Barbaresco Nebbiolo

I’ve been wanting to try the wines of Cantina Tomaso Gianolio for years but finding them on this side of the Atlantic has been a challenge. As of now, I don’t know much about where Davide and Igor Gianolio source their fruit but the family has been making these wines in a traditional manner for over 90 years so I’m sure the source is exceptional. So traditional, even the cork is short and stubby, lol!

Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Consistent throughout. The 2019 pours a light garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and tar forward early but it quickly transforms into a veritable beauty with notes of raspberries, rose water, tar, star anise, talcum powder, and dry, stony earth. On the palate, the with is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Elegant and lovely expression of the 2019 vintage. Drink now with patience and through 2044 (if the cork will keep that long). Huge thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist!

In such a great spot. Tar, roses and mid season black cherries. So ebullient and aromatic. Smoke and mesquite BBQ as well and even a bit of hoisin. Palate is elegant and juicy with luscious and sweet cherry fruit and great length. Just so well made. Really velvety and complex. So sappy and pure. Love this. A great 15!

Truly in the zone. After 1 hour was glorious. Rich, deep, stunningly aromatic and terrific opulence and freshness on the palate. Terrific length. An insane value in 2016. Crazy aromas after time.

Been over a year since I’ve had this. Lovely spice and cherry. Tar, leather, smoke. Terrific cherry fruit. Superb minerality and what brightness and depth. Impressive. Glorious cherry fruit and perfect balance. Very pure and wonderful velvety tannins. Great showing.

Incredible wine and value. Insane nose of perfect mid season cherries, spice, tar and leather. Superb mineral and earthy aromas. Really spellbinding stuff here. What texture and sap. So elegant and textured with tremendous mid season cherry fruit and dazzling purity. Deep structure and a very long finish while assaulting your palate with just classic cherry fruit. Terrific energy and palate presence. Swirling internal aromatics. Long finish. Just awesome.

Insane nose. Such an elegant vintage for this. Gorgeous nose of spice and licorice, smoke and oolong tea. Loads of minerals and so inviting. Citrus rind as well. Also melting road tar. Palate is juicy, vibrant and balanced. Terrific cherry fruit and such finesse and refinement. Spice, mid season cherries on the finish. Long finish. Soft tannins and such nice energy.

The 2015 here is awesome. Huge nose of tar, chestnut, roses, tobacco, big cherry fruit. Palate is loaded and young but so so fresh with unreal fruit. Sweet, earthy, damson and oh so elegant. Wonderful length and velvety tannins.

From a difficult vintage a lovely elegant wine. Raspberry and cherry on the nose with some lovely spice. Tangy sweet confectionary aromas as well. Tree bark and earth. Lovely aromas. Really much better than last time. Palate is dense and tannic but with good fruit, licorice and red cherry with big licorice on the finish. Almost anise. Nice opulent hit in the mid palate. Nice wine.

Nose has black cherry reduction, milk chocolate coated cherry, dried grape vine, dry leather and limestone paste.

Palate has holiday spiced cherry, plum skin, muddy garden soil, corner brownie, cherry juice with mildly grippy, yet smooth tannins. A long finish and many years to go until I pull the next corks; check this again in 2024+.

Decanted 5h and it appreciated every minute we gave it, really singing now.

From Lyle Fass so email buy only? Needs time at the moment quite tannic really puckers your mouth - this will need probably 5 more years. Violets leather dark cherries 🍒 Morello cherries chalky. Long. Spice driven back palate dried orange skins. Quite impressive. But again this needs to be put away and forgotten for some time not ready!