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Barolo and Barbaresco at I Nonni

I Nonni, St. Paul, MN

Tasted March 22, 2017 by rocknroller with 351 views

Introduction

This was a great night of food at I Nonni with many worthy wines to accompany the cuisine.

Flight 1 (2 notes)

White - Sparkling
2011 Pannier Champagne Blanc de Noirs Brut France, Champagne
89 points
Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 40 minutes. BdN, tart green apple nose, white melon, light yeast. The palate is tart, green apple, apple skin, slightly bitter, stone fruits, lean, spice. Pleasant enough. 89+pts.
White - Sparkling
2002 Pol Roger Champagne Blanc de Blancs France, Champagne
94 points
Medium rich gold color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Very nice toasty, yeasty nose, lemon, brioche, very airy nose. The palate shows elegance and nice balance, medium full bodied, deep, vibrant and tasty, lemon, clementine, wet stone, autolytic, medium plus finish. Very good. 93+ to 94pts.

Flight 2 (2 notes)

White
2007 Jean et Sébastien Dauvissat Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Vieilles Vignes France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
92 points
Light gold color. Drank 1+ glass over an hour. This was really quite consistent with my note form 11/15/16. Excellent briney nose, orange, lemon-lime, earthy, tangy, sea shore minerals, long. 92+pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2014 Domaine Roulot Bourgogne-Aligoté France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Aligoté
88 points
Pale gold color. Followed 1 glass over an hour. Lean and acidic, tart lemon and lime, angular finish.

Flight 3 (2 notes)

Red
2008 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
95 points
Medium dark red color. This did have some air; drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. Another great showing for this wine. Love the nose, extremely aromatic, a great mix of dried forest floor notes, leather, dried flowers, ripe cherry, and baked strawberry. The palate is vibrant and energetic, there's a great freshness that feels so lively, dried berries, cherry, anise, round and plush tannins that are so nice already. This shows so well at this stage, it would be tough to keep your hands off them. 95+pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2010 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
91 points
Dark red color. PNP(?), followed one glass over 90 minutes. Pretty intense nose, very youthful as expected, wood, wood spices, some heat, black cherry. The palate is pretty big right now, wrapped up the wood, licorice, tart cherry, black cherry liqueur, glycerin, heat, very firm at this point. Needs several more years at least. 91(+)pts.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 (2 notes)

Red
1998 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Gallina di Neive Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
91 points
Dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. Something about this didn't feel quite right tonight. Not as engaging as the last time having it. Ripe fruits, herbs, spice, tart berry, but there's some heat and more wood than I recall that seems less friendly. Medium plus body and firm dusty tannins. Certainly good, but not rocking me tonight especially next to the '05 Stefano. 91+pts.
Red
2005 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Santo Stefano Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
94 points
Medium dark red color. Slow-O for about 8 hours and then decanted for 2 hours. Drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. I loved this tonight, fantastic nose, very big and aromatic with an incredible damp earthiness, huge potpourri, gorgeous plump red berries and bright blue fruits that come through after 20 to 30 minutes. There is a lovely purity on the palate, medium body with terrific energy and lift, red and blue fruits on the palate, earth and minerals, dusty tannins that are fine and appealing, nice length. Loved this wine tonight. For me, this and the '08 Rinaldi were the show stoppers. 94+ to 95pts.

Flight 5 (2 notes)

Red
2001 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barolo Vürsù Vigneto Campè Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
flawed
This was extremely vegetal, old bandaid, reduced.
Red
2001 Cavalier Bartolomeo Barolo Solanotto - Altenasso Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
90 points
Medium dark red color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. OK, ripe and firm, maple, quite a bit of earth and some funk, sour cherry.

Flight 6 (2 notes)

Red
2004 E. Pira & Figli (Chiara Boschis) Barolo Cannubi Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
91 points
Dark red color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. This was the most modern of the wines tonight, more oak, vanilla, fairly big red and dark red fruit, firm tannins, this got considerably better with air. 91(+?)pts.
Red
2004 Tenuta Serradenari Barolo Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tasted, no notes. Had a 1 hour decant. Fine, not memorable.

Closing

I'll be remembering the '08 Rinaldi and the '05 Giacosa for awhile.

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