This was one of Frankie's contributions to our Northern Italian wine dinner last Saturday. Blue Oval, Frankie and I discussed whether this wine might be too young a week before the dinner but decided to let Frankie bring it as a contrast to the older 1988 Barolo I was bringing. We also hoped some decanting would open it up. Frankie decanted it for about 4 hours before bringing it to Blue Ovals I believe. I'm not sure of the exact score but I believe WS gave this an excellent rating. I think this retails for about $70.

This was paired with the main course and with a cheese course after dessert. As with all the Barolo and Barbaresco at the dinner, I thought this wine matched perfectly with the hard Italian cheeses (Parmagiano-reggiano, aged Asiago and Pecorino).

This was a blackish red color with a surprisingly restrained nose. As feared, this wine was too young and needs additional aging. It did not open up as hoped with decanting. Hugely tannic and rich. It possessed a nutty chocolatey character with notes of tart black cherry. It was quite a contrast to the aged 1988 Barolo. This one all power and the 1988 full of finesse. No doubt lovers of the California style would most likely prefer this young wine to the elder one. This wine has great potential. If you have any, hold them for at least 7 years. 91 points.

VM

[ 11-05-2002, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Vino Me ]

VM:

i agree completely that this is too young, BTW, it got 94 from WS. The bottle i had in italia back in 2001 was much more alive than this, and with less decanting. At least five years to re-open up, as this seemed like a dumb phase, with the fruit largely hidden behind its tannic facade. BO and I both agreed that this vino has tremendous potential. fortunately for me, i've got another in the cellar, and it won't see the light of day for some time!

Thanks, Frankie for providing this one. I have three in the cellar - and that's where they will stay for awhile!

By the way, I remember scoring these for about a $48 price point . . .

Blue

good score blue, mine were from binny's at $66/per, with a list of $91. yes, let's hold!!

Interestingly, Frankie and Blue Oval voted for this wine as being better than the 1988 Marchesi di barolo riserva, while the Lady Vino Me, Dame Frankie and I liked the 1988 better. I find it is always better to be on the womens side.

VM

I hear you VM!

I suspect the issue is the tannins. My experience has been that most women do not enjoy wines with high tannins. Of course there are always exceptions - but this has been my observation.

BTW - thanks all for the notes. I am a big fan of Ceretto Barolos - and have bought many bottles of the '97 Brunate in particular (priced well) - but wouldn't dream of opening one for a few (thats what the Zonchera is for!)...glad to see however that it is already enjoyable!

I went to a Ceretto tasting last year and met the wine producers. Their wines definitely need quite a bit of aging before they lose their hard tannins. They then blossom. In general their wines are very well structured and consistent.

That's true, Ceretto's wines are very concentrated nowadays. But you should see what colour is their 1989 Bricco Asili, for example: take a light, I say light, red rose petal, look at it through the sunshade, and you'll have the correct point.

Such a stylistical shift!

Anyway, modern or old styled, Barolo and Barbaresco younger than 4-5 years from the release, uncorcked to drink them, not just to taste them and understand what's in the bottle for future aims... you should really consider to let those bottles have more time in your cellars, they'll reward you with great motions. Put a warrant from Italy, on this point.