Sunday 6 September 2015

1958 Barolo Riserva, Prunotto & 1958 Barolo, Cappellano

These old timers were tasted at our latest tasting group get together. 1958 is one of the great vintages in Piemonte. In Renato Ratti´s vintage chart 1958 is described as "Great year. Not a very robust wine but full of excellent substance, exceptional elegance and intense perfume".
Both bottles were opened 6 hours before the tasting and decanted 1,5 hours before the first pour.

1958 Barolo Riserva, Prunotto
This has a deep ,ethereal, beautiful nose from the get go. Lots of rosehips, rowan berries, dried cherries, old tobacco and a touch of band aid. Very complex. Holds well over the evening. Really fine.
The taste is mature, dry and intense with notes of dried cherries, forest floor, tar and rose petals. A very long, intense, yet light and floral finish. A wonderful mature Barolo. Great wine.
93p   (tasted 2015/08)

 
1958 Barolo, Cappellano
For the first half hour I actually had the Prunotto as the better wine. But then this came roaring. And it kept on roaring the whole evening. The nose is bottomless deep with gorgeous notes of dried strawberries, root vegetables, hard cherry candy, a tarred rowboat and lots and lots of ceps. Just beautiful.
The taste is maturity, purity and complexity perfectly combined with notes of dried cherries, tobacco, rosehips, dried mushrooms and tar. There is a lovely elegance in the minute long finish. A fine warmth. This is as good as it gets.
Since the late Theobaldo didn´t want his wines to be scored, I never do.   (tasted 2015/08)

Barolo & gnocchi with pancetta and fried sage
 

4 comments:

  1. That was really interesting that these "older" wines do so great. Just unbelievable .

    Flemming

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    1. Hi Flemming, thanks for the comment! I had a tasting with 8 bottles of 1958 a couple of years ago, and all of them were alive and kicking, even though no one was on the level that Cappellano delivered on this ´night. I remember that Fontanafredda was a stunner in the 95p league.

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  2. Very nice to read how good Cappellano was in this very great and old vintage.

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    1. Thanks! I just hope that my other Cappellano´s will turn out to be this good...:-)

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