July 10, 2022 - Enjoyed this bottle to celebrate my birthday. Decanted for about an hour before pouring. On the nose was cherries, old world funk and hints of cloves. On the palate was cherries, spice, old world funk and petrol. The petrol dissipated within a few minutes after pouring. This bottle has resided in my cellar for the last 13 years and I think it was approaching its prime.
December 25, 2021 - Medium ruby brick. Quite primary, with dark cherry and balanced acidity. Earthy hints of tar and balsa wood. Sweet tannins. Overall a pretty and enjoyable wine.
October 18, 2020 - nose- plum, dark licorice
mouth - dark fruit iicorice, plum, very dry. enjoyed
August 5, 2020 - Stood up for 2-3 months, decanted carefully off its sediment. Medium ruby (darker than expected for nebbiolo), age-appropriate bricking; aromatic nose with cherries, roses, a bit of smoke; palate is light-medium bodied (bigger than expected for nebbiolo), high alcohol (14.5%) but better balanced than expected for a 2003, tannins are still quite youthful and prominent on the palate, plenty of primary fruit with cherries, just faintest hints of savory secondary/tertiary components, high acidity; finish is medium length. Certainly enjoyable, showing decently well now, in a richer style of Barolo, but falls a bit short on complexity especially on the palate at this price point. This certainly seems like it has the balance to age for another 1-2 decades. 90-91
Day 2: about the same, youthful tannins, lovely primary fruit with a touch more elegance than yesterday.
December 31, 2019 - dark burgundy red, medium clarity, ruby hue
Nose: burnt cherries, chocolate, wet earth, roses, tar, cigar, tobacco, clove, dirt, tannins, oak
Pal: burnt cherries, plum, dark chocolate, wet earth, tar, cigar, tobacco, silver, minerals, clove, dirt, tannins, oak
Feel: full, savory, acidic, chewy
Finish: medium, long
T9 (could be an 8)
October 7, 2017 - Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Mostly black cherry with savory spice and some tar notes. Fully mature. Slightly drying finish. Best to enjoy sooner rather than later.
January 7, 2016 - Elegant. Ready to drink. Alcohol excess disappear with 30 minutes aeration. Great wine.
August 9, 2014 - Value hunting in bad vintages never seems to work for me.. 14.5% abv, purpleish-red with slight bricking at the edge. Boozy christmas cake on the nose, really notice the alcohol. Prunes as well. Medium bodied, and a bit brighter in the mouth, but again seems hot. Lesson: Save $ for better vintages.
March 31, 2013 - Better than I though it would be. Leave alone until 2018 for the next one. Could be quite good and a bargain at the $60 price.
February 1, 2012 - It tasted a little too simple for my palate. Still young, but the tannins were manageable. I just wish there was more going on.