First night. Peculiar. Very unbalanced, with a bizarre twangy note mid-palate. Undrinkable.
Second night. Classic Borgogno. Much more balanced and has opened-up beautifully. This bottle evolved incredibly into a wonderful old Barolo. Notes of caramel, tobacco and black cherry, with a medium finish.
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Appears that I was less lucky with this bottle compared to some of the previous tasters. Bottle condition looked good but wasn't able to establish a provenance on it. Unlikely that it was one of the late releases, certainly didn't appear to be recorked. Bottle development has taken over a little too much with some meatallic / sanguine aromas masking purity. Very developed with lots of tertiary mushroom, dry leather and game notes. Structurally still sound and enjoyable to a degree but appears to be on the way down. At a good price a bottle may be worth the gamble, but this particular one probably peaked a few years back already.
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absolutely beautiful, and tho there was debate at the table, this wine IMHO beat out the '95 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia... it is very fully mature and starting to head to the soft side (but not flabby or too soft at all), copious red and purple fruit that just slides down the throat like a slithering snake... this wine is more than ready to drink so I would think drink up in the next 3-5 years... opulent while being lithe... beautiful
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Nebbiolo and White Truffles (Matt's, Portland OR): This was a late-release bottle. It showed off a ton more youthful than the vintage would have you think (almost certainly from it being a late-release) and was beautifully perfumed with dark red cherries, strawberries, juniper berries, raspberries, leather, black tea, licorice, herbal spices, and some earth notes. The Medium/full bodied feel is silky and refined with crisp, high acidity and well-integrated, medium+ tannins. The structure has fully peeled back and this was a real delight.
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Still very much put together, this bottle was from a recorked and topped off 2007 library release from Borgogno. Opened about 2 hours before serving and just let it slow ox in the bottle. Very compelling old Barolo here.
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my last note (6/13/21) says it perfectly, only adjustment to that note is this one didn't get nearly as bold and fwd as the June '21 bottle... this one had less fruit evident late into the evening but was still good, just not "as good" as the prior bottle
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pnp to decant, right away tasted very muted -- worried that it might have been over the hill... then put back into bottle for dinner (after about three hours of airing), then poured the first glasses about 5 hours after first popping the cork... WOW... what a change, this was a power house, almost too much for me and my guests... I wouldn't be afraid to let this bottling settle for 5 or 10 or frankly even 15-20 years... loved this on the last sip (8 hours after the uncorking), it was bold with red / dark red fruit and lots of umami and spice... this wine is a winner (no surprise for '78)... but make sure to decant in the early morning for dinner or wait at least another 5-10 years
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I have corrected this note. At first, I thought this bottle had gone bad. I decanted into a tall thin decanter (wine bottle shape). But after an hour or so, it was quite a bit better. It had got increasingly better. It has now been open about 3 hours and has gotten quite good. A lesson learned that Barolo can Seem like it has gone bad, and it just needs time. I would not say that it particularly interesting but it is still quite good, and fresh for a wine that is 42 years old.
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On opening, I felt like this was a bit simple and fruit forward.l, but give this an hour! The color is a beautiful tawny with browning on the edges. On the nose: tar, charcoal, roses, leather, dried flowers and raspberry. On the palate, fantastic acidity, dense dried red fruit, currant, strawberry, rose, leather, charcoal, amazing complexity, and still dense tannic finish. Stunning.
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Pausing for the Cause 2019 (Chicago, IL): Late release, I believe. Preternaturally fresh, this is classic old nebbiolo. Tar and roses, with no significant signs of browning. The fruit is ridiculously fresh and red-coloured with just some leafy underbrush elements giving this bottle's age away. The ripeness here is lovely too; it gives this a sweetness that supplements the acidity and tannin very well.
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This wine was properly stored. I had high hopes upon opening as we were greeted by a beautiful nose typical of barolo. However, while not completely faded, fruit still present but muted. Tannins completely integrated. Acidity was evident. Still paired very well with Osso Bucco and risotto alla milanese. Drink up it isn't long for this world.
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disappointed slightly at initial opening but after 1 hour wine had aired out and was definitely better with more nose and more fruit. continued drinking with dinner in hour 2-3 and wine had changed again into an excellent bottle. Cork was in excellent condition for the age and sediment w moderate. Brown-red color. Earthy and nuances of cassis and red berries.
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Browning. Quite fresh red fruited. Very high toned. Still some fruit. I loved the wine. .Not everyone's cup of tea. Long on the palate. Great with the cheese course.
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Clear red colour with slight bricking in the edges. Young colour for being this old. Smells like burnt rubber, plastic with a weak hint of dried berries and fruits under all the plastic somewhere. Time in the glass doesn't change the negative initial impression, and I really don't want to taste this wine. On the palate it's not too bad at first, but a lightweight watery taste soon gets overpowered by a sharpened and unbalanced sting of vinegar and long forgotten wet sock.
Had two bottles of this one, and the first one was splendid 18 months ago. Shame, but old bottles are always a gamble.
Borgogno dinner (Bosk at the ShangriLa Hotel, Toronto): Pungent aged nose of leather, tobacco, mushroom, and tar. Tart cranberry, but the fruit is fading and is being overtaken by the prominent acidity and salty minerality. The tannins are smoother and more integrated than on the 1982. My rank: #3.
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Lys, transparet rødfarge. Ved åpning gir den lite annet enn tanniner. Etter omlag to timer kommer det kirsebær, roser, litt svart te og jordbær. Etter mer tid tar tanninene igjen overtaket på resten av smakene. Kunne ønske meg litt mer kompleksitet og litt mindre tanniner. Lang ettersmak.
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Garnet, some bricking at rim. Medium intense nose of brown sugar, plum, rose petal, pine and cherry liquor. On the palates, there is still some tannins which I doubt would ever entirely go away, fresh, medium acidity, warm, medium length finish. Maybe not the best bottle, I preferred the 71 for its freshness and 90 for the intensity of fruit.
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Really nice. Still quite fresh on palate. Nice acidity is helping. Balsamic/ raspberries nose. Lots is happening int he air. Gentle but definitively not old.
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Brown in the edges. Nose gives fresh toasted bread along with general deliciousness. Palate shows perfectly balanced tannins, and lots of secondary tastes. This wine will still go on for at least 20 years to come. Concentration and elegance hand in hand. 50+5+12+17+10 (94p)
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Stunning nose! tar, leather, tobacco cherries very predominant. The taste was at first very firm and gradually gave way to plum, cherries and red berry flavors. Surprisingly vibrant for a 33 year old bottle. Very long aftertaste at 90 minutes open with explosive fruit. color garnet and brick at edges. Very pleasant especially with braised venison.
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in perfect condition. Took about 30 minutes to open and then drank well for almost 3 hours. Very similar to last tasting. Light red to brick red in color. Classic mature barolo nose with small amount of fruit present. Still some soft tannins present and decent acid. The best part was the concentration and length.
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This was the (plesant) surprise of the night for me, showing more complexity than most Borgognos. Good acids, resolving tannins, tar, Meyer lemon peel, earth, coffee. A-
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A gorgeous nose of leather, tar, and orange peel. It fills the mouth with juicy and sweet raspberries and florals, and loads of acidity. Shortly after the taste is gone, I long for another sip.
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This is a fairly recent library release with a pretty brand-new cork. The color definitely looks mature with significant orange bricking. Aromas of dried roses, tar, orange peel, all the usual suspects that really take off after a couple of hours of micro-ox. The flavor though, wow, this is a wine that Nosferatu would revel in. Lill describes it as “sucking on a paper cut….yet I like it”. Very bloody, lots of copper, nary a hint of fruit, robust acidity that starts the mouth watering followed by a tannic structure that pulls every drop of saliva out of my mouth. After about an hour of drinking (a few hours after opening) things take a significant turn with superb red and black cherry fruit flavors popping out, acidity coming in to balance, the structure relaxing ever so slightly yet the bloodline remains. The more we drink, the younger the wine is tasting, more fruit comes out, it’s more energetic. Fascinating really and delightful.
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Another Borgogno in perfect condition. Unbelievable acid and tannic structure given the age. Not at all an old wine. Probably nearing or at it's peak. Wonderful mature Barolo nose with roses as the dominate note but still with some small amount of fruit present. Excellent length. Very similar to the last bottle that I had a year ago.
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Did not decant. First one of the lineup that had taken on the brickish red of an older wine. Nose was very savory. Tomatoes and celery salt. Dried mushrooms and dried flowers. Bigger tannins that the '82. A lot of sour fruit flavors and a lot of savory flavors also. Getting that celery salt and cooked tomato feel. Tannins smooth a bit over time. But the sour fruit is very dominant. Not as well balanced as some of the others in the lineup.
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Like drinking a liquid brick. Popped and poured with some regret as it seems to have needed 1+ hours decanting. Very youthful nose, but high tannin and bitter finish. Air removed some of the bitterness. Great, expressive nose. This bottle is decanted by the producer according to the label.
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garnet/brownish color. lots of life and fruit. nice meaty aromas coupled with hints of licorice, dark cherries and plenty of earth. fresh in the mouth with a very lively texture. medium finish. this isn't a profound wine but it is very well made, balanced and completely enjoyable. superb with homemade sausage ragu.
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Pop n pour. Medium ruby core with considerable bricking and a nose of red flowers, olive tapenade, cherries and dusty asphalt. On the palate, remarkably fresh for its age and a bit reticent at first, but after a half-hour, the fruits opened up and provided some needed depth. Nice tannic and acid backbone. Drink over the next decade, approx $100
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Very nice bottle, better to me than most of the other notes here would indicate. This wine tastes quite fresh (served blind, no one at the table guessed more than 10 years old), with cherry and cranberry fruits, an array of spices, some roses and a hint of both smoke and tar. The strength of the wine lies in its balance, drinkability and classic expression of Nebbiolo/Barolo. My bottle specifically stated on the back that it was only decanted & released from the winery in 2006, so it is possible that other notes below are older releases (with lesser, or at least different, provenance). Should easily last another 10 years.
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Bottle (presumably) from a re-release of the winery, as everything was in perfect condition: cork in tact, no seepage, only very light staining on the bottom in touch with the wine. Purchased for $150. Served on my 30th b-day. Upon opening, the initial nose was damp earth, and almost cardboard. I worried it was corked. But that blew off in a few seconds. At first sip, the tannins are still there... unreal how much tannic backbone is left in this 30-yr old. With some air (this was not decanted, but served over an hour between 6 of us), it opened to reveal dried red fruits, but mostly tar and some earth. I liked it the most out of everyone... but it was far from great. The wine was a lighter brick/brown with orange tinges on the side. And the finish was rather short. It was still very interesting to try a wine as old as I (I've only had one other wine that was older than 15 years). Very enjoyable, but a good learning experience as I now know that I enjoy wines in the middle of their drinkability window. I do enjoy some lively/youthful fruit, but I also like some of the young, secondary characteristics of earth/cedar. However, I prefer the fruit playing the main role, not the supporting role as in here. 87-89 points.
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A core of medium ruby, with red-brown border just inside the watery edge - several prominent transitions. The nose was classic Barolo: red violets, exotic spices, morels and rich leather. On the palate, it was medium-bodied with a 30 second finish. Nothing spectacular, just an elegant Barolo that is definitely not going to get better with more bottle age. Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed throughout the evening. A bottle approximately 1/3 its cost (this was approximately $125) was the crowd favourite among 12 wines that evening.
Drink now
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This bottle was from a recent release, reconditioned in 2006. Honestly this seemed a bit dried out, acid outliving the stuffing by a touch. Still pretty tasty but neither as aromatic nor as harmonious as I was hoping for.
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Kitchen Tasting Group Does Beaver Creek – Day One: Light brick red color. The nose is elegant and and expressive in a subtle way -- as if forcing closer attention. On the plate this delivers concentrated (despite its age) red cherry fruit, yet gives a light and lively mouth feel. Flavors coat the palate and the acidity is invigorating. The finish is very nice. I enjoyed this a lot.
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Dinner at Sitka and Spruce (Seattle, WA): This was a fleeting taste courtesy of a generous pour offered up by Brian Abramson who happened to be sitting at a nearby table and saw me come into the restaurant. The nose was initially quite delicate, lots of rose petal and a hint of spice. After 30 minutes this had fleshed out and showed more tar and a more muscular element. Quite clipped and dry at first, as it opened up AND my palate got some food on it, this rounded and fleshed out considerably. Nothing otherworldly here, just a nice, traditional Barolo.
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From a very well stored bottle- quite brown in color and after breathing for a while, it gives off a wild scent of old cherries, tar, wilted roses and spruce. Clearly an "old" style Barolo with firm acidity and classic flavors of tar, roses and old wood. The texture of the wine seems thin at first but it builds to a succulent, juicy finish with good intensity and smoky flavors of truffle and mushrooms. Quite good and quite interesting to taste and seems to have enough intensity to age a bit further although it's quite mature now.
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Mahogany toward orange. Initially reserved on the note but opened after 20 minutes or so. Really beautiful interplay of dark cherry and notes of tar, earth and maybe a hint of clove.
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This Riserva was decanted by the winery in January 2006 in order to remove the sediment, topped up and then released for consumption. Light complected - almost clear with age around the rim this wine needed several more hours in a decanter before it opened up. A nose of matured dark cherries and mellowed flavours of cherries & plumbs, this lovely wine is built to last another ten years or more, but drinking beautifully now.
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Light-garnet/orange colour. Aromas of cherry, orange rind, leather, tar, dried flowers. Medium-bodied, very traditional, with sottobosco, leather, dried flowers, cherry, plums, earth. Moderate finish, with cherry, leather, orange rind. Shows lots of life with good fruit, and can last many more years in the cellar.
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1/7/2024 - Warren23 wrote: 92 Points
First night. Peculiar. Very unbalanced, with a bizarre twangy note mid-palate. Undrinkable.
Second night. Classic Borgogno. Much more balanced and has opened-up beautifully. This bottle evolved incredibly into a wonderful old Barolo. Notes of caramel, tobacco and black cherry, with a medium finish.
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11/29/2023 - tcarter Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wasn't showing as well as expected, but hit a nice stride after about 30 mins of air.
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6/10/2023 - Warren23 wrote: 80 Points
Dinner party - Tim and Tina. Frankly, very disappointing. Seemed unbalanced and "off" - hopefully, just a bad bottle.
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3/17/2023 - Maximilian7 wrote: 89 Points
Appears that I was less lucky with this bottle compared to some of the previous tasters. Bottle condition looked good but wasn't able to establish a provenance on it. Unlikely that it was one of the late releases, certainly didn't appear to be recorked. Bottle development has taken over a little too much with some meatallic / sanguine aromas masking purity. Very developed with lots of tertiary mushroom, dry leather and game notes. Structurally still sound and enjoyable to a degree but appears to be on the way down. At a good price a bottle may be worth the gamble, but this particular one probably peaked a few years back already.
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1/20/2022 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 94 Points
absolutely beautiful, and tho there was debate at the table, this wine IMHO beat out the '95 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia... it is very fully mature and starting to head to the soft side (but not flabby or too soft at all), copious red and purple fruit that just slides down the throat like a slithering snake... this wine is more than ready to drink so I would think drink up in the next 3-5 years... opulent while being lithe... beautiful
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11/5/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Nebbiolo and White Truffles (Matt's, Portland OR): This was a late-release bottle. It showed off a ton more youthful than the vintage would have you think (almost certainly from it being a late-release) and was beautifully perfumed with dark red cherries, strawberries, juniper berries, raspberries, leather, black tea, licorice, herbal spices, and some earth notes. The Medium/full bodied feel is silky and refined with crisp, high acidity and well-integrated, medium+ tannins. The structure has fully peeled back and this was a real delight.
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11/1/2021 - Margaux Bro Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still very much put together, this bottle was from a recorked and topped off 2007 library release from Borgogno. Opened about 2 hours before serving and just let it slow ox in the bottle. Very compelling old Barolo here.
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10/24/2021 - Pancreatitis wrote:
Light cola coloured, altogether tertiary.
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6/21/2021 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 92 Points
my last note (6/13/21) says it perfectly, only adjustment to that note is this one didn't get nearly as bold and fwd as the June '21 bottle... this one had less fruit evident late into the evening but was still good, just not "as good" as the prior bottle
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6/13/2021 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 93 Points
pnp to decant, right away tasted very muted -- worried that it might have been over the hill... then put back into bottle for dinner (after about three hours of airing), then poured the first glasses about 5 hours after first popping the cork... WOW... what a change, this was a power house, almost too much for me and my guests... I wouldn't be afraid to let this bottling settle for 5 or 10 or frankly even 15-20 years... loved this on the last sip (8 hours after the uncorking), it was bold with red / dark red fruit and lots of umami and spice... this wine is a winner (no surprise for '78)... but make sure to decant in the early morning for dinner or wait at least another 5-10 years
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2/6/2021 - Jnp2 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I have corrected this note. At first, I thought this bottle had gone bad. I decanted into a tall thin decanter (wine bottle shape). But after an hour or so, it was quite a bit better. It had got increasingly better. It has now been open about 3 hours and has gotten quite good. A lesson learned that Barolo can Seem like it has gone bad, and it just needs time. I would not say that it particularly interesting but it is still quite good, and fresh for a wine that is 42 years old.
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3/28/2020 - Aravind Asok wrote:
On opening, I felt like this was a bit simple and fruit forward.l, but give this an hour! The color is a beautiful tawny with browning on the edges. On the nose: tar, charcoal, roses, leather, dried flowers and raspberry. On the palate, fantastic acidity, dense dried red fruit, currant, strawberry, rose, leather, charcoal, amazing complexity, and still dense tannic finish. Stunning.
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9/23/2019 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Pausing for the Cause 2019 (Chicago, IL): Late release, I believe. Preternaturally fresh, this is classic old nebbiolo. Tar and roses, with no significant signs of browning. The fruit is ridiculously fresh and red-coloured with just some leafy underbrush elements giving this bottle's age away. The ripeness here is lovely too; it gives this a sweetness that supplements the acidity and tannin very well.
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9/16/2019 - ciesel Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine was properly stored. I had high hopes upon opening as we were greeted by a beautiful nose typical of barolo. However, while not completely faded, fruit still present but muted. Tannins completely integrated. Acidity was evident. Still paired very well with Osso Bucco and risotto alla milanese. Drink up it isn't long for this world.
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12/13/2018 - micsauer Does not like this wine:
This was unfortunately over the hill. Caution.
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7/5/2017 - Vasily Likes this wine: 92 Points
disappointed slightly at initial opening but after 1 hour wine had aired out and was definitely better with more nose and more fruit. continued drinking with dinner in hour 2-3 and wine had changed again into an excellent bottle. Cork was in excellent condition for the age and sediment w moderate. Brown-red color. Earthy and nuances of cassis and red berries.
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12/9/2014 - rnellans wrote: 94 Points
Browning. Quite fresh red fruited. Very high toned. Still some fruit. I loved the wine. .Not everyone's cup of tea. Long on the palate. Great with the cheese course.
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3/16/2014 - Shiaxonna wrote: flawed
Clear red colour with slight bricking in the edges. Young colour for being this old. Smells like burnt rubber, plastic with a weak hint of dried berries and fruits under all the plastic somewhere. Time in the glass doesn't change the negative initial impression, and I really don't want to taste this wine. On the palate it's not too bad at first, but a lightweight watery taste soon gets overpowered by a sharpened and unbalanced sting of vinegar and long forgotten wet sock.
Had two bottles of this one, and the first one was splendid 18 months ago. Shame, but old bottles are always a gamble.
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2/26/2014 - sunnylea57 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Borgogno dinner (Bosk at the ShangriLa Hotel, Toronto): Pungent aged nose of leather, tobacco, mushroom, and tar. Tart cranberry, but the fruit is fading and is being overtaken by the prominent acidity and salty minerality. The tannins are smoother and more integrated than on the 1982. My rank: #3.
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1/11/2014 - laralh wrote: 88 Points
Lys, transparet rødfarge. Ved åpning gir den lite annet enn tanniner. Etter omlag to timer kommer det kirsebær, roser, litt svart te og jordbær. Etter mer tid tar tanninene igjen overtaket på resten av smakene. Kunne ønske meg litt mer kompleksitet og litt mindre tanniner. Lang ettersmak.
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12/26/2013 - jbeauprez wrote: 91 Points
Really nice, still very fresh and the fruit is still intact. Benefitted from 2 hours decant.
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12/6/2013 - Machiavelli wrote:
Garnet, some bricking at rim. Medium intense nose of brown sugar, plum, rose petal, pine and cherry liquor. On the palates, there is still some tannins which I doubt would ever entirely go away, fresh, medium acidity, warm, medium length finish. Maybe not the best bottle, I preferred the 71 for its freshness and 90 for the intensity of fruit.
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10/3/2013 - paolonardi wrote:
Barolo: la china è nettissima, sensazione di agrumi, rabarbaro e sottobosco. Equilibrio perfetto. Vino tutto di un pezzo. Godibilissimo
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1/25/2013 - MdCC Likes this wine:
Really nice. Still quite fresh on palate. Nice acidity is helping. Balsamic/ raspberries nose. Lots is happening int he air. Gentle but definitively not old.
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7/30/2012 - Shiaxonna wrote: 94 Points
Brown in the edges. Nose gives fresh toasted bread along with general deliciousness. Palate shows perfectly balanced tannins, and lots of secondary tastes. This wine will still go on for at least 20 years to come. Concentration and elegance hand in hand.
50+5+12+17+10 (94p)
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9/17/2011 - oldwines wrote: 92 Points
Stunning nose! tar, leather, tobacco cherries very predominant. The taste was at first very firm and gradually gave way to plum, cherries and red berry flavors. Surprisingly vibrant for a 33 year old bottle. Very long aftertaste at 90 minutes open with explosive fruit. color garnet and brick at edges. Very pleasant especially with braised venison.
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6/1/2011 - Montecalvo wrote: 96 Points
in perfect condition. Took about 30 minutes to open and then drank well for almost 3 hours. Very similar to last tasting. Light red to brick red in color. Classic mature barolo nose with small amount of fruit present. Still some soft tannins present and decent acid. The best part was the concentration and length.
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10/26/2010 - DaleW wrote:
This was the (plesant) surprise of the night for me, showing more complexity than most Borgognos. Good acids, resolving tannins, tar, Meyer lemon peel, earth, coffee. A-
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6/3/2010 - Diane (LI) wrote:
A gorgeous nose of leather, tar, and orange peel. It fills the mouth with juicy and sweet raspberries and florals, and loads of acidity. Shortly after the taste is gone, I long for another sip.
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1/8/2010 - BillB656 wrote:
This is a fairly recent library release with a pretty brand-new cork. The color definitely looks mature with significant orange bricking. Aromas of dried roses, tar, orange peel, all the usual suspects that really take off after a couple of hours of micro-ox. The flavor though, wow, this is a wine that Nosferatu would revel in. Lill describes it as “sucking on a paper cut….yet I like it”. Very bloody, lots of copper, nary a hint of fruit, robust acidity that starts the mouth watering followed by a tannic structure that pulls every drop of saliva out of my mouth. After about an hour of drinking (a few hours after opening) things take a significant turn with superb red and black cherry fruit flavors popping out, acidity coming in to balance, the structure relaxing ever so slightly yet the bloodline remains. The more we drink, the younger the wine is tasting, more fruit comes out, it’s more energetic. Fascinating really and delightful.
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11/16/2009 - Montecalvo wrote: 96 Points
Another Borgogno in perfect condition. Unbelievable acid and tannic structure given the age. Not at all an old wine. Probably nearing or at it's peak. Wonderful mature Barolo nose with roses as the dominate note but still with some small amount of fruit present. Excellent length. Very similar to the last bottle that I had a year ago.
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10/17/2009 - Beavis77 wrote:
Did not decant.
First one of the lineup that had taken on the brickish red of an older wine.
Nose was very savory. Tomatoes and celery salt. Dried mushrooms and dried flowers.
Bigger tannins that the '82. A lot of sour fruit flavors and a lot of savory flavors also. Getting that celery salt and cooked tomato feel. Tannins smooth a bit over time. But the sour fruit is very dominant. Not as well balanced as some of the others in the lineup.
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9/19/2009 - princeton wrote:
Like drinking a liquid brick. Popped and poured with some regret as it seems to have needed 1+ hours decanting. Very youthful nose, but high tannin and bitter finish. Air removed some of the bitterness. Great, expressive nose. This bottle is decanted by the producer according to the label.
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5/26/2009 - br wrote:
garnet/brownish color. lots of life and fruit. nice meaty aromas coupled with hints of licorice, dark cherries and plenty of earth. fresh in the mouth with a very lively texture. medium finish. this isn't a profound wine but it is very well made, balanced and completely enjoyable. superb with homemade sausage ragu.
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4/18/2009 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Pop n pour. Medium ruby core with considerable bricking and a nose of red flowers, olive tapenade, cherries and dusty asphalt. On the palate, remarkably fresh for its age and a bit reticent at first, but after a half-hour, the fruits opened up and provided some needed depth. Nice tannic and acid backbone. Drink over the next decade, approx $100
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8/20/2008 - Employee500 wrote: 93 Points
Very nice bottle, better to me than most of the other notes here would indicate. This wine tastes quite fresh (served blind, no one at the table guessed more than 10 years old), with cherry and cranberry fruits, an array of spices, some roses and a hint of both smoke and tar. The strength of the wine lies in its balance, drinkability and classic expression of Nebbiolo/Barolo. My bottle specifically stated on the back that it was only decanted & released from the winery in 2006, so it is possible that other notes below are older releases (with lesser, or at least different, provenance). Should easily last another 10 years.
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8/17/2008 - mwagner7700 wrote: 88 Points
Bottle (presumably) from a re-release of the winery, as everything was in perfect condition: cork in tact, no seepage, only very light staining on the bottom in touch with the wine. Purchased for $150. Served on my 30th b-day. Upon opening, the initial nose was damp earth, and almost cardboard. I worried it was corked. But that blew off in a few seconds. At first sip, the tannins are still there... unreal how much tannic backbone is left in this 30-yr old. With some air (this was not decanted, but served over an hour between 6 of us), it opened to reveal dried red fruits, but mostly tar and some earth. I liked it the most out of everyone... but it was far from great. The wine was a lighter brick/brown with orange tinges on the side. And the finish was rather short. It was still very interesting to try a wine as old as I (I've only had one other wine that was older than 15 years). Very enjoyable, but a good learning experience as I now know that I enjoy wines in the middle of their drinkability window. I do enjoy some lively/youthful fruit, but I also like some of the young, secondary characteristics of earth/cedar. However, I prefer the fruit playing the main role, not the supporting role as in here. 87-89 points.
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8/1/2008 - Tim Heaton wrote:
A core of medium ruby, with red-brown border just inside the watery edge - several prominent transitions. The nose was classic Barolo: red violets, exotic spices, morels and rich leather. On the palate, it was medium-bodied with a 30 second finish. Nothing spectacular, just an elegant Barolo that is definitely not going to get better with more bottle age. Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed throughout the evening. A bottle approximately 1/3 its cost (this was approximately $125) was the crowd favourite among 12 wines that evening.
Drink now
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7/6/2008 - pbjosh wrote: 88 Points
This bottle was from a recent release, reconditioned in 2006. Honestly this seemed a bit dried out, acid outliving the stuffing by a touch. Still pretty tasty but neither as aromatic nor as harmonious as I was hoping for.
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11/25/2007 - Scheper wrote: 90 Points
great stuff.. Borgogno is ver very good |QPR
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9/21/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
Kitchen Tasting Group Does Beaver Creek – Day One: Light brick red color. The nose is elegant and and expressive in a subtle way -- as if forcing closer attention. On the plate this delivers concentrated (despite its age) red cherry fruit, yet gives a light and lively mouth feel. Flavors coat the palate and the acidity is invigorating. The finish is very nice. I enjoyed this a lot.
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6/2/2007 - JScott wrote: 91 Points
This bottle less impressive than the other, but it may have more to do with setting.
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5/10/2007 - Eric wrote:
Dinner at Sitka and Spruce (Seattle, WA): This was a fleeting taste courtesy of a generous pour offered up by Brian Abramson who happened to be sitting at a nearby table and saw me come into the restaurant. The nose was initially quite delicate, lots of rose petal and a hint of spice. After 30 minutes this had fleshed out and showed more tar and a more muscular element. Quite clipped and dry at first, as it opened up AND my palate got some food on it, this rounded and fleshed out considerably. Nothing otherworldly here, just a nice, traditional Barolo.
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4/22/2007 - dream wrote: 89 Points
From a very well stored bottle- quite brown in color and after breathing for a while, it gives off a wild scent of old cherries, tar, wilted roses and spruce. Clearly an "old" style Barolo with firm acidity and classic flavors of tar, roses and old wood. The texture of the wine seems thin at first but it builds to a succulent, juicy finish with good intensity and smoky flavors of truffle and mushrooms. Quite good and quite interesting to taste and seems to have enough intensity to age a bit further although it's quite mature now.
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4/22/2007 - JScott wrote: 95 Points
Mahogany toward orange. Initially reserved on the note but opened after 20 minutes or so. Really beautiful interplay of dark cherry and notes of tar, earth and maybe a hint of clove.
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4/10/2007 - idrinkvino wrote: 93 Points
This Riserva was decanted by the winery in January 2006 in order to remove the sediment, topped up and then released for consumption. Light complected - almost clear with age around the rim this wine needed several more hours in a decanter before it opened up. A nose of matured dark cherries and mellowed flavours of cherries & plumbs, this lovely wine is built to last another ten years or more, but drinking beautifully now.
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4/15/2005 - futronic wrote: 92 Points
Light-garnet/orange colour. Aromas of cherry, orange rind, leather, tar, dried flowers. Medium-bodied, very traditional, with sottobosco, leather, dried flowers, cherry, plums, earth. Moderate finish, with cherry, leather, orange rind. Shows lots of life with good fruit, and can last many more years in the cellar.
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