Notes from the second half of January 2007, another pizza invitation at Albino’s and Andrea’s place.
Comm. G. B. Barolo Vigneto Cannubi 1996
Thanks to Oliver. Deep ruby-black with a touch of garnet. Tarry and smoky oak, raisiny-sweet cherry chocolate truffle, a touch of dried rose in the middle, wet asphalt on the aftertaste. Good sweetness and glycerine. Decent depth on the nose, but not especially complex on the palate. Fairly low acidity for a 1996, slightly grainy and oaky tannin. Rating: 88
Pianpolvere Soprano Barolo Riserva 7 Anni Bussia 1999
Thanks to Oliver. This stems from an eponymous parcel (the cru Pianpolvere Soprano) in Bussia Soprana that Valentino Migliorini of Rocche dei Manzoni bought from Riccardo Fenocchio after Beppe Fenocchio died. Aged 40 months in new Taransaud barrique plus three years in bottle before release. 8000 bottles made. There is apparently going to be a Riserva 10 Anni 1997, too, whether exclusively from the same cru, I do not know. Deep garnet-ruby-black, much lighter, actually a bit watery at the rim. Quite perfumy, subtle caper and medicinal dried herbs, meaty. Faint violet and lavender, chocolatey rose-hip, touch of coffee. Sweet pink marzipan from the oak. Superripe, quite full-bodied and rather sweet on attack, good inner-mouth perfume. Very glyceric, high alcohol though not hot. With some airing greater complexity and finesse notes of shoe polish, a touch of brick clay, ginger, smoky tobacco and spice, sweeter on the palate, almost some Cabernet blackcurrant with Merlot sweetness and roastedness. Deeply complex tannin, faint horse sweat, graphite, touches of olive and Fonseca-like grape peel and violet. Extremely long, Rainer says. Tobacco aftertaste. The high quality is undeniable, but the style here is such that, modern but not offensively so, I would like to re-taste this mature and find out how much exactly I like it. Rating: ~93?
Greetings from Switzerland, David.