castiglione
flawed
something seems off with this wine. It isn't corked, but the fruit is muted and the palate is a bit lifeless (though with a big dose of acidity).
Red
2004 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini
88 points
Nose: The nose was on the tighter side with red fruits, roasted herbs, menthol notes, dark red cherries, and some tobacco notes. There is balance to the nose, but it isn't too expressive or deep at the moment.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is certainly youthful, but it isn't too obtrusive with red fruits, dark red cherries, tobacco, leather, and some menthol tones.
Overall: This didn't feel like it was in a mood to fully show itself. There was a darker side to the fruit and this did lack some depth that would've added another gear.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and chewy tannins. The structure is certainly youthful, but it isn't too obtrusive with red fruits, dark red cherries, tobacco, leather, and some menthol tones.
Overall: This didn't feel like it was in a mood to fully show itself. There was a darker side to the fruit and this did lack some depth that would've added another gear.
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Flight 5 - Flight 4 (4 notes)
M- Russell Wilson
N- Julius Peppers
O- Kevin Norwood
P- Earl Thomas
Red
2004 Pio Cesare Barolo
92 points
Nose: There is a brighter quality to the fruit with an attractive red fruit core that leans into red berries, sweet red cherries, menthol, roses, violets, tar, and some roasted herbs. The nose is well balanced with a perfumed nature to it as well.
Taste: Fuller bodied with high acidity and chewy tannins. There is a coarseness to the tannins right now and the structure is youthful. Though the structure is on the obtrusive side, there is a succulent-ness with sweet red cherries, roses, red berries, tar, and roasted herbs.
Overall: This showed extremely well on the nose and it certainly feels like it can grow. There is a lot to like about it already and it would be interesting to see where this goes.
Taste: Fuller bodied with high acidity and chewy tannins. There is a coarseness to the tannins right now and the structure is youthful. Though the structure is on the obtrusive side, there is a succulent-ness with sweet red cherries, roses, red berries, tar, and roasted herbs.
Overall: This showed extremely well on the nose and it certainly feels like it can grow. There is a lot to like about it already and it would be interesting to see where this goes.
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Red
2004 Sottimano Barbaresco Cottá
91 points
Nose: The nose is higher toned, perfumed, and savory with red florals, spice tones, red cherries, licorice, roasted herbs, tar, and tobacco. This shows off a more nuanced side that is only starting to show itself. While there is good complexity, it does lack a slight bit of depth.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. While the tannins aren't overpowering, they are still quite there. Though there is clear youth to the structure, there is a real pretty and savory quality with licorice, red florals, earth tones, red cherries, roasted herbs, and tar notes.
Overall: This was slightly different than the Barolos in the blind line-up. There is a higher-toned quality on both the nose and palate with a nuanced side too that makes the wine very attractive.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium/high acidity and silky tannins. While the tannins aren't overpowering, they are still quite there. Though there is clear youth to the structure, there is a real pretty and savory quality with licorice, red florals, earth tones, red cherries, roasted herbs, and tar notes.
Overall: This was slightly different than the Barolos in the blind line-up. There is a higher-toned quality on both the nose and palate with a nuanced side too that makes the wine very attractive.
Red
2004 Domenico Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra
92 points
Nose: The nose on this bottle was more complex and aromatic with strawberries, red cherries, roasted herbs, menthol, and some tar with a slight bit of oak. The oak wasn't overpowering, but instead was just a small part of the whole.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with high acidity and chewy tannins. Like the first bottle, the structure is imposing with strawberries, incense, red berries, roasted herbs, menthol notes, and a small bit of oak.
Overall: It's not all too surprising that both bottles showed fairly similar. Like with the other bottle, this one certainly needs time too.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with high acidity and chewy tannins. Like the first bottle, the structure is imposing with strawberries, incense, red berries, roasted herbs, menthol notes, and a small bit of oak.
Overall: It's not all too surprising that both bottles showed fairly similar. Like with the other bottle, this one certainly needs time too.
Red
2004 Tenuta Rocca Barolo Vigna San Pietro
88 points
Nose: The nose is balanced with red cherries, licorice, menthol, some oak, and dark red berries. Everything is in place and it's somewhat straightforward.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. The structure doesn't overpower with red cherries, dark red berries, licorice, and oak tones.
Overall: This was a decent Barolo. It was at the end of a 16 bottle tasting and made for a quiet exit. It may have been slightly lost in the line-up, but it's well worth checking in on right now.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium+ acidity and silky tannins. The structure doesn't overpower with red cherries, dark red berries, licorice, and oak tones.
Overall: This was a decent Barolo. It was at the end of a 16 bottle tasting and made for a quiet exit. It may have been slightly lost in the line-up, but it's well worth checking in on right now.
Closing
This was a marathon tasting, but it also did a great job showing off the vintage. There was a wide range of wines across a lot of different levels. There was a real nice red fruited character to the wines as well as a sweetness to the tannins. It isn't necessarily plush, but more a nice ripeness to the wines. On the whole, these are still very young wines that most certainly need more time.