May 14, 2022 - Wonderful. Rich so rich but still so distinctively Barolo - loads of tar some rose petals. Black fruits. High acidity and tannin but plenty of fruit to balance the structure. Sooo long and complex. Drink now, will last but don't wait.
November 23, 2019 - What an absolute treat. Never, ever underestimate the old masters, like Giacosa, Conterno and Gaja. This has everything you want from a top notch mature Barolo. And it’s still convincingly fresh and vibrant. It can easily last at least 5 more years without declining but for me, it’s at it’s peak now!
June 28, 2018 - At a really good stage right now. Dense and intense and still very well balanced. Impressive effort - but then again..... that's Gaja for you!
February 9, 2018 - Beautiful nose. Floral.
Tannic. Needed a few more years
June 12, 2016 - Dark; sleek, glossy; flashy, dense. Moderne. This is drinking now but potential for improvement. At its peak in a decade?
January 8, 2016 - Dinner with Jeffrey: Double decanted six hours earlier. Opened softer and broader than the Sperss. Impenetrable dark colour. A gorgeous nose of spices, tar, dry earth and dark fruit. A sweet entry. Generous and relatively open. Lovely balance. The oak seemed largely consumed. It was however evident in the sleek, glossy mouth feel. Gorgeous, ripe fruit, with no pruniness. No real secondary, savoury development yet. The flavours were espresso, dark cherries, Asian spices, warm earth and tar. Reflecting its La Morra provenance, broader and seemingly softer than the Sperss. Still, very good, perhaps give the Conteisa another 3+ years.
June 14, 2014 - Intense nose of dark cherry and tar. The palate is balanced but the flavours lacked focus and wine seemed little tired. Long finish. Enjoyable but not as good as the last bottle.
January 18, 2014 - A weekend at the farm with the boys. This is something I been wanting to do for a while, have both the Conteisa and the Sperss side by side (same note posted for both wines). Very intense nose of dark cherry, tar, Asian spices and high note of rose petals on both wines. The Conteisa adds a little field flower note. The palate is balanced and finish very long on both wines. In the end the Sperss had little more power and the Conteisa tannins were little dryer but that is splitting hairs.
December 15, 2013 - Occasional tasting group (@ My place Bordeaux 2002 plus some other nice wines.): Beautiful bouquet with red fruits, licorice, leather, some chocolate, brush wood, autumn impressions and luxurious oak. On the palate a mature wine with tobacco, chocolate, coffee, powdery tannin, beautiful oak and soft tannin which is slightly and pleasantly drying in the finish. Complex and luxurious wine. Completely ready now. No reason to wait any longer, but it will probably stay on this level for a few years.
November 29, 2012 - Brittannia Group (Hix Mayfair): very deep colour. Nose extraordinarily young. Raw powwerful but with a lot of substance. Palate powerful rich and very long. International in character and lacks a sense of place. Hard to believe it was 1996 and tasted much younger. needs 10 years and it may then reveal more. For now it is a high quality bruiser.