Gaja, Barolo, Conteisa

This is essentially in its sweet spot now. Lovely depth, layered attack and medium-fine tannins that are not obtrusive at all. This wine delivered beautifully.

3 hour decant Classic nose to me with plums, cherries, flowers and a hint of menthol. Tightly wound even at hour 4 with nice structure but austere tannins, medium full body and a lint finish. Young delicious but needs some time

Popped and poured. This is a light red wine moving slightly toward orange on the glass rim. On the nose, I get rose hips, brush, and licorice root. In the mouth, this has good acid and structure with cherry flavors on the attack and toward the finish. The finish wraps it up with some sap and mild tannins. Overall, this is a quality wine showing some pulsing energy and evident craftsmanship. There is some upside for sure. 93 points.

Popped and poured. This is a translucent ruby-red wine with basically zero sediment. On the nose, I get rosewater, rosehips, cherry, leather, and strawberry. In the mouth, this has medium red fruit, a blast of cherry flavor, and good structure overall. The finish is chewy with some licorice root notes. Overall, this is a pure wine with a nice focus. It is ready now but should have many miles left in the tank. 93 points.

Tasted blind. Guessed nebbiolo from the first smell and never wavered. Nebbiolo wines have the most beautiful aromas of all wines. Sweet roses, licorice, raspberry preserves. This wine is pretty and elegant on the palate, until the big tannins hit. I like the tannins though. They provide a sense of seriousness and structure. I think this wine is drinking wonderfully now.

Tasted blind. Felt confident it was nebbiolo; guessed ~10 year old Barbaresco. Gorgeous rose and tar aromas. Hints of crushed red berries and anise. Pretty and delicious on the palate until you get to the leathery nebbiolo tannins.

Very good. Classic tar and roses aromas. Thick, ripe, and smooth. Quite easy to drink. Unfortunately, the wine failed to excite me with anything distinctive, so I found it a tad disappointing for the name and price.

Slow ox'd for four hours. Dark garnet with a hint of browning, but clear. Powerful nose of dark cherries, rose and a little menthol. In the mouth, you get those with fig and licorice. Fabulous tension and energy. Tannins are muted until you get some dust on the long finish. This is drinkable and very good right now. I just had the sense that it was waiting to blossom even more.

Typical brooding nose of young nebbiolo. Surprisingly gentle on the palate after 2.5 hours in the decanter. Candied roses, cherries, licorice, and black figs. Mouth-puckering tannins on the finish; a sense of chewing on fruit skin. Although the offers some pleasure now, realistically it needs a few more years to enter the early part of its drinking window. I do think this will be special.

Medium to dark garnet. Florality, ground coffee, undergrowth on the nose. Med-bodied with firm tannins, medium acidity and a long aftertaste. Cellar for 5 more years.

Translucent purple red core with brick red rim, quite closed on the nose but eventually evolves into a undeveloped young bouquet. A wall of refined sweet vanilla hiding sweet cherries, plums, rose petal, tar, licorice, flowers, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and a hint of eucalyptus. Chalky textured, mid to full bodied, delicate feminine personality, exhibiting plums, raspberries, sour cherries on the attack and refreshing acidity on the mid-palate with cocoa powder. The finish is persistent showing sweet spices, milk chocolate, …

Wednesday Night Club - December 2011 (Peter Pratt's Inn) : Blind - Pours black, very tight and unyielding, but one bite of the Wild Boar with this and it came right to life. Excellent levels of black fruits including plums and cassis, hints of black olives, figs and a good dose of leather. This could greatly benefit from 10yrs in the cellar. Nice wine.