This wonderfully age Barolo cane out of the bottle as if it was only 5 years old, not 22. A bit below room temp but as it got oxygenated it unwound from its tannins. Paired acceptable with lamb and mushrooms as well as a variety of cheeses. Towards the end of a 2 +hour meal it’s age began to be noticed. It’s not spoiled nor past it’s peak but still a hint of its sge becsje apparent. I’d think it’s great to drink now and for another 5+ years IF cellared properly
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Light Garnet color that seemed to darken quickly after pouring. Leather and sour cherry nose. Very little fruit on the palate but presence of cherry notes and stiff tannins. Was very enjoyable with a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana and impossible to identify as a 21 year old wine. Surprisingly good
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Colour: ruby dark brownish red Nose: dark fruit, some cherry, hints of leather, some vanilla Taste: still acid, tannins have become mellow but are still very present, amazingly astringent. Really.
Was stored at 18 degree, 65 % Hygro, no traveling
Overmatured, passed his best age.
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Blind tasting. Brief note. This was a well traveled bottle as noted by the person who brought it. Pnp. Shows pruney/raisiny notes. Palate is cooked and over the hill tasting very stewed.
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+bricking. Nose lightly stewed fruits. Palate caramel, baking spice -- cinnamon, not much fruit. Was told that this was kept in cool storage all these years though well-traveled, perhaps not the best representative bottle but still seems over-mature. 88 pts
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A little better than last tried in 2011 with much more balance. No funk on the nose but much aromatics coming through at all. Tannins have mellowed but there is still a bitterness on the finish that is hard to get by. The cherries are still there and overall a nice drinking Barolo with plenty of time left although I don't see it improving much in the coming years.
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This wind is definitely in a good spot now, and I would not advise keeping it for much longer. The tannins are fully resolved and it is very smooth, with a very pleasant Nebbiolo tar and roses flavors, and a light to medium mouth feel. Not many secondary flavors but very pure Nebbiolo sensations.
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First and most important, this wine needs to breathe before you drink it. I did not decant (I was not certain how it would react), but I did open it just after noon in preparation for an early dinner. At opening, it was a little tart, but there were hints that something was underneath all this. After about 5 hours or so (just sitting uncorked), the wine was singing. Not rich to me, but sharp and crisp with cherry flavors. My bottle did not show any strong signs of age, although I do no think it will change all that much over the next few years. There is the possibility that extended aging (another 10 years) might move it into the zone of "tertiary" flavors, like an old Bordeaux, but I am not certain I will wait that long for this bottle. I might just for the hell of it.
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About a month ago opened two of these, one was great, the other was drinkable, but not very good, definitely off. Opened another tonite, unfortunately, also "off", we didn't drink, just left it in the restaurant. Two more bottles in the cellar...drink up!
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Made in a more classic style; after thirteen years it definitely is starting to show signs of bricking and the slight orange hue of a maturing Barolo. Big, earthy, and fuller bodied with restrained floral rose notes, expresso, dark dried cherry, asphalt, brambles, and some stoney minerality. Slightly austere, dry, and very structured ending in a long finish. Improved from the bottle enjoyed 4-1/2 years ago.
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Quite a complex and classic Barolo nose. Very good and long on the palate, but it is a bit dry and harsh. Lacks a bit of elegance as well. I was surprised with how young it seems. No rush to drink up, I'm my view.
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Quick note: Rich dark fruit predominant, with undertones of red cherry and red flowers. Great balance of complex fruit, good acidity, Asian spices and subtle smokiness. Good stuff and in a good spot now.
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Viscous, deep garnet with some orange coloration around edges. Really nice tar, earth and floral nose. Cherry, spice flavors with vanilla notes. Soft, dry with moderate length finish and acidity. My guess is this wine is nearing its peak. Decanted for two+ hours.
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Coravin...2 pours...nose of cherries, rose and tar. Taste: Leather, dark cherries, still reasonable tannins present. Finish: Medium with a decent amount of astringency. 88
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Popped and poured, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Light to medium expressiveness, tar, roses, cherry, and black licorice. Palate: Medium bodied, red licorice, cherry, leather, and spice - still has a big tannic grip in the back-end. Finish: Medium length dominated by leather and cherry.
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Light to medium red, pale red at the edge. Developed nose with partially dried red berries, a touch rose petals, hints of decaying leaves and barnyard aromas (stronger initially), some mint, hints of tar, and some oak barrel notes. The nose is really classic! Medium bodied, sweetish red berries, some bitterness, hints of spice and mint, good acidity, medium+ tannin with rather adstringent finish. The palate is not quite at the same level as the nose, and indicates that it could benefit from a few more years in the cellar.
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significantly less developed than my last bottle 2 years ago - cork was much denser and sealed very well. if I had known I'd have let it sleep longer. awkward middle ground between young and resolved, still a steal for the $20 I paid.
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First had this wine in a nice Italian steakhouse about 5 years ago, and subsequently added a few bottles to the cellar as we were quite impressed. Down to the last bottle, and this one took a while to open up but did finally show good black fruit structure about an hour in. Tannins are still very present, with some palate undertones of tar and spice. A nice Borolo for the price, but seems it is getting to be the time to drink up as it does not weigh nearly as impactful as it has in the past.
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Yep, a nice surprise from big operation Fontanafredda. This middle-of-the-road barolo - that initially was very promising but two years ago showed the typical signs of drying out - now comes with a smoother attack, has put on some well-needed weight and also improved in clarity with a gain in tactile tannic definition and a dry, salty minerality that shines through the sweet cola-spicy oak. Still youthful, this 01' now seems able to cruise for at least another three to five years in the cellar.
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Was planning on holding onto this longer but I just couldn't stay away. On a cold, rainy autumn morning I had a craving for nebbiolo and this jumped out of the cellar at me. A decent amount of rim variation, starting at garnet and continuing to a red brick color. Herbal, soy, some funk, tea leaves, strawberry nose. Actually smells like thanksgiving morning with a turkey with herbed stuffing and a berry pie in the oven. Flavors carry to the palate with a distinctly soy , herb finish. Considerable but fine grained tannins. Opened with brunch on my day off and paired extremely well with egg scramble topped with peppered bacon and shaved aged gouda. I am loving this. Lets see how this fares with gnocci in red sauce for dinner tonight.
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Very rustic in both color (dark with some bricking) and on the nose. I wasn't getting the normal floral aromas, it was king of funky. The taste was more like what I would expect. Very big flavors of cherries and strawberries. Good transition from the mid-palate to a dry finish. Still has plenty of time left and perhaps the nose will come to life. Right now, not the most complex Barolo but for the price, it is well worth it.
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What an improvement from the last bottle I had about 1 year ago. After having this one, I'm convinced the previous bottle was slightly oxidized, evidneced by both the aged color and aromatics. This was darker, with no bricking, and no oxidized notes. Lots of sour cherry, earthy, floral notes. Tannins were still quite present on the long, drying finish. Drinking very well right now, and was great on the second day as well. This was a deal @$20 for sure....
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Consumed over 2 days, note from day 2. Nose: Cherry and typical Barolo scents of tar and roses, medium expressiveness Palate: Sour cherry,tannic grip in backend - much lessened on day 2 - with earth and minerals. Finish: Medium length, dominated by rusty earthiness and sour cherry.
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2 hour decant. nose is rather closed but a mild earthy funk followed by cherries still comes through. On the palate, there is still plenty of dark fruit on the palate. the tannins are mild and chewy but still present. long finish and enjoyable wine, even if it isn't what I would call a typical barolo.
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Let down. Completely uncorrect varietally. Color is a deep opaque red, almost Shiraz-like. Nose is Rhone funky. Palate has a stiff wall of tannins, covering some slight sour cherry. A bit of a bruised apple note on the nose makes me think there may be some mild oxidization at work, so i'm not scoring.
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beautiful nose of red cherries, strawberries, pencil shavings, perfumed / aromatic, slightly smokey, hint of coffee..oh so expressive yet subtle! flavours of generous red cherries and strawberries, slightly savoury, powdery mellow tannins, some coffee, cedar, good length, yummy!
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This was in my wheelhouse, some nice nebbiolo characteristic, aged perfectly, yet even after being open for hours, it was bone dry with great structure.
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Opened thinking it would be a good pairing for white bean soup with duck confit. Great match as this is definitely a food wine. Color shows age with some rust bricking on the edges. Not a whole lot going on aromatically and the palate is dominated by earthy flavors with some red fruit in the background. On day 2, some nice cocoa and focused pure cherries did show, but still nothing to get excited about. Serviceable for the price, but better Italian values out there (88).
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Really enjoyed this barolo but it wasn't stellar. Tannins were definitely present but not overwhelming. The fruit was on the light side with vibrant acidity and a light touch of soil and minerals.
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Crimson color with bricking toward the edges. Rustic, earthy nose of dried leaves, black tea and dried cherries. Not a ton of fruit on the palate but some nice plum and tart cherry flavors coming through along with more earthy mushroom driven flavors. Nice acidity made this a great food wine and the price point made it a strong buy. Finish was short though. This is perfect barolo to drink with pizza when you don't want to open something more expensive.
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Decanted for about 90 minutes and drank over several hours. Very light color, noticeable bricking. Well balanced, dominated by tobacco with some green veggies, underneath which lurks some cherry and cranberries. Finish was very dry without food, but paired with lamb chops, it worked great with the fat in the meat.
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Light crimson in color, somewhere between a pinot noir and a cabernet, with considerable bricking along the rim. On the nose, a strong suggestion of tomato rides in front of plums and cherries. Early on, there is a bit of barnyard funk. After some air time, the funk blows off and is replaced by anise seed. On the palate, not much flavor initially - in fact, almost nothing at all until the mid-palate. At that point, there is a good base of earth, tree bark, and some stewed tomato. Very little fruit, but there is some black currant, cherry, and blueberry in the background. There are also good notes of allspice and vanilla. The flavors in this wine are subtle, but it is very complex and interesting. The finish is contrastingly substantial, with big, mouth-drying tannins and medium to good length. Because of the finish, this really needs balancing fatty foods. I had this with charcoal-grilled New York steak, which was a perfect pairing. The structure makes me think there is plenty of time left in this wine. A couple friends of mine did not care for this, so I was expecting not to like it, but I ended up thinking this was a very good bottle. At $20, I wish I had bought more.
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See previous note. Still a very austere profile, but enjoyable. Great pairing with baked ziti and sausage. I want to say it's in slight dumb phase, but I also don't see the wine going much of anywhere. I'll hold on to the last bottle for 6-12 months to find out.
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Decanted about 1.5 hours, lot of sediment. Light ruby, showing some orange/coppery hue signs of age. Initially I was getting what I thought were some oxidized notes from this one, along with sour cherry and some funky earthy notes. By the end of the bottle this was coming around some more, less oxidized notes, but never turned into anything special.. a bit too sour. Was ok, can't complain for the $20 price tag, but perhaps I can see why this was blown out now.. will hold one bottle for a few more years to see how it progresses, and will drink the other sooner rather than later.
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Began to come around at the 3 hour decant mark. I have heard that Barolo shuts down drastically and I think this may be in that stage now. Very tannic, somewhat sour, yet I am enjoying it's austerity. Getting leather, green tea, some cherry and other berries, and fall leaves. Not sure how long Barolo normally shuts down for, but I would like to try the next bottle in a few years, say around 2013-2014. Maybe not for most palates, but for me it is a 91. Surprisingly nice with a spice rubbed ribeye.
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Get a lot of Fakish cherry, almost like nail polish on the inital, a little disjoined and dry despite only being a 2001. No midpalate to speak off, seems to end awkwardly. If you ask for a number I would say 84/100, had much better Barolo’s these seem like a half-ass effort, needs a severe selection, perhaps less oak as well
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Popped & decanted. Really disappointed with this Barolo. Some notes of camphor and fruit from the decanter but they disappear in the glass. Tannins are still huge, but nothing underneath. After some sourness on the mid-palate the wine just fades. After the tannins start to fall out with age I do not believe there will be anything else. Very little body, depth, or structure underneath it all. Bought 3, drank 2 and gave my last bottle away. The $20 / bottle price tag from CW is the saving grace but only because I am glad I did not pay more.
Style & Quality: C
Value: B
Overall: low C+
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Deep ruby highlights with a nice nose of vanilla and spices. A soft, full-bodied, velvety and well balanced wine. Very enoyable, lasting finish. Decanted for three hours before serving; didn't fully open until after five hours. Should age well.
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If there was ever a food-friendly wine, this is it. Nice and mellow, good, fresh acidity, and tannins that are still lively but not overwhelming. Drinking very well, but I imagine a couple more years wouldn't hurt in the least.
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Solid bottle. kind of muted. Maybe it is shut down a little? Or maybe its just not my style. Very Good, just not sure I'd ever grab for this in the future over any of my Cali wines
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Still tight after 2 hours in decanter, this is a big boy, not huge on fruit but definitely full bodied. Nose of Elderberry and lumber. Notes of lead and stone and tar. Little saddle leather and mushroom. Still tannic. Most noteworthy this is the big time acidity, really acidic but in a way that I love, grip, focus, and length. Just a weak on the fruit, should be more pure. Also a bit harsh, like cheap Balsamic vinegar. Nice with sheep Gouda.
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Popped and poured, consumed over 6 hours. Nose: It literally smells like cherry juice, way in the back there is a floral component - rose petals. Palate: Medium bodied, well balanced, dominated by cherry (surprise!) with a little tannic grip. Finish: Very short - a kind of where did it go sensation as I expected quite a bit more with the expressive nose and flavorful palate. Expanded my palate this evening as I've never had anything quite like this. Overall a simplistic wine that I still found very interesting.
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Huge Tannins. This one needed time to breath. I tried to let it decant but could'nt stay away from it. I stole this wine for $20.00 I wish I had bought a case. I will take y time with the next one and write more notes
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Seems shut down right now. Impressions are mostly textural and are fine, if not great: acid and tannins are all in balance, with some roundness to the wine. Finish is the only aroma / flavor I notice, and appears to be complex if short. Will be interesting to drink this when this opens up. I just have no idea when that will be.
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Crushed flowers, plum, dried cherry character and a hint of cedar. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins that follow through to a fruity palate. Round and caressing. Give it about 1 hour to breath. - JD91 (Paired with wild mushroom w/ red wine risotto)
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1st time drinking Barolo - lots of cherry fruit balanced by leather and tar - perfect balance and acidity. paired with beef burgundy, terrific pairing. drinks nicely now, but will surely gain complexity. 90+; phenomenal QPR.
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Brownish bricking on edges. Lots of earth and dried red fruit on the nose with hint of herb. Lacks a bit of concentration on the palate, but nice complexity with more oak and leather than fruit. Tannins seem to have settled but still a bit chalky. Acid comes full force making this a great food wine. Finish was bitter and quick at first but improved with time in the decanter. My first Barolo so don't have much to go on, but seems like a solid entry level especially at $20. Maybe a bit shut down so hopefully improves with some time.
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No formal notes taken. Had a brownish hue which usually indicates age but on the palate seemed like it still had a ways to go. Overall, a solid food wine.
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Earth and leather on the nose. Very interesting and complex wine. A great deal of pinot-like earth up front, backs away a bit on the mid-palate, but then finishes strong with spices and cherries.
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Notes of tar, burnt wood, and flowers give way to dusty, dried cherries, herbs, and almonds in a grippy, medium-bodied package. A bit angular and lacking in concentration, but a pleasant, affordable, and obviously infantile Barolo. We'll see how the fruit holds up as the tannins fall away. By Barolo standards, a QPR.
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Deep garnet with a hint of copper at the rim. Splash decanted and swirled a few minutes. Young and tight, as expected, but I bought a bunch at Binny's for $20 and I have been itching to try one.
Earthy, spicy, and floral in the glass. Black cherries and rapsberries, dusty tannins, and nice acidity. It was nice with grilled beef tenderloin. Well balanced, but it is hard to tell how complex it will become since it is fairly closed up. I would guess this will become a much better wine a few years from now. I am glad to have more.
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Complex nose with a lot to find as you swirl the glass: tar, liquorice, plum, whalnut, almond, vanilla, raspberries, flowers, dried herbs, burnt notes and a variety of spices (especially nutmeg). Intense, rounded, really enjoyable taste with stylish acidity and good length. Give it at least an hour in the carafe to get what it's got. Will keep for several years.
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Very open for business although it opened up even more in the decanter. Big lovely nose of cherries, roses, violets, vanilla. Nice acidity and long finish. Better than expected, will buy more.
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Zepplan opened this at his home after a CWM dinner last weekend. This is Fontanafredda's regular Barolo bottling. This bottle was on par with the 1996 and 1997 vintages of this wine which I have had many times. A little youthful but drinking well. Aromas of forest floor and cherries. Some notes of mocha and red fruit. medium bodied. 89-90 points.
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Color shows a tinge of mature orange. Aromas of tar and gravel with hints of roses and red fruits. Palate shows plenty of acid and tannins; balance is fine. Finish is nice. Everything is a bit simple, but I'm guessing it'll age well. At $20 on sale, I'd say this is a good deal, and though I bought three, I'm considering buying a few more.
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11/20/2023 - Chapel Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wonderfully age Barolo cane out of the bottle as if it was only 5 years old, not 22. A bit below room temp but as it got oxygenated it unwound from its tannins. Paired acceptable with lamb and mushrooms as well as a variety of cheeses. Towards the end of a 2 +hour meal it’s age began to be noticed. It’s not spoiled nor past it’s peak but still a hint of its sge becsje apparent. I’d think it’s great to drink now and for another 5+ years IF cellared properly
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8/27/2023 - gregoryheller Likes this wine: 87 Points
Still drinking wonderfully. I do not think this wine passed its peak.
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10/24/2022 - wineoracle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light Garnet color that seemed to darken quickly after pouring. Leather and sour cherry nose. Very little fruit on the palate but presence of cherry notes and stiff tannins. Was very enjoyable with a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana and impossible to identify as a 21 year old wine. Surprisingly good
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11/27/2019 - JackLynch00@gmail.com wrote: 82 Points
Alas, past its prime. Very raisiny now.
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9/20/2019 - Ugl72! Likes this wine: 75 Points
Colour: ruby dark brownish red
Nose: dark fruit, some cherry, hints of leather, some vanilla
Taste: still acid, tannins have become mellow but are still very present, amazingly astringent. Really.
Was stored at 18 degree, 65 % Hygro, no traveling
Overmatured, passed his best age.
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11/24/2018 - Bridgetsplee wrote: 76 Points
Red ruby Color
Very elegant
Bright red fruits
Minimal tannis
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2/27/2018 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Black licorice nose; Sweet; Dark; Tastes of age; Full; A bit of prune/plum; Solid for its style
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2/18/2018 - ESTEELE90 wrote:
Blind tasting. Brief note. This was a well traveled bottle as noted by the person who brought it. Pnp. Shows pruney/raisiny notes. Palate is cooked and over the hill tasting very stewed.
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2/17/2018 - fred o. wrote:
+bricking. Nose lightly stewed fruits. Palate caramel, baking spice -- cinnamon, not much fruit. Was told that this was kept in cool storage all these years though well-traveled, perhaps not the best representative bottle but still seems over-mature. 88 pts
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1/29/2017 - bablues wrote: 89 Points
A little better than last tried in 2011 with much more balance. No funk on the nose but much aromatics coming through at all. Tannins have mellowed but there is still a bitterness on the finish that is hard to get by. The cherries are still there and overall a nice drinking Barolo with plenty of time left although I don't see it improving much in the coming years.
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11/27/2016 - niloc36 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wind is definitely in a good spot now, and I would not advise keeping it for much longer. The tannins are fully resolved and it is very smooth, with a very pleasant Nebbiolo tar and roses flavors, and a light to medium mouth feel. Not many secondary flavors but very pure Nebbiolo sensations.
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5/16/2016 - ersmith Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice brickish color and subtle tannins. Really in a good spot right now. Quick Venturi into the decanter and it was ready to go.
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12/2/2015 - John Nezlek wrote: 90 Points
First and most important, this wine needs to breathe before you drink it. I did not decant (I was not certain how it would react), but I did open it just after noon in preparation for an early dinner. At opening, it was a little tart, but there were hints that something was underneath all this. After about 5 hours or so (just sitting uncorked), the wine was singing. Not rich to me, but sharp and crisp with cherry flavors. My bottle did not show any strong signs of age, although I do no think it will change all that much over the next few years. There is the possibility that extended aging (another 10 years) might move it into the zone of "tertiary" flavors, like an old Bordeaux, but I am not certain I will wait that long for this bottle. I might just for the hell of it.
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10/28/2015 - Amsonia424 wrote:
About a month ago opened two of these, one was great, the other was drinkable, but not very good, definitely off. Opened another tonite, unfortunately, also "off", we didn't drink, just left it in the restaurant. Two more bottles in the cellar...drink up!
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5/24/2015 - KSWinegeek wrote: 90 Points
This wine is peaking. Time to drink remaining bottles.
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11/23/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Made in a more classic style; after thirteen years it definitely is starting to show signs of bricking and the slight orange hue of a maturing Barolo. Big, earthy, and fuller bodied with restrained floral rose notes, expresso, dark dried cherry, asphalt, brambles, and some stoney minerality. Slightly austere, dry, and very structured ending in a long finish. Improved from the bottle enjoyed 4-1/2 years ago.
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10/13/2014 - mmh wrote: 88 Points
Quite a complex and classic Barolo nose. Very good and long on the palate, but it is a bit dry and harsh. Lacks a bit of elegance as well. I was surprised with how young it seems. No rush to drink up, I'm my view.
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8/24/2014 - KSWinegeek wrote: 89 Points
Mature barolo.
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3/8/2014 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 91 Points
Quick note: Rich dark fruit predominant, with undertones of red cherry and red flowers. Great balance of complex fruit, good acidity, Asian spices and subtle smokiness. Good stuff and in a good spot now.
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1/25/2014 - KSWinegeek wrote: 89 Points
Viscous, deep garnet with some orange coloration around edges. Really nice tar, earth and floral nose. Cherry, spice flavors with vanilla notes. Soft, dry with moderate length finish and acidity. My guess is this wine is nearing its peak. Decanted for two+ hours.
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1/6/2014 - Matthew B wrote: 88 Points
Coravin...2 pours...nose of cherries, rose and tar. Taste: Leather, dark cherries, still reasonable tannins present. Finish: Medium with a decent amount of astringency. 88
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10/5/2013 - rs Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthy and dusty (stones), roses, red berries and leather. Quite Dry, medium+ finish with nice tannins. Won't get any better.
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1/19/2013 - prasm wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured, consumed over 4 hours. Nose: Light to medium expressiveness, tar, roses, cherry, and black licorice. Palate: Medium bodied, red licorice, cherry, leather, and spice - still has a big tannic grip in the back-end. Finish: Medium length dominated by leather and cherry.
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12/15/2012 - Vintomas wrote: 89 Points
Light to medium red, pale red at the edge. Developed nose with partially dried red berries, a touch rose petals, hints of decaying leaves and barnyard aromas (stronger initially), some mint, hints of tar, and some oak barrel notes. The nose is really classic! Medium bodied, sweetish red berries, some bitterness, hints of spice and mint, good acidity, medium+ tannin with rather adstringent finish. The palate is not quite at the same level as the nose, and indicates that it could benefit from a few more years in the cellar.
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11/30/2012 - mtaczak wrote: 89 Points
significantly less developed than my last bottle 2 years ago - cork was much denser and sealed very well. if I had known I'd have let it sleep longer. awkward middle ground between young and resolved, still a steal for the $20 I paid.
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5/20/2012 - SEP wrote: 89 Points
First had this wine in a nice Italian steakhouse about 5 years ago, and subsequently added a few bottles to the cellar as we were quite impressed. Down to the last bottle, and this one took a while to open up but did finally show good black fruit structure about an hour in. Tannins are still very present, with some palate undertones of tar and spice. A nice Borolo for the price, but seems it is getting to be the time to drink up as it does not weigh nearly as impactful as it has in the past.
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3/4/2012 - Finare Vinare wrote: 90 Points
Yep, a nice surprise from big operation Fontanafredda. This middle-of-the-road barolo - that initially was very promising but two years ago showed the typical signs of drying out - now comes with a smoother attack, has put on some well-needed weight and also improved in clarity with a gain in tactile tannic definition and a dry, salty minerality that shines through the sweet cola-spicy oak. Still youthful, this 01' now seems able to cruise for at least another three to five years in the cellar.
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1/23/2012 - Grape_ape wrote: 87 Points
more reminiscent of my first bottle, than the superior second bottle I had. Cork stained 2/3's up. Faintly oxidixed smelling - see 4/26/2010 note
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12/12/2011 - Sakas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Was planning on holding onto this longer but I just couldn't stay away. On a cold, rainy autumn morning I had a craving for nebbiolo and this jumped out of the cellar at me. A decent amount of rim variation, starting at garnet and continuing to a red brick color. Herbal, soy, some funk, tea leaves, strawberry nose. Actually smells like thanksgiving morning with a turkey with herbed stuffing and a berry pie in the oven. Flavors carry to the palate with a distinctly soy , herb finish. Considerable but fine grained tannins. Opened with brunch on my day off and paired extremely well with egg scramble topped with peppered bacon and shaved aged gouda. I am loving this. Lets see how this fares with gnocci in red sauce for dinner tonight.
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9/24/2011 - prof b wrote:
decent wine for $20, if it didn't claim to be barolo.
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7/29/2011 - redman77 wrote: 90 Points
paired very nicely with Tuscan Chicken dinner
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6/24/2011 - Sijan wrote: 90 Points
Delicious
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6/21/2011 - Rich S wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous bottle in all respects. Wish I would have bought a few more at the sale price.
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5/6/2011 - bablues wrote: 87 Points
Very rustic in both color (dark with some bricking) and on the nose. I wasn't getting the normal floral aromas, it was king of funky. The taste was more like what I would expect. Very big flavors of cherries and strawberries. Good transition from the mid-palate to a dry finish. Still has plenty of time left and perhaps the nose will come to life. Right now, not the most complex Barolo but for the price, it is well worth it.
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4/18/2011 - Grape_ape wrote: 90 Points
What an improvement from the last bottle I had about 1 year ago. After having this one, I'm convinced the previous bottle was slightly oxidized, evidneced by both the aged color and aromatics. This was darker, with no bricking, and no oxidized notes. Lots of sour cherry, earthy, floral notes. Tannins were still quite present on the long, drying finish. Drinking very well right now, and was great on the second day as well. This was a deal @$20 for sure....
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2/12/2011 - prasm wrote: 90 Points
Consumed over 2 days, note from day 2. Nose: Cherry and typical Barolo scents of tar and roses, medium expressiveness
Palate: Sour cherry,tannic grip in backend - much lessened on day 2 - with earth and minerals. Finish: Medium length, dominated by rusty earthiness and sour cherry.
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2/10/2011 - The Tourist wrote: 91 Points
This is a really nice easy drinking Borolo after 2 hours.... bargin!!!!!!!! wish I bought a case
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1/21/2011 - prof b Likes this wine: 88 Points
2 hour decant. nose is rather closed but a mild earthy funk followed by cherries still comes through. On the palate, there is still plenty of dark fruit on the palate. the tannins are mild and chewy but still present. long finish and enjoyable wine, even if it isn't what I would call a typical barolo.
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12/18/2010 - AllRed wrote:
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Joe P's): Deep garnet color. Reticent, no aromas to speak of. Red fruit tones on the palate.
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12/12/2010 - CaliCab wrote:
Let down. Completely uncorrect varietally. Color is a deep opaque red, almost Shiraz-like. Nose is Rhone funky. Palate has a stiff wall of tannins, covering some slight sour cherry. A bit of a bruised apple note on the nose makes me think there may be some mild oxidization at work, so i'm not scoring.
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12/3/2010 - bleucheesecake wrote: 91 Points
beautiful nose of red cherries, strawberries, pencil shavings, perfumed / aromatic, slightly smokey, hint of coffee..oh so expressive yet subtle! flavours of generous red cherries and strawberries, slightly savoury, powdery mellow tannins, some coffee, cedar, good length, yummy!
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11/25/2010 - JJKinch wrote: 89 Points
Taste of cherry with some tar, earth - still very tannic. But some nice flavor showing through - decent finish. Really enjoyable.
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11/13/2010 - wirelesswine wrote: 91 Points
This was in my wheelhouse, some nice nebbiolo characteristic, aged perfectly, yet even after being open for hours, it was bone dry with great structure.
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11/3/2010 - pete s. wrote:
Opened thinking it would be a good pairing for white bean soup with duck confit. Great match as this is definitely a food wine. Color shows age with some rust bricking on the edges. Not a whole lot going on aromatically and the palate is dominated by earthy flavors with some red fruit in the background. On day 2, some nice cocoa and focused pure cherries did show, but still nothing to get excited about. Serviceable for the price, but better Italian values out there (88).
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11/2/2010 - Sijan wrote: 89 Points
Very good barolo with dark cherry notes. Still has plenty of tannins, mostly on the finish. Paired well with roasted pork and vegetables.
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10/9/2010 - redrhonewine wrote: 87 Points
Really enjoyed this barolo but it wasn't stellar. Tannins were definitely present but not overwhelming. The fruit was on the light side with vibrant acidity and a light touch of soil and minerals.
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7/9/2010 - Rich S wrote: 90 Points
Crimson color with bricking toward the edges. Rustic, earthy nose of dried leaves, black tea and dried cherries. Not a ton of fruit on the palate but some nice plum and tart cherry flavors coming through along with more earthy mushroom driven flavors. Nice acidity made this a great food wine and the price point made it a strong buy. Finish was short though. This is perfect barolo to drink with pizza when you don't want to open something more expensive.
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7/7/2010 - Rgioviano wrote: 91 Points
Smooth and a bit strong, but very good. Drank with Nora :^)
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7/4/2010 - Frederyck wrote: flawed
Somewhat fizzy which was a severe disappointment. It was still decent, but it had none of the subtleties we were expecting.
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6/21/2010 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Nose of blackberry and tar. Great balanced fruit with a wonderful long mouthfeel and finish. Very nice, balanced bottle of Barolo.
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5/23/2010 - prof b wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for three hours, notes consistent with previous. Nice body and lasting finish. Dinner party, no formal notes taken.
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5/16/2010 - jpdel wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for about 90 minutes and drank over several hours. Very light color, noticeable bricking. Well balanced, dominated by tobacco with some green veggies, underneath which lurks some cherry and cranberries. Finish was very dry without food, but paired with lamb chops, it worked great with the fat in the meat.
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5/8/2010 - Phredd Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light crimson in color, somewhere between a pinot noir and a cabernet, with considerable bricking along the rim. On the nose, a strong suggestion of tomato rides in front of plums and cherries. Early on, there is a bit of barnyard funk. After some air time, the funk blows off and is replaced by anise seed. On the palate, not much flavor initially - in fact, almost nothing at all until the mid-palate. At that point, there is a good base of earth, tree bark, and some stewed tomato. Very little fruit, but there is some black currant, cherry, and blueberry in the background. There are also good notes of allspice and vanilla. The flavors in this wine are subtle, but it is very complex and interesting. The finish is contrastingly substantial, with big, mouth-drying tannins and medium to good length. Because of the finish, this really needs balancing fatty foods. I had this with charcoal-grilled New York steak, which was a perfect pairing. The structure makes me think there is plenty of time left in this wine. A couple friends of mine did not care for this, so I was expecting not to like it, but I ended up thinking this was a very good bottle. At $20, I wish I had bought more.
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4/29/2010 - pete s. wrote: 88 Points
See previous note. Still a very austere profile, but enjoyable. Great pairing with baked ziti and sausage. I want to say it's in slight dumb phase, but I also don't see the wine going much of anywhere. I'll hold on to the last bottle for 6-12 months to find out.
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4/26/2010 - Grape_ape wrote: 87 Points
Decanted about 1.5 hours, lot of sediment. Light ruby, showing some orange/coppery hue signs of age. Initially I was getting what I thought were some oxidized notes from this one, along with sour cherry and some funky earthy notes. By the end of the bottle this was coming around some more, less oxidized notes, but never turned into anything special.. a bit too sour. Was ok, can't complain for the $20 price tag, but perhaps I can see why this was blown out now.. will hold one bottle for a few more years to see how it progresses, and will drink the other sooner rather than later.
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4/20/2010 - Sakas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Began to come around at the 3 hour decant mark. I have heard that Barolo shuts down drastically and I think this may be in that stage now. Very tannic, somewhat sour, yet I am enjoying it's austerity. Getting leather, green tea, some cherry and other berries, and fall leaves. Not sure how long Barolo normally shuts down for, but I would like to try the next bottle in a few years, say around 2013-2014. Maybe not for most palates, but for me it is a 91. Surprisingly nice with a spice rubbed ribeye.
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4/15/2010 - viking60 wrote: 84 Points
Get a lot of Fakish cherry, almost like nail polish on the inital, a little disjoined and dry despite only being a 2001. No midpalate to speak off, seems to end awkwardly. If you ask for a number I would say 84/100, had much better Barolo’s these seem like a half-ass effort, needs a severe selection, perhaps less oak as well
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4/10/2010 - WineKnurd wrote: 78 Points
Popped & decanted. Really disappointed with this Barolo. Some notes of camphor and fruit from the decanter but they disappear in the glass. Tannins are still huge, but nothing underneath. After some sourness on the mid-palate the wine just fades. After the tannins start to fall out with age I do not believe there will be anything else. Very little body, depth, or structure underneath it all. Bought 3, drank 2 and gave my last bottle away. The $20 / bottle price tag from CW is the saving grace but only because I am glad I did not pay more.
Style & Quality: C
Value: B
Overall: low C+
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4/9/2010 - iradub wrote:
Delicious. Decanted for 2 hours+
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3/28/2010 - rbb100 wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby highlights with a nice nose of vanilla and spices. A soft, full-bodied, velvety and well balanced wine. Very enoyable, lasting finish. Decanted for three hours before serving; didn't fully open until after five hours. Should age well.
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3/22/2010 - btanz57 wrote: 92 Points
very solid effort.
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3/21/2010 - mtaczak wrote: 91 Points
If there was ever a food-friendly wine, this is it. Nice and mellow, good, fresh acidity, and tannins that are still lively but not overwhelming. Drinking very well, but I imagine a couple more years wouldn't hurt in the least.
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3/18/2010 - pkbackman wrote: 88 Points
Solid bottle. kind of muted. Maybe it is shut down a little? Or maybe its just not my style. Very Good, just not sure I'd ever grab for this in the future over any of my Cali wines
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3/7/2010 - rabs wrote: 90 Points
Ruby/brick red. Rich aroma with many flavors including cherry and leather. Smooth and balanced. High value for money.
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3/7/2010 - Joelene wrote: 91 Points
Still tight after 2 hours in decanter, this is a big boy, not huge on fruit but definitely full bodied. Nose of Elderberry and lumber. Notes of lead and stone and tar. Little saddle leather and mushroom. Still tannic. Most noteworthy this is the big time acidity, really acidic but in a way that I love, grip, focus, and length. Just a weak on the fruit, should be more pure. Also a bit harsh, like cheap Balsamic vinegar. Nice with sheep Gouda.
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3/6/2010 - prasm wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured, consumed over 6 hours. Nose: It literally smells like cherry juice, way in the back there is a floral component - rose petals. Palate: Medium bodied, well balanced, dominated by cherry (surprise!) with a little tannic grip. Finish: Very short - a kind of where did it go sensation as I expected quite a bit more with the expressive nose and flavorful palate. Expanded my palate this evening as I've never had anything quite like this. Overall a simplistic wine that I still found very interesting.
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3/5/2010 - Green Pea wrote: 92 Points
Huge Tannins. This one needed time to breath. I tried to let it decant but could'nt stay away from it. I stole this wine for $20.00 I wish I had bought a case. I will take y time with the next one and write more notes
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2/26/2010 - prof b wrote:
Quality entry level Barolo. Needs 1-2 hours in the decanter to completely open up. Didn't keep any specific notes.
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2/22/2010 - collin wrote:
Seems shut down right now. Impressions are mostly textural and are fine, if not great: acid and tannins are all in balance, with some roundness to the wine. Finish is the only aroma / flavor I notice, and appears to be complex if short. Will be interesting to drink this when this opens up. I just have no idea when that will be.
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2/21/2010 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 91 Points
Crushed flowers, plum, dried cherry character and a hint of cedar. Full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins that follow through to a fruity palate. Round and caressing. Give it about 1 hour to breath. - JD91
(Paired with wild mushroom w/ red wine risotto)
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2/20/2010 - finewein wrote: 91 Points
1st time drinking Barolo - lots of cherry fruit balanced by leather and tar - perfect balance and acidity. paired with beef burgundy, terrific pairing. drinks nicely now, but will surely gain complexity. 90+; phenomenal QPR.
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2/19/2010 - carnyc wrote:
Showed classic Barolo traits but a little austere at this stage. Probably should've waited a bit longer before opening.
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2/18/2010 - pete s. wrote: 89 Points
Brownish bricking on edges. Lots of earth and dried red fruit on the nose with hint of herb. Lacks a bit of concentration on the palate, but nice complexity with more oak and leather than fruit. Tannins seem to have settled but still a bit chalky. Acid comes full force making this a great food wine. Finish was bitter and quick at first but improved with time in the decanter. My first Barolo so don't have much to go on, but seems like a solid entry level especially at $20. Maybe a bit shut down so hopefully improves with some time.
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10/7/2008 - junglejuice wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes taken. Had a brownish hue which usually indicates age but on the palate seemed like it still had a ways to go. Overall, a solid food wine.
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10/7/2008 - Wrighty wrote: 90 Points
Dried cherries and herbs nose. Fragrant tar and smokey wood. Structured finish.
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9/28/2008 - Pegge wrote: 90 Points
Kraftfull i typisk Serralungastil. Inte särskilt druvtypisk, och med mycket mörka bär. God men inte särskilt finessrik.
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8/5/2008 - Kevin_C wrote: 91 Points
No detailed notes. Pinot-like. Restrained nose. Firm tannins through the finish. Paired well with food.
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6/9/2008 - Matt T wrote: 90 Points
Earth and leather on the nose. Very interesting and complex wine. A great deal of pinot-like earth up front, backs away a bit on the mid-palate, but then finishes strong with spices and cherries.
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10/3/2007 - Moorese wrote: 88 Points
Notes of tar, burnt wood, and flowers give way to dusty, dried cherries, herbs, and almonds in a grippy, medium-bodied package. A bit angular and lacking in concentration, but a pleasant, affordable, and obviously infantile Barolo. We'll see how the fruit holds up as the tannins fall away. By Barolo standards, a QPR.
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6/19/2007 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:
Deep garnet with a hint of copper at the rim. Splash decanted and swirled a few minutes. Young and tight, as expected, but I bought a bunch at Binny's for $20 and I have been itching to try one.
Earthy, spicy, and floral in the glass. Black cherries and rapsberries, dusty tannins, and nice acidity. It was nice with grilled beef tenderloin. Well balanced, but it is hard to tell how complex it will become since it is fairly closed up. I would guess this will become a much better wine a few years from now. I am glad to have more.
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5/26/2007 - Finare Vinare wrote: 91 Points
Complex nose with a lot to find as you swirl the glass: tar, liquorice, plum, whalnut, almond, vanilla, raspberries, flowers, dried herbs, burnt notes and a variety of spices (especially nutmeg). Intense, rounded, really enjoyable taste with stylish acidity and good length. Give it at least an hour in the carafe to get what it's got. Will keep for several years.
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4/8/2007 - Northern wrote: 91 Points
Very open for business although it opened up even more in the decanter. Big lovely nose of cherries, roses, violets, vanilla. Nice acidity and long finish. Better than expected, will buy more.
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4/1/2007 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
dermoven'koe vino
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3/28/2007 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
Zepplan opened this at his home after a CWM dinner last weekend. This is Fontanafredda's regular Barolo bottling. This bottle was on par with the 1996 and 1997 vintages of this wine which I have had many times. A little youthful but drinking well. Aromas of forest floor and cherries. Some notes of mocha and red fruit. medium bodied. 89-90 points.
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3/13/2007 - collin wrote:
Color shows a tinge of mature orange. Aromas of tar and gravel with hints of roses and red fruits. Palate shows plenty of acid and tannins; balance is fine. Finish is nice. Everything is a bit simple, but I'm guessing it'll age well. At $20 on sale, I'd say this is a good deal, and though I bought three, I'm considering buying a few more.
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1/18/2007 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Puckery; Makes your mouth shrivel up; Needs a lot of time
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