4/26/2016 - jwan584 wrote:

Menthol, graphite, frosty cherry, dark cherry, mint, violets, hints of rose,
An impeccable expression of cool toned nebbiolo fruit.
Dusty mild cocoa to finish.
The finish is a hair hot / bitter, only very little, but otherwise, just perfect.
Not the nth degree in complexity, but the purity of fruit here is so attractive. Trace of RS?

4/20/2016 - jwan584 Does not like this wine:

Nose of lemon with a sweet melon core. Small white flowers.
Big on the palate. Rich, round, bitter, and hot, like Northern Rhone(!)
Waxy, honey finish, with slight oxidative notes?
This is a big yellow wine with a distinct alcohol burn.
I wanted to like this but found it not my style.

12/5/2014 - jwan584 Likes this wine:

So fine. Nose very Burgunduian.
Sour cherry. Earth. Weightless.
Really like a fine Chambolle.

11/3/2012 - jwan584 wrote:

Upon opening, some sour cherries on the nose. Acidic and lean on the palate. Not a lot going on. Decanted and left on the balcony for five hours. Transformative. A rose garden in a glass. The rich, flowing, sweet perfume had me in a seizure on multiple occasions. On the palate, a delightful marriage of sweet and the savory flavors. Liquified rose and cherries are perfectly woven in a silky, three dimensional texture. A long finish of ceder box and tobacco. A very complete wine in every sense of the word and without the hollow mid-palate that plagues many fine nebbiolos. Totally different from the first 99 Bussia I drank three years ago. Both are feminine, but this one is of the rose garden school whereas the other was a model of sotto bosco and funghi. This wine is now at or near peak.

8/18/2012 - jwan584 wrote:

A big, serious wine. Nose of blueberry jam, violet, hints of strawberry, jasmine and vanilla smoke. Huge mouth presence with teeth coating tannins. Immense structure under polished fruit. 15% alcohol but doesn't taste like it. But very heady; shared a bottle with Ken but felt like I drank a whole bottle. There is little doubt this wine would be great in twenty years time.

6/21/2012 - jwan584 wrote:

Intense and pure. Classic nebbiolo color. Ethereal nose laced with sour cherries, orange zest, white flowers, dust and a hint of sweet oak. Superb palate presence. Dark cherries, sour fruit, liquorice form a long, multi-layered attack. Powdery, chewy tanninss coat ever crevice of the mouth. Perfectly balanced. Makes you want to reach for another glass.

12/12/2011 - jwan584 wrote:

Nose is of the Montestefano school--earthy, but with some stink/funk. Foliage, earth, barnyard, roasted meats and cherries--in a word--autumny. After an hour or so, the funk mostly drifts off and you are left with the most captivating nebbiolo nose; the prettiest expression of rose perfume I've come across. Draws you into the glass like a siren.

The palate matches the nose, with dried and stewed berries, menthol, cough syrup, perfectly proportioned acidity, and massive, massive tannins. Probably the most tannic nebbiolo I've had. This wine is very challenging to drink by itself but with steak or pecorino tartufo it was simply fabulous. The acidity counterpoints the steak perfectly. With the pecorino, the tannins seize and dislodge the layer of creaminess that cloys the tongue.

11/15/2011 - jwan584 wrote:

The nose is dominated by violets. Very big and modern, a bit overwhelming, clumsy. Reminds me of a big fat cab just with a different set of aromatics. I can see why this wine gets big points, but it's not my style. I really appreciate the Brigaldara after this. Also, Quintarelli's Valpolicella is much better balanced.

11/15/2011 - jwan584 wrote:

Color was very deep. Here the cork was stained deep purple. Upon pouring, the wine unleashed untold amounts of roses and tar. I can honestly say that I didn't know what "roses and tar" meant prior to smelling this one. On the palate, it was a tad hollow, especially in the middle. As it reached room temperature, the bouquet was literally spilling out of the glasses. It was like a bouquet of flowers. Rose, truffles, tar, and licorice. The wine was clearly not from the best vintage but managed very well in terms of balance. The wine didn't quite have a three dimensional texture, perhaps because it had already smoothed out. Tannins a little bitter. Not acidic. The palate lacked the complexity and length of the nose. Well made. It gives a hint of what Bartolo Mascarello is capable of in a good vintage.

This wine is bigger and fuller than either the Marcarini La Sferra or Conterno Il Favot or a new release Vietti Castiglione. It perfectly fits the textbook description of Barolo.

On the second day, the wine was in perfect shape. If anything, more open and expressive. Had a glass with a mushroom omelet. The aroma on the second day is more forest floor and autumy. Reminds me of Rio Sordo 99 / Serralunga terroir.

On the forth day, the wine was still eminently drinkable, with deep, foresty aromoas. A little harsh by itself, but would have been fabulous with food.

The wine kind of started its life in the style of Barolo then ended in Serralunga. Magical.

9/3/2011 - jwan584 wrote:

On opening, this wine was not at all impressive. It tasted like a strong langhe nebbiolo with dense fruit. After an hour, it was okay, but not great. After another hour of direct air contact, this wine switched. A layer of fruit emerged and the wine's structure relaxed. In the mouth, it had wooly tannins and a chewy texture. There's the clear taste of sour cherries, followed by cocoa. Overall, very balanced, though fairly acidic without food. The flavor profile is along the school of Vietti Castiglione though the latter is more rounded overall. The quality of fruit is clearly there. The acid is there. I can see this wine aging very well.

8/20/2011 - jwan584 wrote:

A wild cabernet. Still deep crimson in its eleventh year. Scent of plush fruit and wild herbs. Great oak integration. Not at all cosmetic. The wildness in the nose defines the wine. The palette is equally unconventional with roasted capsicums and stewed fruit flavors. All this is backed by very assertive acidity. Not an elegant wine, but very Sardinian.

Paired beautifully with grilled beef.