April 6, 2024 - Great wine, but drink up.
March 9, 2024 - Probably way too young from the comments below, but still. Creamsicle nose that was a bit syrupy. Thought it was a young Zinfandel.
January 27, 2024 - Felt like I killed a baby - found this in my cellar - my friend Ago dropped it off years ago. I didn’t do my homework prior to popping the cork - just loved it but felt like this has decades a to go. Beautiful fruit, dense, dense - young with plenty to give in the years ahead. A bit backwards but felt like it has far more to give. Loved it but should have opened in another decade or two…. Built for age - impressive
January 13, 2024 - 1/13/24 - had it with Steve and Rudi with a scracatto. Felt big and ponderous like the usual overworked Napa Cab. Flabby and ponderous. Had it again the next night no gas. Same. Alc 14. Bottle variation?
December 25, 2023 - A persistent VA note on the aromas which was distracting but not disqualifying. Fortunately the palate was clean and showed pure, seamless fruit and emerging Nebbiolo complexity.
November 10, 2023 - Consumed over 2 days. Day 1: Decanted 2 hours before serving. Suprisingly (for nebbiolo) dark ruby color. Reserved on the nose offering only a hint of new leather and cherry liquour. Medium body, high acid, medium-plus fine grained tannins. Thin and acidic on the palate, underripe cherries and blood orange with a chalky finish. Difficult to enjoy. Saved 1/4 of bottle capped overnight with a RePour, and then decanted a further 7 hours. Pleasant bouquet with yellow cake being most distinctive. Fruit picked up body and ripreness, now offering sour cherries and a very nice savory undertone. Score average over two nights... last glass was a 91+. If opening again, I would decant 12 hours.
June 8, 2023 - Popped, poured four glasses, swirled and let breath for 90 minutes, consumed over next three hours. I'm not sure this bottle was completely correct. It was shy initially, seemed to be opening and promising about 45 minutes into dinner, but instead slowly closed up again. Did not taste corked or overtly infected, just seemed off.
April 11, 2023 - La Morra survey (The Quality Chop House): I had this down as the pre-match favourite, but it didn't show itself on the night, perhaps slightly flawed (I note Galloni has said the 2001s are unreliable across Barolo) or closed. Subtle nose, with black tea and some game. Grippy, structured palate, with some mushroom and a strong, silent feeling - for some reason I noted down the word "mahogany". Hmm.
April 11, 2023 - La Morra Barolo's at QCH (Quality Chop House): Gorgeous nose where some dried red fruit, rose and tar blend into a lovely perfume. Palate opens with some spicy notes and then shifts towards savoury notes with sapid fruit in the background. Tannins still going but more evolved in flavour profile than the other wines in the flight.
April 11, 2023 - Clearly the richest wine on the nose and palate with loads of chocolate notes. However, this bottle was starting to oxidise a bit.