June 3, 2022 - Garnet coloring with some bricking on the rim. Notes of dried cherry, hint of spice, tar and tobacco. Fully mature, drinking wonderfully but probably starting the downward fade from its peak. Actually went better with the chocolate cake than the steak.
January 9, 2021 - Have had two bottles over the past year. Second one showed more promise and good overall aged Nebbiolo characteristics of violet, stewed fruits, dusty leather, with hints of clay and stones. Clearly on a downward trajectory at this point and past its prime.
September 25, 2020 - Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Medium tawny. Everything you would expect from a barolo with 20+ years on it. Complex nose of nebbiolo aromatics with a steely mineral streak in the last glasses. Power and elegance; it my not improve with further bottle age but no rush to drink. 10 of 12 purchased on reaease
November 27, 2018 - My oh my, Nebbiolo has got to be my favorite vitus vinifera so far. For a wine journey that started in 1984, I might just stop and bask in the mists of the Tanaro for the rest of my days.
Of course this is not the finest of its DOCG, but for being the first year, of the first Barolo to use the name Castelleto, this is a treat. These sandstone rich soils of Serralunga d'Alba showed unique terroir for such an excellent compacted designation. Veglio treated these young vine's progeny with respect and it showed. Aging in 30% new oak, no fining, no filtration demonstrated early on in his career that he took great care to honor this ancient, godly fruit.
I read these notes here and found there to be confusion around certain aspects of this wine. In my experience if a wine took several hours to show and lasted a day, while all the while getting better, then bottle age would still serve. In my opinion this wine has at least 10 more years to go.
This bottle, was not the best as its cork disintegrated, but due to the Durand, it came out partially intact.
Though the cork did not smell of TCA I might have accused the wine of being corked and rejected it due to the moldy aspect of it, but that wore off after 3 hours.
This bottle evolved continually over the course of 24 hours. This should not be drunk for at least 4 hours after decant. It's definitely a food wine and would greatly compliment pan seared lamb t-bone.
It's color was a beautiful brick red fading to orange edges.
It's nose was of musty cola, dusty with touches of barnyard.
Palate was zesty, lively, spicey, fresh, showing lots of roses and flowers. There was a building tannic edge with musk.
It's nose faded over the hours, then returned. It's palate texture was crisp then went flabby, then came back to grace again. The spice cut lamb and rosemary garlic onions very well.
There was a contradiction to this wine, where it showed rich, then thin, then rich again.
Some of its unique characteristics were its menthol. It was herbal, a touch green and kept showing minty variations.
Late into the opening, tar finally showed up: Tar over cherries.
This is no where near my favorite Barolo, but I would buy again and drink again.
9/10
Costco had these Australian lamb t-bone for $9/lbs, and I had this bottle resting upright poised to celebrate this evening. Original sin? Shoot, I had to have done something right.
P.S.
Left a glass in bottle open out for 24 hours. Nose was still closed. Needed air to get it going. Still fresh just like yesterday: Bright, tart, some scrumptious tannins.
Needed incorporated air to penetrate its tight mortality. Seemed like until it's gurgled through a decanter, oxygen still won't penetrate.
For unfined and unfiltered there really wasn't very much sediment. From stainless to oak, back to stainless seems to have caused the bulk to drop out over the years before bottling.
May 14, 2017 - Has lost a lot of fruit. But still a solid showing after a 2-3 hour decant. Drink now, will not improve with further cellaring.
October 16, 2016 - Color of a dark ruby when poured with a hint of bricking on the rim. A nose of redolent of cherry and roses, but the palate was clean without much extra. It faded in the class much more quickly than I thought it should, but it's not the block-buster of old!
August 22, 2016 - Not much indication of age on this, color ruby red with light bricking. Nose was sweet cherries and strawberries. Palate was very clean with some flowers, tar and cherries. Medium finish. Still has some life left though I presume this is not going to get much better than it is today
December 25, 2015 - Coravin - Red/Brown color. Not much giving on the nose besides clean porcelin with a hint of sweet cherries. Taste is also clean, with a bit of tar and sour cherries. Finish is short and smooth
April 18, 2014 - Shining two hours after decant. Tar and roses on the nose, dried cherry on the palate, long and clean finish. Gained depth with air. The rare two-glasser for my wife (darn).
November 30, 2013 - After one hour in decanter, a bit tight and tannic. After two and more hours, the fruit came forward and the slight tannic bite retreated. Pretty wine with food or alone. Bricking at rim, drinks well now and some years left.