2016 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Gramolere, Italy, Piedmont, Wine review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight asphalt, slight rose and iron.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is tight but opens in the glass.  Cherries with some asphalt and minerals.  Deep.  This is just entering its drinking window and should be there for another eight to twelve years.  Nice on its own but better with food.  A plate of truffle pasta would be perfect.  

1964 Franco & Fiorina Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1964
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

A friend turned 60 and purchased this wine to share with his friends.  This was an excellent vintage and the wines at the time were meant to age a long time often not enjoyable in their youth.  Of course, sixty years is pushing it, and then add to that questions of storage, etc., but this wine was very  enjoyable if showing some age.  The wine is pretty in the glass but bricked all the way across.  Still, it was bright and clear.  There is some volatile acidity on the nose but not a lot and it helps bring out the aromatics.  The nose is dusty with cherries, dried cherries and dried floral n

2005 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$290.00USD

Great showing for this wine.  Light ruby with slight orange/brown near the edges.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose is classic with cherries, slight dried cherries, roses and slight tar.  Medium to full bodied with medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex and delicious.  Cherries, dried cherries with underlying char.  Layers of flavors that unwind in the glass.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is close to peak at this point, but no hurry.  It should be at this level for ten or more years.  Better with food.  A perfect match for a mushroom or truffle dish.

2019 Ricossa Barolo Antica Casa, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$46.00USD

This is a more accessible style of Barolo.  Ruby in color with slight browning (normal even in a young Barolo).  Clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, anise, cranberries, and a very slight floral quality.  Medium to full bodied.  Very firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, cherries and slight rhubarb note with underlying char and slight anise.  Long finish.  This drinks easy for such a young Barolo, but this should continue to mature over the next five to seven years.  Either way, it should drink well of ten years.  Nice on its own, but this wine was made to go with food.  Pasta w

2016 Travaglini Gattinara Riserva, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$68.00USD

This is the wine that comes in an odd shaped bottle that almost looks like it melted and was disfigured.  Made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, this is the Riserva version which means the best parcels are harvested from Travaglini’s oldest vineyards (35-60 years).  The wine is aged for 4 years: 3 years in Slavonian oak casks of different sizes. The wine then rests in bottle for 12 months.

2010 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Monvigliero, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$266.00USD

A very nice, moderately priced (on release) Barolo.  With 13 years from vintage, this one is in a great place.  Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has hot tar, cherries, spice and char.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, nice cherry fruit with some complexity.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This will work better with food.  Pasta with a mushroom cream sauce was perfect.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

2004 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2004
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$160.00USD

Bought on release and cellared.  This was decanted for about 45 minutes prior to serving.  Purple in color (darker than expected), mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, dust and tar.  Full bodied with firm tannins.  On the palate, this is still drinking young.  Vibrant fruit.  It s deep but a bit monolithic at age 19.  Black cherries with a "chalkiness".  Also some anise on the finish.  It is delicious and went great with pasta.  Drink over the next twelve years.  

2015 Giovanni Sordo Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

This is a nice, relatively inexpensive Barolo.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, cherry juice, slight floral and hot asphalt.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is straight forward with cherries.  Moderate acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks better with food.  Pasta with a mushroom cream sauce would work well.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  

2015 Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

This was purchased at the winery and brought back by a friend.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is classic with cherries, tar and slight baking spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is surprisingly open.  Cherries with underlying asphalt.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is obviously young but drinking well already.  It should drink well for the next twenty years.  Nice on its own, this would be better with food.  Pasta in a cream and mushroom sauce would be great.  

2001 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba, Italy, Piedmont, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$395.00USD

Decanted for sediment, this is still a bit young but no harm opening now.  Deep garnet with slight bricking, clear and bright.  Classic nose of cherries, slight dried cherries, some floral/rose notes and slight tar.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is showing nice complexity.  Lots of cherries, some dried cherries, with some underlying forest floor, mushrooms and tar.  Long finish.  This drinks better with food.  Mushroom pizza is a great choice.  Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years.

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