Barolo vs Barbaresco - 1990, 2001 & 2010

I poured these wines at our latest tasting in our monthly tasting group.

1990 Barolo, Giacomo Ascheri

A wide open, perfectly mature nose with notes of roses, assorted dried berries, cool asphalt and forest floor. Very, very good.

The taste is silky and mature with notes of raspberry licorice, Lange earth, paint and dried cherries. Very long with soft tannins. A great drink on this day.

90p   (tasted 2023/03)

1990 Barbaresco, Produttori di Barbaresco

A broad, warm nose with notes of canned mushrooms, dry tobacco, linoleum and old paint. A tad over the hill. I have had better bottles.

The taste is better with a dried up warmth and notes of dried raspberries, tobacco, cold coffe and still some juicy tannins in the finish.

86p   (tasted 2023/03)

2001 Barbaresco Currá, Sottimano

A finely tuned, intense, somewhat mature nose with notes of ripe red cherries and strawberries, coffee powder, rosehips and a touch of mint. Very fine.

The taste is gorgeous, with stunning notes of dried strawberries, dried flowers, licorice and rosehips. A very fine tannin support, indicating that this still have places to go. 4+ years.

93p   (tasted 2023/03)

2001 Barolo, Elio Altare

The wines were tasted double blind and this was the winner in the vote for WOTN. The nose is deep, creamy and rich with notes of cherry chocolate, rosehips, forest floor and dried flowers. Very fine.

The taste is still young with silky tannins, perky sweet fruit and a finish that goes on for a minute. Very handsome and rewarding. 6+ years.

94p   (tasted 2023/03)

2010 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe, Cavallotto

A beauty. Very cool, very elegant and very young, the nose displays notes of hard cherry candy, paint, Langhe earth, coffee powder and fresh mushrooms. Very, very fine.

The taste is tight and focused with brilliant, high fruit, polished tannins and a intense, multi layered finish. Crisp. Great wine. Needs time though, 8+ years.

96p   (tasted 2023/03)

2010 Barbaresco Riserva Sorí Paitin Vecchie Vigne, Paitin

A refined, very deep, very young nose that needed serious time in the glass before opening up (better on day two). Notes of chrushed black cherries, red apples, dry asphalt, violets and diesel oil. Very complex.

The taste is very tight, luxurious and at times forceful yet with grace and refinement - this is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. The finish goes on and on and on. Stunning. 10+ years.

96p   (tasted 2023/03)