Barolo Nebbiolo

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core and some rather significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of tart, ripe, and some desiccated red fruits: Morello cherry, red flowers, leather, cedar chest, dried green herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, or Granache from Italy or France. I felt the tannin was too high to be Grenache so I vacillated between Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. And due to the color and profile, 25+ years age from a good vintage. Ultimately, the light staining, and the perceived new oak made me feel as though this was probably Sangiovese from Brunello di Montalcino. So that’s my call: Sangiovese, from Italy, from Tuscany, from Brunello di Montalcino, 2001. Welp!! This was one of the first vintages after Antinori took over ownership of the property. The modern touch apparently threw me off a bit. Still quite tasty. Drink now.

Really wound up. High acid. Needed more air I think. Wish I'd had longer to ponder it

Riccardo had this 11 years ago

Emerson had this 12 years ago