1964 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barbaresco Riserva

Community Tasting Notes (6) Median Score: 93 points

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  11/15/2022 - forceberry wrote: 97 Points

  13,5% alcohol.
  
  Luminous, quite translucent and still remarkably youthful cherry-red color with a brick-orange rim. The nose feels nuanced, somewhat restrained and slightly sweet-toned with attractive, layered aromas of dark fruits, some balsamic tones, a little bit of wizened red cherry, light floral nuances of dried roses, a hint of ethery VA, a touch of nutmeg and a whiff of espresso. The wine feels evolved, complex and quite concentrated on the palate with a full body and very intense flavors of wizened black cherries, some tar, a little bit of espresso, light meaty notes of savory umami, a hint of dried cranberry and a touch of old leather. Despite its age of almost 60 years, the wine still retains remarkable structure with its high acidity and still surprisingly ample, grippy and chewy tannins. The finish is complex, rather grippy and firm yet silky smooth with a rather evolved and very persistent aftertaste of wizened sour cherries, some balsamic VA, a little bit of ripe red plum, light meaty notes of umami, a hint of old leather and a touch of marmaladey red fruit.
  
  A fantastic old Barbaresco that seemed so much younger than any of us anticipated - especially after so many Borgogno Barbarescos that had been decade or two younger in age, yet still disappointingly way past their prime. Only the outrageous trio of three exceptional vintages - 1971, 1970 and 1964 - managed to show what Borgogno's Barbaresco Riservas can be at their best. This 1964 was unanimously thought to be the best of the three great vintages, but the 1970 and 1971 didn't need to feel ashamed next to this extraordinary wine - they all were everything one could expect from a fully mature Nebbiolo. This wine is at its peak right now, but even if it doesn't benefit from any additional aging, I don't feel it is going to be falling apart anytime soon. Drink or keep.

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  10/30/2022 - StainedGlass Does not like this wine:

  It was drinkable, but barely. Cloudy, brownish red, like a like tomato soup. The 1964 Barolo from the same producer was much better.

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  10/27/2022 - StainedGlass wrote: 89 Points

  Thought it was gone at first, but the varnish and tomato funk dissipated somewhat and this 58 year old wine was between the zone of good and gone. It’s always risky to try a wine this old, and it was intriguing, but the 1964 Barolo Riserva from the same producer was better.

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  5/14/2022 - AFM87 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Decanted about 90 mins prior to dinner. Nose was dominated by figs; palate had notes of fig, dates, balsamic. Paired perfectly with grilled leg of lamb

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  12/26/2021 - schan109 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Similar note. Bottle breathe for 1 hour. Full of cow pats.

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