Poderi Aldo Conterno, Dolcetto d'Alba, Bussia Soprano

It has been a long while since a tasting note has been added for this wine so I was apprehensive about taking it to dinner at a friend’s house. It was terrific. My friend who owns a wine import company commented that it even tasted young. Certainly no geriatrics here, nothing tired. The nose was classic with a bit of cranberry top notes. Well balanced.

1978 vintage

Old Barolo Night (Bar-a-Thym, Singapore) : Sandwiched between a pair of beautiful 1990 Ceretto wines, this just about held its own. What a lovely nose this had - a pat of foresty earth, a hint of mineral, red cherries, wilting flowers... mmm... and then spice and herb, a curl of tarry smoke. Wow. The palate was not quite as full and pleasing as on either of the Ceretto bottles, but this had a real sense of elegance to it, with …

1990 vintage

Not quite as accessible as the last bottle. This one was showing the ripeness of the vintage with a bit of harsh tannins that are not yet fully resolved. Good-plus at this point. Try again in 5 years.

1990 vintage

Wine was truly a spectacular wine! Enjoyed it with taleggio and pancetta. Wine of the night!

1978 vintage

A Night of Truly Diverse Wines (Newtown, Sydney) : Easily overlooked amongst some peak-drinking heavy hitters, I cherished every sip of this beautiful, fully mature expression of Nebbiolo. Shy, perfumed nose with a hint of smoke. I picked up mild balsamic flavors, with black olives, rose petals, truffles and coffee. Plenty of lift, and fully resolved tannins provide welcome structure.

1978 vintage

Brick red. Certainly past its prime but by no means out of the fight, this is a lovely mature Barolo. Some mature notes of beef broth fade with air, leaving a bouquet of dried rose, caramel, prune, and earth. The palate is floral and earthy with fully integrated tannins. Drink now.

1978 vintage

Really good and drinking nicely now. Showing the ripeness of the vintage and hints of bottle sweetness. Aromatic, elegant, and classic. Good now, but plenty of life left.

1990 vintage

Pre WWS 2012 GJE dinner at Devero Ristorante - 85 La Las, 09 DRC VR and etc (Devero hotel - outskirts of Milan) : The young sommelier thought the wine was flawed. IMO, this is a perfectly find matured Barolo. In all fairness there is a hint of Madeira as the end note but definitely forgiving. Strong truffle note, caramel, cocoa, prune and cappuccino. Soft warm round palate and the tannins are completely resolved. Lovely wine but at the end …

1978 vintage

Showing nicely with tons of life left.

1990 vintage

Classic leather, tobacco and earth on the nose. Wonderful 'stink'. Leather continued and there was a gravelly taste and coffee on the palete. All about structure rather than fruit. This is the reason why you should leave Barolo until it is mature. A unique taste.

1990 vintage

'Vintage Pairs II' Offline (The Ledbury, London) : Bottle deemed faulty. Slightly pruney nose. A bit dry. Soupy and diffuse. Not right.

1990 vintage

Bello e presente, Bussia fino al midollo con note di menta piacevoli

1990 vintage

Brick red. A bit of menthol on the nose. Medium bodied with excellent mouthfeel and classic tar and roses flavors. Nicely balanced with fully integrated tannins. I have the sense that its just beginning to hit its stride and will gain further complexity with age. Perfectly ripe with no roasted, prune or raisin flavors. A beautiful Aldo Conterno win which is neither modern nor traditionally styled but middle of the road. Probably drunk about five years to early but still …

1990 vintage

Big bouquet. Full of fruit and tasting significantly younger. Black fruit, balsamic and leather taste. Long finish.

1990 vintage

Barolo Bash II (Bottega del Vino, NYC) : Giving slightly less on the nose than the 89, thi is a bit earthier, with cedar and underbrush notes. On the palate, this is brighter than the 89, with very tart cherries, and a load of tannins. Again, very young and needs time. With food, this opens slightly, but very little compared to the 89. Still just a wall of tannins and tartness. A very nice wine, but too young, and still …

1990 vintage

Beautiful, refined, and elegant. The palate displays wonderful Barolo typicisty and can only be described as almost flawless. Elements of fruit, earth, acidity, tannin, and alcohol were perfectly balanced. As this wine approaches its 30th birthday, it’s drinking almost perfectly. The depth and beauty of this wine make it a wonderful example of aged Barolo.

1978 vintage

yum! bouquet of licorice, mushrooms, leather, raspberries; tastes of licorice, earth, very nice burgundian texture, sweet roses, a bit short on the finish but a delicious wine. ***1/2 cherries showed up on 2nd day along with deeper fruit flavors. very nice.

1990 vintage

big barolo nose, with extra vanilla and mocha. okay fruit but it is fading. on the palate it is lacking concentration, with a fair amount of tannin left. i fear the fruit will not last long enough for the tannins to subside. B-

1990 vintage

Ruby red with some fading around the rim. Very intense and appealing aromas of cherries, strawberries, prunes and marzipan. An hour later the wine revealed very strong aromas of peaches combined with a lovely scent of flowers. Actually, the aromas of this wine were one of the most appealing aromas I have ever witnessed in a wine – red or white. Full body with impressive concentration, revealing flavors of cinnamon, licorice, prunes, pepper and ripe grapes, all combined with toasted …

1990 vintage

With Michael Lehmann at Singer & Foy survey of 1978 Barolos. Dark ruby. Nose is restrained. Light cocoa. Good flavor. But a bit strange. Good. 5-9-13-6: 83/100.

1978 vintage

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Poderi Aldo Conterno, Dolcetto d'Alba, Bussia Soprano

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