A Couple of 2001 Barolo & Barbaresco

These were poured at a tasting at H - thanks! First we were served a bottle of bubbly to get us in mood - but I´m afraid this bottle didn´t... But the following bottles did! :-)
All wines tasted double blind.

1996 Henriot
Last time I tasted the 1996 Henriot I found it to be a great bottle of Champgane, although a bit more mature than many other 1996´s. But this bottle was very awkward.
The nose is deep and fine at first but soon becomes one dimensional with notes of almond paste, mature pears, earth and that lovely scent of wet dog...
The taste is big, steady and warm with rather coarse mousse and notes of burnt toast, almond paste, tangerines and earth. It has a grape fruit acidity that doesn´t interact with the fruit. Not corked, not cooked, just a strange bottle.
78p   (tasted 2012/08)

2001 Barolo Vigna Lazzarito, Fontanafredda
A fine, cool, elegant nose with notes of sweet red cherries, rosehips, dried flowers and a touch of beef broth. Very fine. A lovely sweetness to the fruit.
The taste is young, energetic and fresh with young perky tannins and good lingonberry and red currant fruit. The tannins really make an impact in the finish. Still very young. This should surely turn into something really nice along the line, but it is too young today.
The Lazzarito is the best of Fontanafredda´s vineyards and have, in my opion, always been, which this tasting from 2010 shows.
89p   (tasted 2012/08)

2001 Barolo Gramolere, Fratelli Alessandria
A somewhat mature, round, evasive nose with notes of dried red cherries, licorice, forest floor and a touch of smoke. After a while a note of sawdust comes forward, that doesn´t add any complexity, rather the opposite.
The taste is tight, cool and young with notes of lingonberries, red apples, dry earth and licorice. Hard tannins - I wrote "a masochist dream" at the end. This needs time but I´m not convinced that it will turn out great.
81p   (tasted 2012/08)

2001 Barbaresco Coparossa, Bruno Rocca
A deep, decadent, gorgeous nose with notes of red cherries, lingonberrybushes, tobacco, fried herbs and a touch of bonfire. Very deep and fine. A lovely perfumed note ermerges after a while. Lovely stuff.
The taste is young, tight and concentrated with warm, sweet, yummy fruit, strappy tannins and a minute long finish. Very, very good. Notes of red cherries, licorice, dried mushrooms and cigarette ashes. Still very primary but great today and, I think, greater in 4-6 years.
93p   (tasted 2012/08)

2001 Barbaresco Basarin, Moccagatta
A big, intense and pure nose with notes of red and black cherries, modelling clay, licorice, smoke and dark chocolate. Very deep and fine. There is some new wood here but in the background.
The taste is very young, very concentrated and with tight, tight tannins, almost on the verge of hurting me... Cool lingonberry and red currant fruit with notes of smoke, earth, licorice and leather. The finish is very long and ends very dry. This needs food. The tannins are quite something else, but I have hope for this wine in 10+ years. Impressive and somewhat scary...
88p   (tasted 2012/08)