This young Nebbiolo is 50% opaque and has a beautiful crimson hue in the glass. Thick legs bely the potent 15% alcohol. On the nose I get cranberries, cherry, anise and leather- textbook. On the palate it is delicious, if not young. The tannins are formidable but I manage to break through the barrier and taste Bing cherries, leather, espresso and black tea. The tannins are gripping on the mid-palate, so much so that the top of my gums feel abused by rough hewn rope. The finish is a terrifically dry affair but the red fruits come through as does a balancing acidity. This is a delicious infant of a monster wine. With proper aeration, decating or extended cellaring it will soften and develop into a beautiful bottle. For now, you will need to pair it with a fatty meat, like I am with Rack of Lamb- or decant over a full day. 93 points from me as I see the potential in this wine and look forward to our next meeting. At $55 it is typically priced for a Barolo, which are never cheap. I am going with 5 stars as I think this one will reward some patience and be delicious by 2025. Drink till 2033. Salut….

Semi opaque medium tint of purple. I get a delicious whiff of black cherry, cedar, tobacco and spice box.  On the palate the wines visual and nose bely it’s power and structure.  It has a very forward stab of fruit alongside a crescendo of tannins that present cherries, lingonberry and leather on the initial palate.  The tannins sear my gums and carry me to the midpalate of more stark red fruits and that earthy component.  The finish- dry AF, really has some juiciness to it.  The cherries are the dominant force battling the astringency.  This wine is a cherub, the tannins almost too much at this stage but I feel this wine will evolve in the next 5-10 years.  I’m going with 92 points but either decant the hell out of it or put it away for a long time.  $30 and 4 stars for this Nebbiolo.  Drink from 2024-2034.  Salut….

A gift from a neighbor, I was not sure what to expect.  A slight bricking on the edges of an otherwise pale purple sheen.  On the nose, a beautiful bouquet of mushroom, cherry and bacon.  On the palate, strawberry, cherry and upfront tannins.  The mid palate reveals more cherries, but darker this time.  The tannins are really starting to grip and the wine finishes very dry indeed.  The gaminess I sensed on the nose has all but disappeared, taken over by brutish tannins.  This is not a delicate wine, nor is it very fruit forward anymore.  But it is good.  In its own way, this wine exudes power and poise at the expense of fruit and finesse.  I am going with 91 points for this $50 wine.  4 stars.  Salut….

I got this bottle as a gift and thought I would open it to pair with some hearty pasta.  The wine turns out to command a lofty price in excess of $50, and got decent scores from the pros.  Here’s my take:

Slight bricking on the edges with a coppery tint in the glass.  A delightful nose of cherry and earth.  The first taste is sour cherry and green peppers.  The acidity that this wine opens with carries on through to the mid palate.  Right now it is one dimensional.  There are some good tannins that round the wine out but to be honest it is too young.  89 points from me and pretty much a pass unless it shapes up and gets a little bit of flab, some more fruit and a little less acidity.  This may happen if it gets some bottle age and nature is kind.  2 stars from me.  Salut….

A very young wine that the critics loved.  I popped this one because of the Italian nature of dinner tonight.  I figured I would go to the Barolo for a themed feast of tomato chicken, spaghetti squash and salad with an avocado starter.  It worked a treat…

Violet in the glass and showing a lightness and agility reminiscent of Pinot Noir, it had similar characteristics on the nose.  Cherry bouquet with thyme and some coffee came jumping out of the glass.   I need to remind myself of the first aged Barolo I tasted….  It was in Alaska and my buddy Mr. Leebering brought it for a Christmas dinner back in 2006.  It was a ’97 Ratti that blew me over with it’s seductiveness and complexity.  The amazing part of the adventure was my total lack of knowledge in Barolo territory.  I did not realize Barolo takes on such Pinot flavors and nuances.  I digress….

The wine tasted of tart cherries, cranberry, leather and Muduro.  It is a young wine with sprite tannins and a juicy mouthfeel from the beautiful acidity.  WS and others gave this wine a whopping 94 points.  I can’t see it personally.  I am going with 92 and for $50 it is a 4 star wine on one condition- cellar it for at least 5 more years to allow it to meld into the mature Barolo I feel it is capable of becoming.  Patience will reward on this one.  Serve with meatballs and red sauce for the best results.  Salut….