2000 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

This bottle had been opened and allowed to breathe for 8 hours prior to drinking. It probably needed more. Ruby in color, slight browning. The nose has dried roses, slight tar, and cherries. There was also a slight oxidized/caramel quality to this. On the palate, this is very firm tannins. Fresh and dried cherries. Anise on the finish. Very traditional in style. Good balance. This needs food, pasta with a mushroom and cream sauce perhaps. I don't think it improves but a bit more cellaring or air wouldn't hurt. Drink over the next ten years.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2000

Current Price:

$250.00USD

1970 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage:

1970

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$200.00USD

This bottle was decanted for sediment about an hour prior to serving. This bottle was fresher than one opened about a year ago. It was purchased around 2009, and it is not clear if this is an original bottling or not. Light ruby in color, some browning, clear and bright. The nose is nice with cherries, tar and slight smoke. Perhaps a slight but of forest floor. Complex and deep with layers or some fruit but mostly tertiary notes. Cherries, slight gravel, forest floor and slight char. Good finish. This is certainly past prime and every bottle is different, but this bottle was just wh

1970 Pietro Conterno Barolo et Figli, Italy, Piedmont,

Vintage:

1970

Score:

Grade:

B+

I believe that Pietro Conterno is Giacomo Conterno's father. First time trying a wine with this label. It was double decanted a few hours prior to serving. Pale ruby with plenty of browning in color, clear although a bit muted. Despite all of the air it saw prior to pouring, this still improved and got more youthful (to a degree) in the glass. The nose is a bit nutty, but also has some dried cherries, slight mushrooms, and forest floor. There is a nice complexity. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is past prime but does offer up some interesting notes of earthiness, mushroom and dr

1958 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Riserva, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage:

1958

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$185.00USD

A birth year wine for me. Light ruby in color, clear and bright with a slight, slight browning. On the nose, there are fresh cherries, cola, slight tar and dried roses. Medium bodied. On the palate, the fresh cherry fruit comes thru. Light tannins. Nice acidity. Round. This is drinking older, but I would not have guessed 62 years. it has a nice complexity and depth. At this point, all bottles are a crap shoot, but this one could have gone a while longer. Better with food. Pasta in a cream sauce with mushrooms would be great.

1998 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage:

1998

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$175.00USD

There was a lot of talk at the other end of the table about this wine being problematic. I tried not to pay much attention, but it seemed to center around an abundance of oak and being made in a more modern style. While that may have been true, at age 24, this wine is drinking well. Deep ruby in color, clear an bright. The nose has cherries, slight tar, some spice/oak and a bit of forest floor. Medium to full bodied. Light to medium tannins. On the palate, there is nice cherry fruit with some depth. Nice finish. This seems to be at peak but should drink well for the next five to ei

2010 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage:

2010

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$52.00USD

This was a bit disappointing but an example proving that you often get what you pay for. This was $30 on release, from a great vintage. It seemed like a no brainer, and it's ok. Hopefully, it will still improve a bit as it is young. Light ruby in color. The nose has some cherries and baking spice. On the palate, the cherries continue. Pretty one dimensional. Medium tannins. Good acidity. It needs food and will go with just about anything. Overall, the wine is a nice wine, that will work at the dinner table and was not expensive. But, there is nothing I taste to suggest Barolo.

2000 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

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