The one with Tai Wah BCM: Leftovers from the previous night and still rocking and rolling! Bouquet opens with wet leaves, cherries, teak wood, cloves and sage. On the palate, blackberries, tar, licorice and rosewater. Incredible sense of elegance and precision here but definitely still a baby.
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Decanted for 10+ hours. This was an interesting experiment and check-in, but this wine is a decade from approachable drinking. So much stuffing and gorgeous potential in the fruit, but there is a wall of tannin that needs time to melt away. Hold until 2035+
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Nebbiolos, white truffles, Volume VIII (Chicago, IL): Opened at 9:30am, and left in a decanter starting at 11am. As much as I appreciate the generous sharing of this bottle, it's just nowhere close to where it ought to be. A massive tannic beast of a wine, slightly tamed by a brown butter uovo in raviolo, but mostly just a brooding hulk that needs easily two decades to settle down. Unmistakably high quality material here, it just needs time to actually become a fully enjoyable drink.
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A very great bottle of this with fabulous intensity and power along with world-class texture and structure. The flavors are so classic with notes of forest floor, cherry-wood and an incredibly deep spice-driven complexity. Obviously a serious Barolo with great precision, class and breed and 1st growth mouthfeel. Wonderful to drink now with a 8-hour double-decant although years from full-maturity. Like drinking what a redwood forest at night might taste like in liquid form! At Lucciola, NYC. 97+
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Absolutely stunning nose on open. Bursting from the glass with blackberry, mint, tar, leather and spices. Palate was subdued at first and I requested a decant. That woke things up significantly and it carried on throughout the meal getting better and better. Supreme elegance and precision with all the stuffing.
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Piemontese Legends Dinner (Seattle): Again a shade lighter than the 1996. Pine and dark red fruit aromas. More typical weight than the supernally dense 1996, cherry fruit, some tar, and structure that is more framed by superb acidity than its moderate tannin. Like the 2001 Giacosa, it continued to benefit from even more aeration. Excellent with outstanding potential for another 10 to 20 years.
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Make no mistake, this is a beautiful wine. However, the price is just not anywhere near justified. Decanted for close to 2 hours and drank slow over dinner. Wine was really still a baby at 21 years old. Incredibly pure red fruit (which was surprising to me for a Monfortino of this age) tar, roses. Very typical classic Barolo with a rather remarkable intensity and purity to its fruit. Just at a price tag that doesn't make since to me. The Monfortino was preceded that night by a 1996 Gouges Les Saint Georges which I, and most everyone else preferred. 1/5 of the current price of the Monfortino.
The color out of the bottle was a dark, rich brown. Once in the glass, the color grew richer. The smell is candy-like, caramels and spice cake. Still young — but so smooth. Sips beautifully and has a cadence and depth that is hard to match. As I let it sit in the glass it mellows a bit, settling down and the tannins become a bit more evident and grippy. Overall a pure pleasure and so much to enjoy now with tons of potential to mature beautifully.
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Annual Pilgrimage to Piedmont - 2020 Edition; 10/9/2020-10/11/2020 (Piemonte, Italy): A wine that seems to elude us. On the first occasion in 2014 it was painfully young. On this day it took its time to open up ( Never matched the 98 we have the 2000 vintage last year) and frankly we are not sur end the wine was in a good place albeit we did not feel and flaw. Maybe third time lucky on another occasion.
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Served blind. Just painfully young. First glass is so tight, yet with amazing compact structure. Superb nose, close to ethereal but really packed, orange spice, pure sandalwood, minty watermelon, roasted meat, rose. Palate keeps expanding with such freshness, grip and dimension, almost creamy. Utterly profound and delicious. 96+
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Lovely color, a touch of fading. The nose shows classy aromas of deep red fruits, flowers, cedar, herbs, minerals and brown spices. This is full bodied on the palate with outstanding concentration and wonderful class. Impeccable balance. The long finish features noble tannins and a vibrant mineral element.
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Opened at the Hong Kong Club. Decanted and slowly drank over 6 hours+
Unfortunately, this felt like infanticide, or a case of simply not enough air. probably both. This wine is an absolute monster in the best possible way - it is just a shame that I didn't give it the time it needed. Be patient and it will reward you.
Even so, it was still very enjoyable and a great wine to sip as I was reading one of my favourite novels over several hours.
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A quartet of Monfortino tonight (1971, 1997, 2001, 2010). All were in great shape, and all were very, very good. For me the surprising standout, given it's youth, was the young 2010 (decanted seven hours). Just a baby but it's drinking amazingly well. A fantastic nose on opening, and a sweetness on the palate that belied it's power. Simply outstanding. One of our group of four literally fell in love with the 2001 (decanted five hours), and I understood why. It was beguiling, and improved the most over the three hour dinner. I've been less excited about 1997 Barolos over time than others. And this perfect provenance magnum of 1997 Monfortino was very good, but for me just not as exciting as the other three. The 1971 was terrific, and easily could be called too young. A fine representation of Monfortinos, and a very enjoyable flight.
Cafe Juanita Monfortino / Asili Dinner (Cafe Juanita, WA): Double decanted for 3 hours. Clear and no sign of bricking. Reticent nose of slight rose and tar, but it was faint. The nose opened very slightly over an additional three hours at dinner. It tasted like black cherry, leather, and faint cedar. Silky but firm tannins. Perfectly balanced. It stood up to every one of the robust Piedmontese dishes we had, whereas the 2000 Giacosa Asili Riserva we also had lacked the acid and structure during the richer meat dishes.. The Monfortino was the WOTN. But I felt like it never gave up its secrets. A more explosive set of aromas remains hidden in there somewhere. Decades to go.
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Luftet i karaffel 6 timer. Lett transparent, mørk burgunder uten aldringstegn. Kompleks og intens lukt av roser, tjære, kirsebær, markjordbær, søt og salt lakris, gasbind, pancetta og parmesan. Smak av markjordbær, morell, søt lakris, tørka røde bær, rosin, salvie, snev av bergamott, umami/parmesan, rosevann.
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Vino pazzesco. Forse il Monfortino più elegante mai assaggiato. Equilibrio estremo tra la dolcezza del frutto, la freschezza balsamica e il tannino, di finezza impalpabile. Già quasi pronto da bere oggi, molto più pronto del 99 e molto più sferico. Un monumento dell' enologia, uno dei più grandi vini esistenti.
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Not a ton on the nose. But rich flavors that go really well with a cheese plate and some nuts. Some cedar and wood notes. Spices. A little on the shy side. This may shut down for a while. Long, long life ahead. Be patient.
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Beautiful color, a touch of fading. The nose is a bit tight; showing deep aromas of raspberry, spices, minerals, flowers, peach and a hint of balsamic. This is full bodied on the palate with outstanding concentration and supreme elegance. The long finish features big tannins which are incredibly refined. This shut down through the course of 2 and a half hours, so wait at least a few years to open one...
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Truffles with the SLDS (CFs): Redcurrant, raspberry, iron, cherry and plum. Serious structure, there is fine but very persistent tannins across its length. Not showing its full potential tonight, it felt like it was in a quiet spot right now.
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The essence of Barolo in an outstanding year. Decanted three hours before serving, but not totally awake yet. Transparant, light colored, textbook Nebbiolo aromas of rose petals, tar, menthol, medicine, dried hay & eucalyptus. Powerful personality with long and tannic finish. Excellent companion of tasteful guinea fowl served alongside. Thanks, Paul! Will not open my first bottle of this wine within the next five years...
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2017 New Year's Day Tasting (Marietta, GA): See through red; high toned, candy, cinnamon, roses, sexy, nose complicated by the aromatic food in the other room; silky Burgundian tannin, a touch more tannin on the finish, cough drop, medicinal, sweet roses and strawberry cherry fruit; elegant Nebbiolo- called Giacosa Red Label, didn't realize it was better, way too young now even with hours of decanting and saving a glass for 1.5 hours this is just so soft silky and youthfully 1-D right now; can definitely see the potential but it was a shame this beauty was lost in the mix today.
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Meiningers Finest 100: International Wine Summit (Saalbau, Neustadt an der Weinstraße): You don't need to talk to much about legends. A pure, elegant simultaneously super powerful, expressive, complex interpretation of the Nebbiolo grape. Dried red berries, tar, rose petals, underbrush and balsamic components melt together in this irresistible Monfortino. And (of course) decades of life ahead.
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Barolo Riserva Monfortino vertical 1995-2006: Medium garnet, brick hue. Similar to the 97 and 05 this wine felt like it came from a cooler vintage. Aromas of cut hay and eucalyptus intermixed with tobacco, red fruit and flowers. Elegant palate as well. A very strong showing.
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SO'd for 12 hours. Notes of pine, dark berries, tobacco leaf, tar, leather, some animalic notes... While a great it doesn't have the sheer wow factor of the very best vintages in this line-up. It's full-bodied, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin. Very good length. A structured, slightly austere but very interesting Monfortino.
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(Monfortino mag vertical 1970-2008) Given the strength of the 2001 vintage I was disappointed by this (especially as I seem to have some in my cellar!). Tonnes of fruit but just lacking in complexity. Of course it may come, but I would not bet on it - after tasting its evolution in parallel with 18 other Monfortino vintages at the same time. Not formally rated.
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Light, slightly bricking red. Elegant nose of sappy balsamic and sweet mentholated notes, with some faded red fruit and spice. On the palate, subtle fruit, powerful spice and earth, great acidity, and a finish of considerable length. A majestic wine. Well kept bottles will evolve positively for 20+ years.
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Served from a dispenser. Almost transparent, already starting to brick. Gave 20 min of air on top. Nose of tar, a little balsamic, amaro, not much fruit. Very light-bodied. A real zinger of acid on the attack, like a jolting wake-up call, plus a touch of dark, bitter fruit, but then it vanishes on the 2nd half of the palate before "waking up" for a decent aftertaste. This would be an 88 or so, but no score as I'm not at all sure it was correct--it could have been sitting there for weeks.
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Morning Tastes of Barolo in Barolo (Mostly Enoteca Regionale, Barolo, Italy): Bricking light red. Fantastic, complex nose with balsamic, faded red fruit, and game. Subtle fruit, great integrated acidity, great length. Compared to the 2008 we had earlier in the week, a wine of great power. Wonderful now, but everything in place to last for several decades. A "wow" wine.
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Beautiful color, starting to precipitate some anthocyanins. The nose is incredibly elegant, displaying aromas of camphor, brown spices, rose, raspberry, cherry and tobacco. This is full bodied on the palate, with superb concentration and tremendous finesse. The long finish features noble, sophisticated tannins and refreshing acidity. A bit primary still, but a beautiful wine!
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Barolo 2010 & 2001 (chez moi): Light color. Slightly aging nose - also the day after. The fruit is somewhat animalistic and dramatic. Strict and old school for real, not in the mood to for fun and dance. Vis a vis Giacosa, it loses out big time. I am not sure that this is a representative bottle. On the third day, more or less completely gone, as in dead.
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Expensive winos dinner at KH (Frederiksberg): Tasting with the same group a bottle with the same provenance but without the privilege of retasting the following days. This is very, very young and tight with a cool core, a bright acidity and severe tannins. I am loving it even at this adolescent stage, but it really is criminal to keep opening these ... (with The Expensive Winos at KH, FRb.)
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An evening with Ib B (Frederiksberg): In term of evolution, this is not far from the 2005. It is still young, very young, with rather cool tannins and an enormous intensity. The black fist is tightly closed here, even on day 3; this will grow and become big, very big indeed. Grand Vin. 96+.(Provenance: GL)
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Well, there was this very brief glimpse of an amazing wine right off the cork pull. But in the glass it seems very closed down. There chocolate and hazelnuts and cherries in there somewhere. We shall see where it goes.
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Madonna di Campilio Ski Trip; 1/17/2014-1/19/2014 (Madonna di Campilio): Really what were we thinking... Actually what on earth were we thinking... Given how young the 1990 tasted a few years ago we should have known better... But we got carried away at the beautiful Gallo Cedrone in Madonna di Campilio and went for it. 1 hour decant did very little and this is now backward and closed, with tannin and acidity at the forefront. The nose developed slowly slowly showing nice hints of cherry, but the palate remained hostile. Mr Conterno we apologise for this folly of ours. Needs a minimum 10+ yrs more
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Written by memory three years later...just to remember that I tasted a Monfortino at the winery (2008). I remember it was as elegant as they come but gave the impression of hiding most of its goodies. My score is quite indicative but its the highest ever for me... By far.. Maybe I'll buy one some day...
Wednesday Night Club - December 2011 (Peter Pratt's Inn): Blind - this was vinturied and decanted for 6+hrs and was still tight as a drum. My rating is not solely based on what was in the glass but also the pure potential of this magnificent wine. It was brutally young and tight, screaming of a young Barolo, when Lance said he'd never had one and had been dying to bring one to a tasting I guessed Conterno to which Vinny added Monfortino, then Lance unveiled it. I held on to this in my glass for over an hour and revisited. Another "bucket list" wine for me. This was a majestic wine, the layers and layers of swirling aromas and tastes cascading into a waterfall of pleasure. Taking a sip of this with the veal was a magical experience, simply sublime. I see what the hype over this wine is about. Another wine that will certainly outlive me, I see no end to when this wine would not drink well. Simply stunning.
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Still painfully young, it's all about future potential here. Fantastic bright fruit and hints of truffle. Outstanding freshness with a finish that seems to last forever! Give this wine at least another decade to soften as the tannins relentlessly pucker your mouth at this stage. This is going to be something special.
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Rosso granato con unghia aranciata, naso scuro terroso, goudron , gomma da copertone , idrocarburo quasi, poi sentori di fiori secchi e frutta rossa chiara, passa ogni tanto il bianco di cocomero, bocca fantastica , carnosa terrosa, tannino presente e maturo mai sgraziato come in altre versioni, IMHO, finale goudron lunghissimo con una fantastica sensazione retroolfattiva.
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I fell in love with this wine. What a complex nervy wine with layers of orange, truffle, red berris and anis. This is one of my favourite Barolo vintages and this is up there with Aldo Conterno' s Gran Bussia. This is however more burgundy like I think. This is a masterpiece.
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Al naso fin dall'inizio esplosione di anguria ed arancia, poi si arrichisce di goudron anche se è complessivamente poco mutevole. Bocca un po'amara ma si associa bene al piatto. Un'ottimo vino ma forse un po' "stretto" sia al naso che in bocca
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2000 2001 Barolo tasting for my 60th. Way too young but wonderful none the less.Had more structure and complexity than the 2000 at this point. Still needs a decade min
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Delicious young Monfortino. All candied red cherry, truffle, and potpourri. Showing very well and without the fierce, intrusive tannins that I'd expect, while still with a lot of body and clear power in reserve. Very well balanced for its age. Surprisingly feminine styling. Very, very nice.
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Dark red/black fruits with licorice, leather, a bit of baking spice, tar, and truffle. Fantastic palate with great texture and outstanding acidity. Finish goes on and on.
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Sempre spettacolare, all'inizio indietro e con una grande acidità, poi al naso spuntano la buccia di arancia e l'anguria, poi il mallo grande di noce. L'unica perplessita riguarda la bocca che rimane sempre molto acida e poco tannica
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Medium deep, just starting to get slightly orange at the rim. Nose: complex, very sweet whiff initially, something like red berry caramel, then mint and leather tones, fresher red berries and wonderful truffles. Very fruity on the palate, bright, juicy, intense. Mellowing tannins, spice, earth, cherries, very interesting. Beautiful balance, firm structure without being overwhelming, good finish. Long, complex aftertaste, fruity, herbal, tanninc. For me this one was head above the others at the tasting, alas the most expensive, it seems.
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Tasted at the winery. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black licorice, tar and black cherries. Flavors of black cherries and black berries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink with a decant or preferably continue to hold.
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3/15/2024 - RobinTeo wrote: 95 Points
The one with Tai Wah BCM: Leftovers from the previous night and still rocking and rolling! Bouquet opens with wet leaves, cherries, teak wood, cloves and sage. On the palate, blackberries, tar, licorice and rosewater. Incredible sense of elegance and precision here but definitely still a baby.
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11/18/2023 - Nanda wrote:
Decanted for 10+ hours. This was an interesting experiment and check-in, but this wine is a decade from approachable drinking. So much stuffing and gorgeous potential in the fruit, but there is a wall of tannin that needs time to melt away. Hold until 2035+
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11/18/2023 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Nebbiolos, white truffles, Volume VIII (Chicago, IL): Opened at 9:30am, and left in a decanter starting at 11am. As much as I appreciate the generous sharing of this bottle, it's just nowhere close to where it ought to be. A massive tannic beast of a wine, slightly tamed by a brown butter uovo in raviolo, but mostly just a brooding hulk that needs easily two decades to settle down. Unmistakably high quality material here, it just needs time to actually become a fully enjoyable drink.
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10/6/2023 - dream Likes this wine: 97 Points
A very great bottle of this with fabulous intensity and power along with world-class texture and structure. The flavors are so classic with notes of forest floor, cherry-wood and an incredibly deep spice-driven complexity. Obviously a serious Barolo with great precision, class and breed and 1st growth mouthfeel. Wonderful to drink now with a 8-hour double-decant although years from full-maturity. Like drinking what a redwood forest at night might taste like in liquid form! At Lucciola, NYC. 97+
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10/2/2023 - shifter Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely stunning nose on open. Bursting from the glass with blackberry, mint, tar, leather and spices. Palate was subdued at first and I requested a decant. That woke things up significantly and it carried on throughout the meal getting better and better. Supreme elegance and precision with all the stuffing.
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2/24/2023 - drwine2001 wrote:
Piemontese Legends Dinner (Seattle): Again a shade lighter than the 1996. Pine and dark red fruit aromas. More typical weight than the supernally dense 1996, cherry fruit, some tar, and structure that is more framed by superb acidity than its moderate tannin. Like the 2001 Giacosa, it continued to benefit from even more aeration. Excellent with outstanding potential for another 10 to 20 years.
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5/16/2022 - tropa56 wrote: 95 Points
Make no mistake, this is a beautiful wine. However, the price is just not anywhere near justified.
Decanted for close to 2 hours and drank slow over dinner. Wine was really still a baby at 21 years old. Incredibly pure red fruit (which was surprising to me for a Monfortino of this age) tar, roses. Very typical classic Barolo with a rather remarkable intensity and purity to its fruit. Just at a price tag that doesn't make since to me.
The Monfortino was preceded that night by a 1996 Gouges Les Saint Georges which I, and most everyone else preferred. 1/5 of the current price of the Monfortino.
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7/2/2021 - alexbhurst1678 wrote:
The color out of the bottle was a dark, rich brown. Once in the glass, the color grew richer. The smell is candy-like, caramels and spice cake. Still young — but so smooth. Sips beautifully and has a cadence and depth that is hard to match. As I let it sit in the glass it mellows a bit, settling down and the tannins become a bit more evident and grippy. Overall a pure pleasure and so much to enjoy now with tons of potential to mature beautifully.
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4/28/2021 - Vineyard Boy Likes this wine: 98 Points
Excellent! Benefits from a 2-4 hour decant
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11/17/2020 - Bobby Burgundy wrote: 96 Points
Super bottle needs a lot more time 5 years min
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10/10/2020 - Papies wrote:
Annual Pilgrimage to Piedmont - 2020 Edition; 10/9/2020-10/11/2020 (Piemonte, Italy): A wine that seems to elude us. On the first occasion in 2014 it was painfully young. On this day it took its time to open up ( Never matched the 98 we have the 2000 vintage last year) and frankly we are not sur end the wine was in a good place albeit we did not feel and flaw. Maybe third time lucky on another occasion.
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9/24/2020 - hprphf Likes this wine: 96 Points
Served blind. Just painfully young. First glass is so tight, yet with amazing compact structure. Superb nose, close to ethereal but really packed, orange spice, pure sandalwood, minty watermelon, roasted meat, rose. Palate keeps expanding with such freshness, grip and dimension, almost creamy. Utterly profound and delicious. 96+
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4/22/2019 - aajder wrote: 94 Points
Lovely color, a touch of fading. The nose shows classy aromas of deep red fruits, flowers, cedar, herbs, minerals and brown spices. This is full bodied on the palate with outstanding concentration and wonderful class. Impeccable balance. The long finish features noble tannins and a vibrant mineral element.
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2/15/2019 - oxwombat Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened at the Hong Kong Club. Decanted and slowly drank over 6 hours+
Unfortunately, this felt like infanticide, or a case of simply not enough air. probably both. This wine is an absolute monster in the best possible way - it is just a shame that I didn't give it the time it needed. Be patient and it will reward you.
Even so, it was still very enjoyable and a great wine to sip as I was reading one of my favourite novels over several hours.
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1/8/2019 - BradE wrote:
A quartet of Monfortino tonight (1971, 1997, 2001, 2010). All were in great shape, and all were very, very good. For me the surprising standout, given it's youth, was the young 2010 (decanted seven hours). Just a baby but it's drinking amazingly well. A fantastic nose on opening, and a sweetness on the palate that belied it's power. Simply outstanding. One of our group of four literally fell in love with the 2001 (decanted five hours), and I understood why. It was beguiling, and improved the most over the three hour dinner. I've been less excited about 1997 Barolos over time than others. And this perfect provenance magnum of 1997 Monfortino was very good, but for me just not as exciting as the other three. The 1971 was terrific, and easily could be called too young. A fine representation of Monfortinos, and a very enjoyable flight.
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2/3/2018 - rmcbrayer wrote: 96 Points
Cafe Juanita Monfortino / Asili Dinner (Cafe Juanita, WA): Double decanted for 3 hours. Clear and no sign of bricking. Reticent nose of slight rose and tar, but it was faint. The nose opened very slightly over an additional three hours at dinner. It tasted like black cherry, leather, and faint cedar. Silky but firm tannins. Perfectly balanced. It stood up to every one of the robust Piedmontese dishes we had, whereas the 2000 Giacosa Asili Riserva we also had lacked the acid and structure during the richer meat dishes.. The Monfortino was the WOTN. But I felt like it never gave up its secrets.
A more explosive set of aromas remains hidden in there somewhere.
Decades to go.
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12/17/2017 - dcwino wrote: flawed
Really late lunch – blind esoteric and not so esoteric wines at Q by Peter Chang (Q by Peter Chang - Bethesda, Maryland): Mildly corked.
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11/24/2017 - ttholst wrote: 94 Points
Luftet i karaffel 6 timer. Lett transparent, mørk burgunder uten aldringstegn. Kompleks og intens lukt av roser, tjære, kirsebær, markjordbær, søt og salt lakris, gasbind, pancetta og parmesan.
Smak av markjordbær, morell, søt lakris, tørka røde bær, rosin, salvie, snev av bergamott, umami/parmesan, rosevann.
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11/10/2017 - galenico wrote: 99 Points
Vino pazzesco. Forse il Monfortino più elegante mai assaggiato. Equilibrio estremo tra la dolcezza del frutto, la freschezza balsamica e il tannino, di finezza impalpabile. Già quasi pronto da bere oggi, molto più pronto del 99 e molto più sferico. Un monumento dell' enologia, uno dei più grandi vini esistenti.
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10/25/2017 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not a ton on the nose. But rich flavors that go really well with a cheese plate and some nuts. Some cedar and wood notes. Spices. A little on the shy side. This may shut down for a while. Long, long life ahead. Be patient.
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10/11/2017 - aajder wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful color, a touch of fading. The nose is a bit tight; showing deep aromas of raspberry, spices, minerals, flowers, peach and a hint of balsamic. This is full bodied on the palate with outstanding concentration and supreme elegance. The long finish features big tannins which are incredibly refined. This shut down through the course of 2 and a half hours, so wait at least a few years to open one...
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7/29/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Truffles with the SLDS (CFs): Redcurrant, raspberry, iron, cherry and plum. Serious structure, there is fine but very persistent tannins across its length. Not showing its full potential tonight, it felt like it was in a quiet spot right now.
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7/27/2017 - svdheijden wrote: 96 Points
The essence of Barolo in an outstanding year. Decanted three hours before serving, but not totally awake yet. Transparant, light colored, textbook Nebbiolo aromas of rose petals, tar, menthol, medicine, dried hay & eucalyptus. Powerful personality with long and tannic finish. Excellent companion of tasteful guinea fowl served alongside. Thanks, Paul! Will not open my first bottle of this wine within the next five years...
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1/1/2017 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
2017 New Year's Day Tasting (Marietta, GA): See through red; high toned, candy, cinnamon, roses, sexy, nose complicated by the aromatic food in the other room; silky Burgundian tannin, a touch more tannin on the finish, cough drop, medicinal, sweet roses and strawberry cherry fruit; elegant Nebbiolo- called Giacosa Red Label, didn't realize it was better, way too young now even with hours of decanting and saving a glass for 1.5 hours this is just so soft silky and youthfully 1-D right now; can definitely see the potential but it was a shame this beauty was lost in the mix today.
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12/21/2016 - King Julien wrote: 96 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Opened up a little more over the following two hours, then it was gone. Very nice, but needs more cellar time.
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11/22/2016 - m_arcon wrote: 97 Points
Meiningers Finest 100: International Wine Summit (Saalbau, Neustadt an der Weinstraße): You don't need to talk to much about legends. A pure, elegant simultaneously super powerful, expressive, complex interpretation of the Nebbiolo grape. Dried red berries, tar, rose petals, underbrush and balsamic components melt together in this irresistible Monfortino. And (of course) decades of life ahead.
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9/20/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 97 Points
Barolo Riserva Monfortino vertical 1995-2006: Medium garnet, brick hue. Similar to the 97 and 05 this wine felt like it came from a cooler vintage. Aromas of cut hay and eucalyptus intermixed with tobacco, red fruit and flowers. Elegant palate as well. A very strong showing.
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9/7/2016 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 96 Points
11.5 vintages of Monfortino-vertical:
SO'd for 12 hours. Notes of pine, dark berries, tobacco leaf, tar, leather, some animalic notes... While a great it doesn't have the sheer wow factor of the very best vintages in this line-up. It's full-bodied, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin. Very good length. A structured, slightly austere but very interesting Monfortino.
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5/27/2016 - JulianSkeels wrote:
(Monfortino mag vertical 1970-2008)
Given the strength of the 2001 vintage I was disappointed by this (especially as I seem to have some in my cellar!). Tonnes of fruit but just lacking in complexity. Of course it may come, but I would not bet on it - after tasting its evolution in parallel with 18 other Monfortino vintages at the same time. Not formally rated.
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5/26/2016 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Giacomo Conterno Montfortino, Barolo Reserva Magnum Dinner (67 Pall Mall): Still very young and very big. Lot's of fruit on the nose and very primary. Come back in 5 years.
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1/18/2016 - rlove wrote: 94 Points
Light, slightly bricking red. Elegant nose of sappy balsamic and sweet mentholated notes, with some faded red fruit and spice. On the palate, subtle fruit, powerful spice and earth, great acidity, and a finish of considerable length. A majestic wine. Well kept bottles will evolve positively for 20+ years.
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11/5/2015 - cooberp wrote:
Served from a dispenser. Almost transparent, already starting to brick. Gave 20 min of air on top. Nose of tar, a little balsamic, amaro, not much fruit. Very light-bodied. A real zinger of acid on the attack, like a jolting wake-up call, plus a touch of dark, bitter fruit, but then it vanishes on the 2nd half of the palate before "waking up" for a decent aftertaste. This would be an 88 or so, but no score as I'm not at all sure it was correct--it could have been sitting there for weeks.
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11/4/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Morning Tastes of Barolo in Barolo (Mostly Enoteca Regionale, Barolo, Italy): Bricking light red. Fantastic, complex nose with balsamic, faded red fruit, and game. Subtle fruit, great integrated acidity, great length. Compared to the 2008 we had earlier in the week, a wine of great power. Wonderful now, but everything in place to last for several decades. A "wow" wine.
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8/18/2015 - aajder wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful color, starting to precipitate some anthocyanins. The nose is incredibly elegant, displaying aromas of camphor, brown spices, rose, raspberry, cherry and tobacco. This is full bodied on the palate, with superb concentration and tremendous finesse. The long finish features noble, sophisticated tannins and refreshing acidity. A bit primary still, but a beautiful wine!
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3/31/2015 - beatles wrote: flawed
Barolo 2010 & 2001 (chez moi): Light color. Slightly aging nose - also the day after. The fruit is somewhat animalistic and dramatic. Strict and old school for real, not in the mood to for fun and dance. Vis a vis Giacosa, it loses out big time. I am not sure that this is a representative bottle. On the third day, more or less completely gone, as in dead.
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2/18/2015 - BaroloRob wrote: 95 Points
Ultimate Conterno versus Giacosa battle (Troquet): Tied for wine of the flight. See event notes.
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12/3/2014 - beatles wrote:
Expensive winos dinner at KH (Frederiksberg): Tasting with the same group a bottle with the same provenance but without the privilege of retasting the following days. This is very, very young and tight with a cool core, a bright acidity and severe tannins. I am loving it even at this adolescent stage, but it really is criminal to keep opening these ... (with The Expensive Winos at KH, FRb.)
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10/18/2014 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright, dense ruby. Very, very young. Beautiful, juicy, cool freshness.
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6/7/2014 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
UAE Wine Dinner: Decanted in the morning, stricter, but also fresher, lacked the warmth of the Rabaja.
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5/31/2014 - beatles Likes this wine: 96 Points
An evening with Ib B (Frederiksberg): In term of evolution, this is not far from the 2005. It is still young, very young, with rather cool tannins and an enormous intensity. The black fist is tightly closed here, even on day 3; this will grow and become big, very big indeed. Grand Vin. 96+.(Provenance: GL)
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5/12/2014 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 96 Points
Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1970-2006 (Magnum) (maze by Gordon Ramsey, London): Even against its revered predecessors, this baby showed extremely well, in perfect balance despite being so primary. An expansive wine, intense yet refined. Sweet red fruit and some spice, along with impressive acidity and a massive finish.
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5/8/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Well, there was this very brief glimpse of an amazing wine right off the cork pull. But in the glass it seems very closed down. There chocolate and hazelnuts and cherries in there somewhere. We shall see where it goes.
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1/17/2014 - Papies wrote:
Madonna di Campilio Ski Trip; 1/17/2014-1/19/2014 (Madonna di Campilio): Really what were we thinking... Actually what on earth were we thinking... Given how young the 1990 tasted a few years ago we should have known better... But we got carried away at the beautiful Gallo Cedrone in Madonna di Campilio and went for it. 1 hour decant did very little and this is now backward and closed, with tannin and acidity at the forefront. The nose developed slowly slowly showing nice hints of cherry, but the palate remained hostile. Mr Conterno we apologise for this folly of ours. Needs a minimum 10+ yrs more
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12/11/2013 - vespa110 wrote: 84 Points
Granato scarico, naso puzza di formaggio, leggera volatile, bocca fresca, fruttino croccante, non sta passando una bella fase.
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1/11/2013 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine:
Kleur: Licht oranjerood Aroma / bouquet: Gesloten, stoffig. Eucalyptus, aardbeitjes. Smaak / Afdronk: Mooie balans, maar minder kracht en concentratie. Frisse zuren, krachtige en wat harde tannines. Algemeen / potentieel: Krachtige wijn, stevige tannines. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 13 + Smaak / Afdronk: 15 + Algemeen / potentieel: 8 = 91/100
Color: [/ i] Light orange Aroma / Bouquet: [/ i] Closed, dusty. Eucalyptus, strawberries. Taste / Finish: [/ i] Nice balance, but less power and concentration. Fresh acidity, powerful and some harsh tannins. General / potential: [/ i] Powerful wine, firm tannins. 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 13 + Taste / Finish: 15 + General / potential: 8 = 91/100
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1/14/2012 - larsrog wrote: 97 Points
Written by memory three years later...just to remember that I tasted a Monfortino at the winery (2008).
I remember it was as elegant as they come but gave the impression of hiding most of its goodies. My score is quite indicative but its the highest ever for me... By far..
Maybe I'll buy one some day...
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12/7/2011 - Vinomarcus wrote: 98 Points
Wednesday Night Club - December 2011 (Peter Pratt's Inn): Blind - this was vinturied and decanted for 6+hrs and was still tight as a drum. My rating is not solely based on what was in the glass but also the pure potential of this magnificent wine. It was brutally young and tight, screaming of a young Barolo, when Lance said he'd never had one and had been dying to bring one to a tasting I guessed Conterno to which Vinny added Monfortino, then Lance unveiled it. I held on to this in my glass for over an hour and revisited. Another "bucket list" wine for me. This was a majestic wine, the layers and layers of swirling aromas and tastes cascading into a waterfall of pleasure. Taking a sip of this with the veal was a magical experience, simply sublime. I see what the hype over this wine is about. Another wine that will certainly outlive me, I see no end to when this wine would not drink well. Simply stunning.
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4/25/2011 - nebbhead9 wrote: 98 Points
Still painfully young, it's all about future potential here. Fantastic bright fruit and hints of truffle. Outstanding freshness with a finish that seems to last forever! Give this wine at least another decade to soften as the tannins relentlessly pucker your mouth at this stage. This is going to be something special.
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3/25/2011 - vespa110 wrote: 93 Points
Rosso granato con unghia aranciata, naso scuro terroso, goudron , gomma da copertone , idrocarburo quasi, poi sentori di fiori secchi e frutta rossa chiara, passa ogni tanto il bianco di cocomero, bocca fantastica , carnosa terrosa, tannino presente e maturo mai sgraziato come in altre versioni, IMHO, finale goudron lunghissimo con una fantastica sensazione retroolfattiva.
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3/20/2011 - St Paul wrote: 98 Points
I fell in love with this wine. What a complex nervy wine with layers of orange, truffle, red berris and anis. This is one of my favourite Barolo vintages and this is up there with Aldo Conterno' s Gran Bussia. This is however more burgundy like I think. This is a masterpiece.
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11/12/2010 - jmprusko Likes this wine: 91 Points
Seemed a bit asleep, like a fine burgundy goes dormant for a period.
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3/14/2010 - Jossik wrote: 94 Points
Al naso fin dall'inizio esplosione di anguria ed arancia, poi si arrichisce di goudron anche se è complessivamente poco mutevole. Bocca un po'amara ma si associa bene al piatto. Un'ottimo vino ma forse un po' "stretto" sia al naso che in bocca
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6/20/2009 - Dickdoc49 wrote: 97 Points
2000 2001 Barolo tasting for my 60th. Way too young but wonderful none the less.Had more structure and complexity than the 2000 at this point. Still needs a decade min
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6/20/2009 - psmith wrote:
Delicious young Monfortino. All candied red cherry, truffle, and potpourri. Showing very well and without the fierce, intrusive tannins that I'd expect, while still with a lot of body and clear power in reserve. Very well balanced for its age. Surprisingly feminine styling. Very, very nice.
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6/20/2009 - MatthewF wrote: 95 Points
Dark red/black fruits with licorice, leather, a bit of baking spice, tar, and truffle. Fantastic palate with great texture and outstanding acidity. Finish goes on and on.
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5/31/2009 - Jossik wrote: 95 Points
Sempre spettacolare, all'inizio indietro e con una grande acidità, poi al naso spuntano la buccia di arancia e l'anguria, poi il mallo grande di noce. L'unica perplessita riguarda la bocca che rimane sempre molto acida e poco tannica
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4/7/2009 - igaf wrote:
Medium deep, just starting to get slightly orange at the rim. Nose: complex, very sweet whiff initially, something like red berry caramel, then mint and leather tones, fresher red berries and wonderful truffles. Very fruity on the palate, bright, juicy, intense. Mellowing tannins, spice, earth, cherries, very interesting. Beautiful balance, firm structure without being overwhelming, good finish. Long, complex aftertaste, fruity, herbal, tanninc. For me this one was head above the others at the tasting, alas the most expensive, it seems.
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4/5/2009 - Jossik wrote: 96 Points
Sempre mostruosamente buono, con arancia e anguria sparatissime, bocca quasi perfetta anche se oggi grossa ma già godibilissima
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1/10/2009 - Jossik wrote: 96 Points
Spettacolo
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10/21/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
Italy 2008 (Italy): WIML94+
Tasted at the winery. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of black licorice, tar and black cherries. Flavors of black cherries and black berries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink with a decant or preferably continue to hold.
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