August 11, 2023 - Double decanted in the AM and drunk over a few hours that evening.
The surprise of the evening.
A fantastic nose. Red fruited, floral, with a Giacosa like hard candy slant to it. Balsam, florals, terrific perfume on the nose that continue don't he palate. This has depth and structure but comes across as m for nebbiolo. Terrific balance. Not a hint of heat. So much better than an 03 should be. tannins are less coarse than Paje tends to lean. I've long felt that Luca made some of the best wines in the Langhe in '03, but I'm starting to think he made the best wines. Granted, there's not strong competition for that prize, but a testament to brilliant winemaking, even more so impressive so young in his tenure. Terrific and I would drink up. I don't see this falling apart, but I also doubt it's getting better.
May 21, 2021 - This is good, and has really come into its own. Minty-mentholated, bright but not austere. Delish.
November 16, 2019 - Delightful experience, with a wine that is very close to its peak. Could maybe be saved for a year or two, but is definitely in its prime.
Opened 3 hours ahead, but not decanted. The tannins are perfectly integrated and the overall balance great. It delivers red forrest fruit, different spices and a clear minerality (which become more notable glass by glass). Good complexity, quite feminine in its expression and a semi long aftertaste. A terrific Barbaresco from a difficult year.
January 8, 2019 - Bottle performing absolutely stellar tonight. Dark fruit & deep animal funk directly out of the bottle mellowing out into rick complex flavours. Did not take any notes (drank, not tasted) but probably the best barbaresco I've had to date. Peak conditions now.
October 17, 2018 - 375ml. Drank over 2-3 hours after decant. While watching finale to Jack Ryan on Netflix.
aroma notes of subtle dried rose and dried strawberry, spice, cinnamon, sandal wood
Medium acidity
Medium+ body
Fuzzy, Dried purple strawberry
Sandalwood and dusty spice
A stream of overripeness
Over time the darker fruit came out
Present and Integrated tannins more fine than rustic, more dusty
Very dusty, sweet earth
Slightly spiced finish
Hate to come back to this, but reminds me of a recent 2012 Grivot boudot i had. Same ripeness and palette but more balance, slightly less ripeness and more spice. As I gave the grivot a 93, I have to give this a 93+. I should/will now demote the grivot to 92 and give this a 93
October 8, 2018 - The nose and wonderfully expressive, showing a mix of ripe crushed strawberries, raisins coated in Indian spices, rosemary, hints of fresh cedar, moist soil, and sweet sliced plum. Over time, minerality became more prominent, as the darker raised fruit seemed to morph into sweet curried spice. On the palate, I found soft textures, yet much more feminine than expected, displaying dark red fruits and ripe apple with zesty acids making the mouth water, as minerals and inner rose resonated on the senses. The finish was medium-long, still showing hints of fine tannin, with lingering red berry and spice.
Ultimately, this is very pretty, and the mags I have may be even better, but I wonder if I may have missed this wine’s sweet-spot. Luckily, I have another bottle and two mags to help me to find out.
July 19, 2018 - Pop and pour. Drunk over around 4 hours.
A forward nose, but still with excellent perfume, with fruit more than florals. Dark cherry fruit, roses, balsam and tar. It's ripe on the nose more so than the previous bottles I have drunk. Still with roses, albeit more in a rosewater sense than lifted florals, balsamic notes, iron, tar and cherry leaning nebbiolo fruit. Rich and dense but not heavy on the palate, this has a deftness and elegance in context of vintage. Broad and rich, but it still has excellent balance, and while less classic than I would choose in perfect world, it comes across more in line with a more tannic and denser very well done 2000 than a 2003, and I mean that in the best possible way. There is ripeness and forward fruit but there are no stewed or prune notes, no torrefaction. It is a rich wine, and has the chewiness to its tannins I tend to get in Paje. Still this has excellent balance and does not come across heavy, albeit lacking some of the great lift and florals of more classic vintages. It is quite long on the back end with lovely balsamic notes, roses, ferrous notes, menthol, and tar. Powerful, but not overbearing, and retaining excellent balance and a sense of lightness for its structure. At times this could almost be described as graceful. Importantly, this smells and tastes of Paje, and for me and in the context that this in 2003, that is a terrific achievement. With air time, this gains focus. It is drinking very well right now and in no fear of declining any time soon. I have to say, Luca has done some pretty special things, especially in difficult vintages. It is one thing to knock it out of the park in 2010, but to do this so early in your tenure in such a vintage impresses me more than excelling in a great vintage. Well done Luca. 93
April 12, 2018 - A lot of deposit, both solid and grainy. Fabulous nose, very complex indeed. Still quite fruity, with sweet red berries, some jellied and dried. Elegant structure, with a bit of grip left and slightly drying sensations. So much pleasure to be had on its own - no food needed. This bottle was à point, with probably at least five years left.
September 29, 2017 - Smells great, quite floral with no heat or roast from the hot year. But the palate is quite tough still, with mouth crinkling tannins. Shows strong promise, but no where near ready even from 375. Try again in 5 years or better yet more.
July 6, 2017 - I enjoyed much more than the missus. Plum colored. Slight old world nose. Fairly crisp purple and plum fruit. Mid tongue finish that reminded me of a Priorat. Lasted fairly long. Probably as good at opening as after two hour decant.