May 16, 2024 - Giacosa Riservas and Cappellano Francos (Hearth Restaurant, NYC): [Served totally blind. Double-decanted around 9:30 am.] Earthy nose of cherries and spice. Lovely palate of red fruit, cinnamon and licorice. Young, but quite well-balanced. Should age well for 15-20 years. Considering a release price of under $60, this was a great value. Everyone guessed that this was nebbiolo. Once I was told that bringing this was inspired by a TN of mine, I was able to guess the wine.
January 29, 2024 - Stood up for weeks and decanted off 1oz fine sediment. Light ruby-garnet, good color for nebbiolo at this age; aromatic, red fruited, cherry, some sandalwood, some mint; palate is light bodied, slightly rustic tannins, red fruited, 14% alcohol, still fairly primary fruit; finish is medium length. A very nice Barolo at a good youthful maturity now, still with another decade of growth in front of it. The winemaker had previously made wine for Bartolo Mascarello, and the style similarity may be there, but this is a bit more rustic and it doesn't have the balance and elegance of a 2011 Bartolo Mascarello tasted very recently. 92
January 26, 2024 - Nebbiolo 1999-2009 at Gemma. Tasted blind. Drank in Conterno Sensory.
Aperance is clear, very pale intensity, ruby colour with thin garnet rim. Legs.
Nose medium+ intensity, with aromas of sexy high toned red flower petals, rosemary, thyme herbs, red cherries, ripe strawberries, slight earthen funk with air. Developing.
On the palate, dry, very high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), lovely structured high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet spices, sweet ripe strawberries, concentrated red cherries, rosemary thyme. Long finish.
Very good quality. Modernist sweetness but in an oh so elegant red fruited package. Entering into a good drinking window.
December 23, 2023 - Dinner at Salil's (Albany, NY): [Double-decanted for 2 hours around 3pm. Tasted starting around 7pm.] Lovely nose of smoke,roses, forest floor. In the mouth, full, balanced, elegant with light red fruits and some mulch. Long cherry finish. Drinking quite well now, which seems typical of 2008s. Should drink well for at least another decade. An incredible value in traditional Barolo.
December 23, 2023 - Shows a bit more mature than I may have expected from a Barolo at this age, but wow is this good. Spectacular aromatics - rose petals, high-toned herbal notes, mushrooms, more savoury tarry and notes, and a core of bright red and dark fruited flavours beneath. The tannin here is quite fine grained and barely noticeable (though we were having this with a very rich meat ragu and pasta that needed acid and tannin to accompany it), and it's drinking wonderfully right now. A producer I definitely need to explore more.
December 20, 2023 - Mature and ready, with a good beam of dried cherry along with dusty earth, dried violet. Probably best with food, with strong acids and still a good dose of tannin.
April 22, 2023 - A very enjoyable wine with hints of strawberries, red figs, cherries and toast. I wish we had of this wine.
April 20, 2023 - Amazing, loved it
March 23, 2023 - 4 hour decant and this was excellent! Powerful but yet still very balanced and almost elegant, almost. Had this with dinner but had a bit before and it was very drinkable without the food. Excellent with Chocolate afterwards! Yet, Nebbiolo is still a harsh mistress. I can't imagine this without the decant
March 12, 2023 - After an arbitrary 3 hour decant, the riserva was wonderful in all respects .