TASTING NOTE: The 2003 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra is even better than the Pajana, with a superbly well-delineated bouquet and deeply nuanced layers of violets, spices, menthol and sweet dark fruit. It fully captures the essence of Ginestra, one of Baroloâ€(tm)s greatest sites, in the rich, ripe style of the vintage. This gorgeous Barolo is only in need of further bottle age after which it should drink beautifully to age 20, perhaps beyond. It is one of the highlights of the vintage ... Anticipated maturity: 2011-2023. Score - 93.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2007)
ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO BUSSIA SOPRANA 2001 DOCG
51011
(XD) 750 mL $89
TASTING NOTE: Lots of plum, cedar and light toasted oak that turns toward meaty aromas. Full-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a long, rich, fruity aftertaste. Best after 2007. Score - 90.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
Oct. 15, 2005)
ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO GRANBUSSIA RISERVA 2001 DOCG
50997
(XD) 750 mL $235
TASTING NOTE: Displays wonderful aromas of strawberry and Indian spices, with a hint of flowers. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins, a beautiful texture and excellent balance. Drinking really well now. One of the most balanced Granbussias yet. Best from 2008 through 2012.
Score - 92.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
Oct. 15, 2007)
ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO CICALA 1999 DOCG
51003
(XD) 750 mL $135
TASTING NOTE: Medium ruby. Owing to its poor soils, Cicala always gives the firmest wines, and this 1999 is no exception. It offers attractive mineral, menthol, and tobacco aromas, along with plenty of sweet fruit on a deceptively medium bodied frame of great length. It should drink well to at least age 25. Drink after 2009. Score - 92.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
May 2006)
ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO GRANBUSSIA RISERVA 1999 DOCG
50971
(XD) 750 mL $199
TASTING NOTE: The 1999 Barolo Riserva Granbussia, medium ruby in color, presents classic Barolo nuances of roses, tar, minerals and spices on the nose. It is expansive on the palate, with vibrant layers of ripe fruit, great length and fine, noble tannins. Although it is fairly accessible for the vintage it will be even better in a few years, after which it will provide rewarding drinking for at least another decade. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2021. Score - 94.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2006)
AZELIA BAROLO SAN ROCCO 1999 DOCG
51318
(XD) 750 mL $79
TASTING NOTE: Dark ruby. Exuding much richness and youthfulness, the San Rocco offers a heady, ethereal nose with suggestions of spices, sweet toasted oak and white truffles. As it sits in the glass, it opens to reveal gorgeous layers of vibrant sweet dark fruit, licorice, and menthol nuances that coat the palate with exceptional elegance and length It should drink well to age 20 and perhaps beyond. One of the vintage's great wines. Drink after 2009 ...
Score - 94.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
May 2006)
ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO GRANBUSSIA RISERVA 1998 DOCG
50948
(XD) 750 mL $199
TASTING NOTE: The 1998 Barolo Granbussia is a selection from the estate's highest, but very well exposed, vineyards. Always released late due to its austerity in its first years, it is an impressive success in 1998 with important floral and cherry aromas mingled with smoke and tar, firm and elegant on the palate with an excellent balance of force and elegance. Still extremely fresh, it will still be drinking well in 2015. Score - 92.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
Aug. 2005)
Tuscany
Red Wines
CASTELLO DI AMA L'APPARITA MERLOT 2004 IGT Toscana
39776
(D) 750 mL $199
40030
(D) 1500 mL $485
39792
(D) 3000 mL $989
TASTING NOTE: The 2004 L'Apparita is a decidedly more structured, mineral-driven expression of Merlot. This superb wine is packed with the essence of blackberry liqueur, chocolate, minerals and sweet toasted oak. Made in a super-ripe style it nevertheless possesses much vibrancy as well as balance. Anticipated maturity: 2010- 2020. Score - 94.
June 2007)
FRESCOBALDI GIRAMONTE 2004 IGT Toscana
38612
(XD) 750 mL $85
TASTING NOTE: Lots of blackberry and mint character. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long aftertaste of ripe fruit and toasty oak. Layered and intense, with plenty going on. Best after 2008. Score - 94.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
Oct. 31, 2006)
ORNELLAIA 2004 DOC Bolgheri Superiore
707547
(XD) 1500 mL $349
707414
(XD) 3000 mL $699
51516
(XD) 6000 mL $1399
TASTING NOTE: The gorgeous 2004 Ornellaia is a great way to start this tasting. A lively dark ruby, it is a vibrant effort bursting with expressive aromatics and layered, well-delineated fruit, showing much purity on the palate and closing with a long, finessed finish. Readers hoping to catch this wine's full array of nuances will have to wait at least another few years as the wine remains quite primary today. This exquisite effort is not to be missed. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2019 ... Score - 95.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
April 2007)
SASSICAIA 2004 IGT Toscana
480541
(XD) 1500 mL $349
480558
(XD) 3000 mL $699
TASTING NOTE: Shows aromas of chocolate, currant and blackberry, with a hint of Spanish cedar. Full-bodied, with firm, velvety tannins and a long finish. Racy and very well-structured. Builds on the palate. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best after 2012. Score - 94.
Oct. 31, 2007)
TENUTA DELl' ORNELLAIA MASSETO 2004 IGT Toscana
730655
(XD) 750 mL $319
732172
(XD) 1500 mL $659
732180
(XD) 3000 mL $1319
TASTING NOTE: The stunning 2004 Masseto (100% Merlot) presents layers of sweet jammy dark fruit and mineral notes that burst forth from the glass with notable length, purity and delineation. It is a decidedly elegant and super-refined Masseto that continues to integrate its 100% new oak well, showing extraordinary class and fine, silky-textured tannins that caress the palate on the long finish. The 2004 will be hard to resist in its youth as it is incredibly delicious even now, yet it promises to develop gracefully to at least age 20. It is a phenomenal effort that is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024.
Score - 97.
(Antonio Galloni,
www.erobertparker.com,
June 2007)
BIONDI SANTI TENUTA GREPPO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2001 DOCG
981977
(XD) 750 mL $149
TASTING NOTE: We can point to Brunello '01 as a benchmark and a top-of-the-class Three Glass wine that enthused all our tasters. Both eye and nose are classic Il Greppo, with ruby and just a touch of garnet at the rim followed by nuances of tobacco leaf and tanned leather emerging to immediately infuse generous yellow peach and subtle ripe cherry. The attack is magisterial, where a smooth alcohol and an acidity that is absolutely textbook drive an elegant development. Tannins are superlative, close-packed but already fairly supple, and the finale is generous and well nigh endless. Score - (out of 3).
Gambero Rosso Italian Wines,
2007)
FULIGNI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2001
952325
(XD) 750 mL $115
TASTING NOTE: Wonderfully perfumed, with rose, blackberry and a hint of wet earth. Full-bodied, with layers of silky tannins and a long, long finish. Structured. Hard not to drink now, but will be even better with a little more bottle age. Best after 2009. Score - 97.
(James Suckling,
www.winespectator.com,
April 30, 2007)
