Deep ruby in color. Nose of licorice, dried strawberries and cherries, and leather/earth. Dry and almost dusty feeling, but with a finish that just kept lingering on. Thoroughly enjoyed my 2nd experience with a Barolo.

Chilly,

You're in deep trouble. Start buying now, especially 1996's and 7's. Then park 'em. Open when 10+ years have passed from vintage date. Be prepared to say "wow" a lot. Repeat as needed....

PH

Agree with PH. Very few wines reward bottle age like a good vintage Barolo. They are studs.

$$$ - Join the club

I agree with the above posters, but I must say that both the 1997 and 2000 vintages are showing incredibly well with lots of decanting right now. Some 1998's are as well.

But, if you can age them, they will be even better.

BTW: Silvio Grasso is one of my favorite $50-range Barolo producers. If you happen upon his Bricco Luciani offerings, they can be exceptional.

a

Fisrt it's Pinot and now Barolo, my wallet is going to be in trouble. I was able to find a couple bottles of this for about $20, wish I would have picked up more. Does anyone have some suggestions for reasonably priced Barolo's that might be available?

quote:

Does anyone have some suggestions for reasonably priced Barolo's that might be available?

$20 is too low a bar for Barolo. You won't find too many that you'll really like for that price.
Look for Patrizzi, Beni Di Batasiolo, and Massolino - to name a few. All around $30 or less. The Massolino being the best IMO.

Hunter is correct. The basic Massolino Barolo is a great value year after year. I picked up the 2000 for 31.99 at Zachys (They sell it for as low as 28.99 in some stores in NY). They even had the cru Massolino Barolos Parafada and Margheria for $40 (1999 Vintage).

I really enjoyed the SILVIO GRASSO BAROLO BRICCO LUCIANI 2000, tonight. Great nose, awesome first impression when hitting the palate, was even silkier when decanted an hour. I love this style.

Glad to hear, Bill. The Silvio Grasso Bricco Luciani is one of my favorite more moderately priced Barolo bottlings. I'm embaressed how many bottles of the '98 I have already consumed.

Chilly,

You're doomed... First it's Pinots, then old Rhones, now Piedmonts?

You've discovered my greatest weakness; Piedmont's best. Pinot on steroids!

But forget about $20 bottles; be thinking $60 for Bricco Luciani. One of my favorite "value" Piedmonts is Albino Rocca - Ronchi (Barberesco)... but these days, "value" means $55... but they're the real deal.

By the way, Frederico and Merilena Grasso are about the nicest folks you'd ever want to meet. We visited there in the Fall of 2000; they took us up in the Luciani vineyard, then pulled fresh corks on all their best bottlings-- just for us. Then Merilena "forced" me to take a bottle of their 1990 Bricco Luciani, and would not let me pay for it...

That's about as good as it gets! I always buy their wine just on principle.

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:
Glad to hear, Bill. The Silvio Grasso Bricco Luciani is one of my favorite more moderately priced Barolo bottlings. I'm embaressed how many bottles of the '98 I have already consumed.

We opened another 2000 SILVIO GRASSO BAROLO BRICCO LUCIANI last night. OMG, did it impress. The nose was fantastic, the delivery , the finish...you just kept wanting more. With a performance like that, everyone thought it was an unbelievable value....
winetarelli, no need to be embarrassed here...I will collect as many of these as I can.