The Giacosa of course comes from a legendary series of wines, and this was certainly impressive, though still with more promise than performance on this occasion. Which is not to say that it was impressive. Deep and smoky on the nose, rich with aromas of stone, earth, black cherry, big botte, and ash, it was a joy to smell. On the palate it was rich, chewy, deep and powerful, with excellent persistence to medicinal, bitter cherry fruit. It was decidedly youthful and took a lot of air before the sweetness so typical of Giacosa emerged.
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Mostly Giacosa dinner (RPM Italian, Washington D.C.): Expressive nose displaying elegant red and black fruit, strawberry, raspberry, a hint of dry cherry, rose, licorice, soy, leather. Dark spices and mineral. There is a strong iron note that I associate with Giacosa’s Collina Rionda. Beautifully balanced, very finely layered clean subtle red and black fruit, cool and silky, medium acidity, strong iron mineral, and a long elegant sweet red and black fruit driven finish with strong iron at the end. This doesn’t display the intoxicating perfume that I found in the March example.
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Jamie's DC visit Barolo and Barbaresco: Perfectly mature sensual nose displaying elegant sweet red fruit, candied cherry, strawberry, dark cherry, floral perfume, light caramel, leather, tar, sweet spices, cumin, iron and limestone. Beautifully integrated palate, layers upon layers of subtle sweet red fruit, perfect balance and beautifully detailed, fluid and weightless, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long perfectly ripe red fruit driven finish with cumin and floral perfume at the end. It doesn’t posses the singular iron expression and focus of the 89 but this particular bottle is as compelling due to the display of incredible elegance and intoxicating floral perfume.
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Burgundy and Barolo dinner - Krug, Raveneau, Giacosa, Monfortino, Mugnier and etc. (Capital Grille, Tysons, VA): Expressive nose displaying concentrated sweet black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, rose, dark spices, caramel, leather, porcini, cumin and mineral. Excellent concentration, very finely layered ripe black fruit, sweet and rich but also showing good balance, medium acidity and mineral, and along ripe black fruit driven finish with caramel at the end. The fruit is darker and more youthful than the 90 Santo Stefano. It can easily improve for another decade or more.
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Nose has softening red currant fruit and distinct Italian spice. I always find these wines a little more tertiary with that sort of leather, fall leaves, tobacco, and spice cabinet sort of array. Very pretty in a unique way. Fruit is very soft on the palate but the tannin still grips which is maybe why I am less thrilled by Barolo than many. Stood up for several days and carefully decanted so the glasses were fresh and clean. A wonderful bottle of wine for sure, but I am more into the two Chave Hermitages alongside…
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11/7/2022 - Gregory Dal Piaz wrote: 95 Points
The Giacosa of course comes from a legendary series of wines, and this was certainly impressive, though still with more promise than performance on this occasion. Which is not to say that it was impressive. Deep and smoky on the nose, rich with aromas of stone, earth, black cherry, big botte, and ash, it was a joy to smell. On the palate it was rich, chewy, deep and powerful, with excellent persistence to medicinal, bitter cherry fruit. It was decidedly youthful and took a lot of air before the sweetness so typical of Giacosa emerged.
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7/28/2022 - dcwino wrote: 96 Points
Mostly Giacosa dinner (RPM Italian, Washington D.C.): Expressive nose displaying elegant red and black fruit, strawberry, raspberry, a hint of dry cherry, rose, licorice, soy, leather. Dark spices and mineral. There is a strong iron note that I associate with Giacosa’s Collina Rionda. Beautifully balanced, very finely layered clean subtle red and black fruit, cool and silky, medium acidity, strong iron mineral, and a long elegant sweet red and black fruit driven finish with strong iron at the end. This doesn’t display the intoxicating perfume that I found in the March example.
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3/17/2022 - dcwino wrote: 99 Points
Jamie's DC visit Barolo and Barbaresco: Perfectly mature sensual nose displaying elegant sweet red fruit, candied cherry, strawberry, dark cherry, floral perfume, light caramel, leather, tar, sweet spices, cumin, iron and limestone. Beautifully integrated palate, layers upon layers of subtle sweet red fruit, perfect balance and beautifully detailed, fluid and weightless, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a seamless long perfectly ripe red fruit driven finish with cumin and floral perfume at the end. It doesn’t posses the singular iron expression and focus of the 89 but this particular bottle is as compelling due to the display of incredible elegance and intoxicating floral perfume.
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9/30/2021 - dcwino wrote: 97 Points
Burgundy and Barolo dinner - Krug, Raveneau, Giacosa, Monfortino, Mugnier and etc. (Capital Grille, Tysons, VA): Expressive nose displaying concentrated sweet black fruit, blackberry, black cherry, rose, dark spices, caramel, leather, porcini, cumin and mineral. Excellent concentration, very finely layered ripe black fruit, sweet and rich but also showing good balance, medium acidity and mineral, and along ripe black fruit driven finish with caramel at the end. The fruit is darker and more youthful than the 90 Santo Stefano. It can easily improve for another decade or more.
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4/27/2021 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 94 Points
Nose has softening red currant fruit and distinct Italian spice. I always find these wines a little more tertiary with that sort of leather, fall leaves, tobacco, and spice cabinet sort of array. Very pretty in a unique way. Fruit is very soft on the palate but the tannin still grips which is maybe why I am less thrilled by Barolo than many. Stood up for several days and carefully decanted so the glasses were fresh and clean. A wonderful bottle of wine for sure, but I am more into the two Chave Hermitages alongside…
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