Jay Kline

9.1

Double-decanted several hours prior to dinner and subsequently enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2012 Classico pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with ripe notes of red fruit: cherry cordial, candied nuts, red flowers, some leather, rich wood and some warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannins and high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A very good, albeit modern expression of Barolo from a solar vintage. Personally, I find pre-modernist Pio Cesare more exciting. Thanks Andy! Drink now with patience and through 2042. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2014 Classico pours a slightly hazy garnet with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing. Initially showing notes of stewed red fruits, however with about 30 minutes of air, the fruits freshened up. Morello Cherry, macerated strawberry, dried roses, tar, leather, gravelly earth, and a pleasant mix of cool spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium plus; grippy and savory. An often maligned vintage in Piemonte, particularly in Barolo (though some outstanding examples exist). However, in Barbaresco, there was more success and this is an example. Drink now through 2034. — 6 days ago

Joe Lazar

10

Michelle MD graduation  — 8 days ago

Jarrod McCann

9.3

Nice Barolo with lots of limestone showing minerality and brightness. Still a little tight after 11 years, but it’s fantastic with a nice piece of beef. Floral on the nose with juicy choke cherry, leather, unsweetened coco, tobacco, raspberry preserves, and crushed blueberries on the palate. — 11 days ago

Louis Martin

9.1

Floral accent, medium body, fruity flavors, creamy finish. — 10 days ago

John Schlechter

9.5

Powerful lots of life to go smoky tobacco dry cherry raisins and some dry spice — 18 days ago

Ericsson

9.5

Mature Barolo with scents of violets, pencil shavings, and red berries. On the palate the wine becomes medium bodied with earthier notes but equally enticing. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Love this producer from top to bottom. This was elegant & finessed showing bright cherry, berry with spice, rose petal & tobacco — 5 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Needed some air showing red cherry, berry, spice, orange peel, rose petal & tobacco notes — 19 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a slightly hazy garnet color with a translucent core and some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and light signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous, with notes of ripe and desiccated red fruit: Morello cherry, dried roses, tar, tobacco, leather, gravelly earth, and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the fruit showed quite a bit of power. The finish is long. Alcohol is elevated but calling it medium+. This is delicious.

Initial conclusion: this could be Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Granache or Pinot Noir from Italy, France or Spain. Because the tannins were absolutely ripping, and there was no staining, I was leaning Nebbiolo. Additionally, the secondary characteristics along with a strong core of fruit had me thinking this was close to 30 years old from a solar vintage. So I called Nebbiolo, from Italy, from Piemonte, Barolo from a traditional-leaning producer, 1997. Well, I can’t get too upset with my call! Really tasty stuff. Drink now through 2032. — 25 days ago