I assembled the Barolo Boys with some hangarounds to taste all of my old Baroli. Now I have a bunch of 64:s (The Greatest Vintage Ever) as the oldest Baroli in the cellar.
Flight I
1900 Barolo, Luigi Arnulfo
Some cooked fruit, a damp forest floor, paint and hints of VA. Tired but still alive.
The taste is better than the nose with dried fruit, earth and a Sherry like character. A dried up warmth. Not great by any means but drinkable.
80p (tasted 2025/12)
1935 Barbaresco, Cappellano
Sadly mildly corked. Too bad, beneath we could sense a great wine.
Not rated (tasted 2025/12)
1937 Barolo Riserva Speciale, Borgogno
A very fine, laid back nose with notes of cinnamon, earth, smoke and stables. Mature of course but it doesn´t feel 88 years old.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of dried fruit, dried flowers, band aid and gravel. Very, very good.
88p (tasted 2025/12)
1938 Barolo, Fontanafredda
A pretty large scaled nose with notes of dried herbs, Christmas spices and vintage leather. Open and fine.
The taste is long and spicy with a nice structure and lots of dried fruit. Ends on a dry note.
88p (tasted 2025/12)
Flight II
1947 Barolo Riserva Speciale, Borgogno
A very, deep, complex nose with notes of dried red berries, warm tiles, candle grease and smoke. Very, very good and very much alive.
The taste is nicely focused with dried up red fruit, notes of paint, leather and a hint of VA. Long and fine. Bottles like this would surely go on for 10 years.
91p (tasted 2025/12)
1947 Barolo, Franco Fiorina
A very deep, spicy nose with notes of cold coffee, mushrooms, undergrowth and dried flowers. Complex and fine.
The taste is rich and concentrated with lovely red fruit, vintage leather, tobacco and still some tannins in the finish. Very fine. Could go on for 10+ years.
94p (tasted 2025/12)
1947 Barolo, Marchesi di Barolo
A deep, warm nose with notes of paint, ink, dried strawberries and forest floor. Very, very good.
The taste is dry and seedy with notes of dried red berries, old leather and earth. Long and warm. Holding up nicely.
88p (tasted 2025/12)
1947 Barolo Riserva Stravecchio, Luigi Pistone
An old, all over the place nose with notes of fir wood, rubber, dried flowers and hard cherry candy.
The taste is seedy and dry with a fine warmth and notes of dried currants, old herbs and warm sand.
82p (tasted 2025/12)
Flight III
1952 Barolo Riserva, Giacomo Conterno
My WOTN. An open, layered nose with notes of rowan berries, Langhe earth, vintage leather, dry ginger and incense. Lovely.
The taste is refined and restrained with lovely red fruit, dried herbs, roses and a salty note. Very long. Behaved exactly the same on day two.
95p (tasted 2025/12)
1952 Barolo, Franco Fiorina
Very dark in colour with notes of mushrooms, violet licorice, sugared coffee and ink. A dried up sweetness.
The taste is rich and concentrated with burly sweet fruit, very warm and long. If I would venture a guess, some Barbera in the mix?
87p (tasted 2025/12)
1954 Barolo, Fontanafredda
A earthy, smoky nose with notes of dried srawberries, autumn leaves, dried flower and leather. Very much alive.
The taste is medium bodied and dry with lots of dried red fruits and notes of violets and leather. Very elegant.
92p (tasted 2025/12)
1959 Barolo, Marchesi di Barolo
A somewhat rustic nose with notes of canned mushrooms, dried red fruits and undergrowth.
The taste is warm and blunt with notes of gravel, dried flowers and vintage leather. A dry finish.
86p (tasted 2025/12)
