Prunotto
Barolo Nebbiolo
Barolo, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
Honestly, I forgot I had this and was worried I was 10 years too late with it. But I tell you what… there is life left in this bottle! Dark fruit, mostly gone but still there. Chocolate and leather too. Then come raisins. Bone dry, smooth but not silky, still some black tea tannins and big structure. Yes, it’s past prime (at 28 years old, I was out of my prime too!) but wisdom replaces energy.
Honestly, I forgot I had this and was worried I was 10 years too late with it. But I tell you what… there is life left in this bottle! Dark fruit, mostly gone but still there. Chocolate and leather too. Then come raisins. Bone dry, smooth but not silky, still some black tea tannins and big structure. Yes, it’s past prime (at 28 years old, I was out of my prime too!) but wisdom replaces energy.
Oct 8th, 2025
Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core and some rather significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of tart, ripe, and some desiccated red fruits: Morello cherry, red flowers, leather, cedar chest, dried green herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, or Granache from Italy or France. I felt the tannin was too high to be Grenache so I vacillated between Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. And due to the color and profile, 25+ years age from a good vintage. Ultimately, the light staining, and the perceived new oak made me feel as though this was probably Sangiovese from Brunello di Montalcino. So that’s my call: Sangiovese, from Italy, from Tuscany, from Brunello di Montalcino, 2001. Welp!! This was one of the first vintages after Antinori took over ownership of the property. The modern touch apparently threw me off a bit. Still quite tasty. Drink now.
Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core and some rather significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of tart, ripe, and some desiccated red fruits: Morello cherry, red flowers, leather, cedar chest, dried green herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, or Granache from Italy or France. I felt the tannin was too high to be Grenache so I vacillated between Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. And due to the color and profile, 25+ years age from a good vintage. Ultimately, the light staining, and the perceived new oak made me feel as though this was probably Sangiovese from Brunello di Montalcino. So that’s my call: Sangiovese, from Italy, from Tuscany, from Brunello di Montalcino, 2001. Welp!! This was one of the first vintages after Antinori took over ownership of the property. The modern touch apparently threw me off a bit. Still quite tasty. Drink now.
Jul 16th, 2025
Ruby with black fruit aromas and herb floral scents. On the palate dark berry, black cherry & raspberry, cinnamon, licorice and floral herb notes. Full taut tannins bring fruit to long finish ending with spice and earthy mineral. Wonderful! Just beginning to open, will age well over next 5-7 years.
Ruby with black fruit aromas and herb floral scents. On the palate dark berry, black cherry & raspberry, cinnamon, licorice and floral herb notes. Full taut tannins bring fruit to long finish ending with spice and earthy mineral. Wonderful! Just beginning to open, will age well over next 5-7 years.
Jun 20th, 2024
Tonight I have opened the 2012 Prunotto Barolo. A beautiful to look at ruby in color, almost looks like a pinot noir in color.
Initially the nose was very weak, but with letting the wine sit and then aggressive swirling this wine began to reveal itself. Red fruit came forth with cherry notes and raspberry. Then I was able to detect licorice, alcohol, vanilla, rose, white pepper and dusty soil.
On the palate the same red fruit was very prevalent with notes of tart cherry, raspberry, licorice, clay pot, eucalyptus, menthol, herbs and earth.
This is a medium to full bodied wine more to the medium bodied side with medium+ acidity and medium+ fine chewy tannins that lead to an elegant finesse driven long finish. With Christmas upon us please while out and about doing your shopping and visiting please be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Tonight I have opened the 2012 Prunotto Barolo. A beautiful to look at ruby in color, almost looks like a pinot noir in color.
Initially the nose was very weak, but with letting the wine sit and then aggressive swirling this wine began to reveal itself. Red fruit came forth with cherry notes and raspberry. Then I was able to detect licorice, alcohol, vanilla, rose, white pepper and dusty soil.
On the palate the same red fruit was very prevalent with notes of tart cherry, raspberry, licorice, clay pot, eucalyptus, menthol, herbs and earth.
This is a medium to full bodied wine more to the medium bodied side with medium+ acidity and medium+ fine chewy tannins that lead to an elegant finesse driven long finish. With Christmas upon us please while out and about doing your shopping and visiting please be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Bright on nose, lighter, more delicate / fresh ripe strawberry / metallic, iron note / backward on minerality-fruit
Bright on nose, lighter, more delicate / fresh ripe strawberry / metallic, iron note / backward on minerality-fruit
Jun 6th, 2018Following World War II, Alfredo Prunotto and his wife took over and restored an old cooperative winery called "Vini delle Langhe", a new era under the Prunotto name. Rusty red with aromas of dark berry fruit and earthy spices. 100% Nebbiolo of course, flavors of cherry and raspberry emerge, smooth, with subtle spice on well made structure. Fine tannins, balanced acidity on lingering finish ending with earthy mineral notes. I opened the bottle 2 hours before drinking, made a difference, needs more cellaring.
Following World War II, Alfredo Prunotto and his wife took over and restored an old cooperative winery called "Vini delle Langhe", a new era under the Prunotto name. Rusty red with aromas of dark berry fruit and earthy spices. 100% Nebbiolo of course, flavors of cherry and raspberry emerge, smooth, with subtle spice on well made structure. Fine tannins, balanced acidity on lingering finish ending with earthy mineral notes. I opened the bottle 2 hours before drinking, made a difference, needs more cellaring.
Oct 9th, 2017
Great balance throughout - delicious with our veal and lamb.
Great balance throughout - delicious with our veal and lamb.
2 people found it helpfulNov 8th, 2016
It smells like burgundy but it tastes somehow like burgundy with an Italian accent !
Cherry and raspberry, a hint of rose and loads of tannins backed up by acidity. The alcohol is not THAT strong contrary to my expectations. Very good moment!
It smells like burgundy but it tastes somehow like burgundy with an Italian accent !
Cherry and raspberry, a hint of rose and loads of tannins backed up by acidity. The alcohol is not THAT strong contrary to my expectations. Very good moment!
Ruby with black fruit aromas and herb floral scents. On the palate dark berry, black cherry & raspberry, cinnamon, licorice and floral herb notes. Full taut tannins bring fruit to long finish ending with spice and earthy mineral. Wonderful! Just beginning to open, will age well over next 5-7 years.
Ruby with black fruit aromas and herb floral scents. On the palate dark berry, black cherry & raspberry, cinnamon, licorice and floral herb notes. Full taut tannins bring fruit to long finish ending with spice and earthy mineral. Wonderful! Just beginning to open, will age well over next 5-7 years.
1 person found it helpfulJun 16th, 2021