1983 Plozza Valtellina Superiore - Grumello

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 92 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View forceberry's profile
  • Report Issue

  5/9/2022 - forceberry wrote: flawed

  No mention of ABV% in the label.
  
  Translucent and very aged syrupy-brown color with a rusty maroon hue. The nose feels very aged with tertiary aromas of raisins and beef jerky, some savory notes of hoi-sin or soy sauce, a little bit of meat stew, light sweet nuances of cherry marmalade, a hint of old leather and a touch of earth. The wine is dry, old and very evolved on the palate with a medium body and tertiary flavors of beef jerky and savory soy sauce, some oxidative nutty tones, a little bit of sweet raisiny fruit, light earthy nuances, a hint of cherry marmalade and a touch of cracking old leather. Typical of Nebbiolo, the wine feels quite high in acidity with moderately grippy tannins. The finish is dry, long and somewhat oxidative with moderate tannic grip and tertiary flavors of soy sauce and chopped nuts, some raisiny tones, a little bit of mushroomy funk, light earthy nuances and a hint of tobacco.
  
  Meh. Unlike the bottle I tasted 1,5 years ago, this was long past its peak. Still somewhat drinkable, mind you, but pretty much beyond all recognition. Only from the light color and still somewhat grippy tannins it was recognizable as a Nebbiolo, otherwise the wine was just too senescent to be fully appreciated. A major disappointment after a great bottle from the same lot. At just 14€ the bottles that are in great condition can be bargains, but with wines this old you are trying to find great bottles, not great wines. This time the gamble pay off.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View forceberry's profile
  • Report Issue

  8/15/2020 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  No mention of ABV% in the label.
  
  Luminous, quite pale and moderately evolved cranberry red color. Developed and attractive nose with still rather sweet-toned overall feel to it. Classic, fragrant aged Nebbiolo aromas of roses, some strawberry, a little bit of juicy red cherry, a light marmaladey notes of dark fruits and perhaps a lightest hint of diacetyl underneath. The wine is clean, medium-bodied and crunchy on the palate with bright flavors of ripe cranberries, some perfumed floral tones, a little bit of wizened red cherry, light notes of blood, sweet hints of wild strawberries and raspberries and a touch of medicinal herbs. The structure relies mostly on the high, incisive acidity as the tannins feel relatively soft and light. The finish is dry long and crunchy with nuanced flavors of cranberries, wild strawberries, some blood, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness, light floral notes of roses, a hint of tar and a tertiary touch of savory earth.
  
  A wonderfully poised, fresh and harmonious old Valtellina. Stylistically this is very crunchy, delicate and transparent for a Nebbiolo, coming across as even lighter than many wines of Alto Piemonte. Although well over 35 years old, the wine is still drinking fantastically. Most likely the wine is at its peak and has been there for some while, but there are no signs of the wine going downhill anytime soon. Won't benefit from further aging, but can be kept for some time more without any problems. A terrific food wine, but drinks really nicely on its own as well. Outstanding value at 14€.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.