Tenuta Cucco
Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba Nebbiolo
Barolo, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy
Third and last bottle of this. I don’t want to like it as much as I do because it’s 15% alcohol. But it’s a big, boisterous glassful, with lots of ripe macerated cherry, leather, and gravel on the nose, with a whiff of camphor. Mouthfilling and soft on the palate, this acids are relatively low but it’s still got nice balance for current drinking. A fair amount of tannin is buried under the cascade of fruit. Not super complex, but a satisfying accompaniment to pork cutlets Parmigiana, and a good value.
UPDATE: Night 2, a pruney, overripe character takes over. My recommendation is to drink soon and with minimal air time.
Third and last bottle of this. I don’t want to like it as much as I do because it’s 15% alcohol. But it’s a big, boisterous glassful, with lots of ripe macerated cherry, leather, and gravel on the nose, with a whiff of camphor. Mouthfilling and soft on the palate, this acids are relatively low but it’s still got nice balance for current drinking. A fair amount of tannin is buried under the cascade of fruit. Not super complex, but a satisfying accompaniment to pork cutlets Parmigiana, and a good value.
UPDATE: Night 2, a pruney, overripe character takes over. My recommendation is to drink soon and with minimal air time.
Orangy red. Cherry, brush, and a hint of anise and vanilla on the nose. Dry. Medium plus alcohol, medium minus acidity. Sour cherry on the palate, not much more. Complexity may develop with time. Medium plus tannins. Nice finish. It's enjoyable.
92+ points
Orangy red. Cherry, brush, and a hint of anise and vanilla on the nose. Dry. Medium plus alcohol, medium minus acidity. Sour cherry on the palate, not much more. Complexity may develop with time. Medium plus tannins. Nice finish. It's enjoyable.
92+ points
I don’t remember liking my prior bottle of this, drunk 2 or 3 years ago, as much as this bottle. This pretty promptly displays a boisterous nose of strawberry, cherry, crushed stone, moist underbrush, and faded rose petals. Quite full in the mouth, it’s assertive and shows fairly deep flavors of dried cherry and leather. The only drawback is that its frame (alcohol and tannin) is maybe a bit too prominent for my taste in the back half of the palate. Good acids. For me, with modern global warming Barolo, the risk is that the alcohol burns through the fruit before the tannins soften. In the next 2-4 years I think this will be in the sweet spot.
I don’t remember liking my prior bottle of this, drunk 2 or 3 years ago, as much as this bottle. This pretty promptly displays a boisterous nose of strawberry, cherry, crushed stone, moist underbrush, and faded rose petals. Quite full in the mouth, it’s assertive and shows fairly deep flavors of dried cherry and leather. The only drawback is that its frame (alcohol and tannin) is maybe a bit too prominent for my taste in the back half of the palate. Good acids. For me, with modern global warming Barolo, the risk is that the alcohol burns through the fruit before the tannins soften. In the next 2-4 years I think this will be in the sweet spot.
Jun 28th, 2024
This 2017 Tenuta Cucco, Barolo was a bit young and fresh at first but once it opened up a bit the wine revealed fresh cherry and oaky leather and hints of raspberry. Overall a strong showing for this 2017 nonetheless.
This 2017 Tenuta Cucco, Barolo was a bit young and fresh at first but once it opened up a bit the wine revealed fresh cherry and oaky leather and hints of raspberry. Overall a strong showing for this 2017 nonetheless.
May 30th, 2022
Better with air…some oak components. Decent but perhaps not worth the money.
Better with air…some oak components. Decent but perhaps not worth the money.
May 3rd, 2021
Errs a bit on the sour. Still a good wine, but compared to this other one, it’s a shadow of what it could be. Needs time. Lots of it.
Errs a bit on the sour. Still a good wine, but compared to this other one, it’s a shadow of what it could be. Needs time. Lots of it.
Jun 9th, 2019
Straightforward, classic Serralunga tannin profile, sturdy but perhaps lacking the grace of some.
Straightforward, classic Serralunga tannin profile, sturdy but perhaps lacking the grace of some.
Mar 16th, 2019
Hard to pass on this $25 Barolo
Hard to pass on this $25 Barolo
Feb 10th, 2019
A decent Barolo bought on steep discount from Garagiste. Worth about what I paid (50% retail)
A decent Barolo bought on steep discount from Garagiste. Worth about what I paid (50% retail)
May 17th, 2024