March 31, 2024 - 6-7 hours in a decanter. Gorgeous aromas of plum, licorice, florals and tar notes. Silky and refined on the palate with sneaky power throughout. Long finish. Still just barely in its peak drinking window with a long life ahead and upside from here.
January 23, 2023 - Opened last night, very much in line with previous reviewer Liber's notes. This tasted overly aged, already on its downward decline which is surprising for a barolo from a good vintage. Palette lacks the bouquet and complexity one would expect of a barolo especially from a known producer like Bruno Giacosa but nada. Overall quite a disappointment considering the price. Not sure if it's bottle variation but we clearly didn't get any of the fruit or floral characteristics described by the other reviewers.
January 6, 2023 - 3rd of 6, decanted 2 hours, perfect cork and level, last bottle in 2019 seemed backward and unready, this bottle seems prematurely aged, brown rimmed, attractive and complex on nose but watery and lacking grip on palate, in fact a bit simple with fruit in retreat and harsh tannins prominent, disappointing for a Giacosa wine, may be a phase but I wouldn't be too sure, probable downside but no real rush. VGI (17).
December 24, 2022 - Lunch at Come-Into Chiuchow Restaurant with Louis: My contribution. Had a deep, attractive floral nose like the Cerbaiona the day before, everyone managed to identify this as an Italian but thought it was a Brunello. The palate took a couple of hours to open up to show a beautiful elegance and silky tannins that only the best producers have. Ripe and sweet dark fruit with potpourri and tea leaves. Loved the intensity of the wine, definitely my best experience of Giacosa thus far.
November 12, 2022 - Nebbiolos, white truffles, Volume VII (Chicago, IL): No. 14362. This shows a similarity in ripeness to the 1997, but I think the fruit overall is a lot more clear and crystalline here. The fruit is sweeter and more plump in comparison to the slightly more acidic 2001, so in some sense this sits in the happy medium between the 1997 and 2001. Quite charming and more heart-on-its-sleeve than a great bottle of Giacosa, this drinks very, very well right now, to the point that I wouldn't be concerned about opening any of mine (if I still had any).
October 13, 2022 - Fresh and floral nose.
Fresh on the palate, mid-weight and relatively light compared to the riservas but held its own remarkably well.
September 10, 2022 - slow-o 3 hours in cellar, decanted for 2 hours, in the glass for 3; bright color, appropriate; it's a charmer on the nose & the palate, in the early mature plateau it seems, very rewarding.
this is delightful tonite, & for a while.
pork shoulder, arugula salad; salt-roasted fingerlings; melted cabbage w/butter, garlic & thyme
April 23, 2022 - Very enjoyable as always. One of my favorite producers and it does seem like it doesn't really matter what the year or vineyard or any of that these always deliver. It's delicate and elegant and well structured and generally just an excellent wine. Interesting to try next to a 94 Conterno which is perhaps a bit more power and a bit less of that lightness but also a fun example of barolo.
March 16, 2022 - 3.5 hour decant which was about right. This is in a perfect spot. Still quite a bit of grip and a persistent finish. Very light on its feet with tremendous balance. This is likely in its prime but the balance and grip suggest this should drink well for 15 plus years.
October 30, 2021 - From a magnum. Light brick color. Floral Nebbiolo aromas with notes of red berries, pine, leather and some woodwork. Intense, elegant and refined on the palate.