A fine group of Nebbiolo lovers got together to taste fourteen 1989 Barolos and
two 1989 Barbarescos single blind. By single blind, I mean that I knew almost all
the wines that would be served, but I had no idea of the order.
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All bottle photos for this tasting taken by Eric Guido after the tasting.
Misty veiw of the Empire State Bldg walking east on 34th Street to get to I Trulli.
Eric put together a laminated list of the wines
which he handed out at the end.
I Trulli did a very nice menu.
All the wines in order. All bottle photos taken by Eric Guido after the tasting.
Flight 1: Barbaresco and Barolo.
Antipasti Misti: Small Plates Typical to the Langhe Hills including Carne Cruda,
Polenta with Wild Mushrooms, Vitello Tonnato.
Langhe Antipasti Misti.
Carne Cruda.
Polenta with Wild Mushrooms.
Vitello Tonnato.
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Ovello -
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Double-decanted around 11am.] Red fruit and mushroom nose. Bright red fruit in the mouth.
Harmonious tannins. Really shines with the apps. (93 points)
1989 Roagna Barbaresco Riserva - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
[Double-decanted around 8am.] Gorgeous, aromatic nose of bright red fruits and a woodsy undertone.
Dry and tannic in the mouth. Quite rustic and short.
Very disappointing considering the nose. (83 points)
1989 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 1pm.] Quite muted nose of red fruit and fruit cake.
Tannic with tart cherries. Could use more time or air. (92 points)
1989 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera -
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 1pm.] Sweet blackberry perfumed nose. Stunning sweetness.
Still quite tannic and acidic, but the fruit wins out. (93 points)
1989 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Colonnello -
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 11am.] Black fruit. Tannic, but harmonious.
Still quite young. Gorgeous sweet black fruit and fruit cake in the nose,
so I thought this might have been the Giacosa. One of the wines of the night for me.
(95 points)
1989 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Riserva -
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 11am.] Others picked up oaky notes, but I did not.
Striking black fruit nose. Excellent structure. Classic 1989. Long finish.
Modern in style. I really enjoyed this. If I didn't know there was no Gaja Sperss here,
I would have guessed that's what this was. (94 points)
Flight 3: Wines from Castiglione Falletto
Brasato al Barolo: Short Rib of Beef Braised in Barolo Wine.
This was brilliantly done.
1989 Vietti Barolo Rocche - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 1pm.] Muted nose. Sweet fruit and tannins on the palate.
A tasty wine. Still has a ways to go. (93 points)
1989 Vietti Barolo Riserva Villero - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around noon.] Rustic and tannic. Tart red fruit. Needs a lot more time.
Structured with hints of sandalwood, black berries, and tar. Potentially 96 points.
(94 points)
Flight 4: Wines from Serralung and Barolo
Formaggi: Fontina and Toma, with Maraschino Mostarda (a condiment made of candied
Marasca cherries and a mustard flavored syrup).
1989 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 11am.] Big black fruit licorice nose. A big sweet wine in the mouth,
with loads of chocolaty tannins, licorice and violets. Quite young, but clearly great.
Probably WOTN and with another 2 decades of life ahead. (96 points)
1989 Cascina Bruni Barolo Vigna Batistot - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Opened at 6pm.] Gorgeous black fruit and spice. Sweet in the mouth.
A beautiful wine from a producer I had not heard of before. (93 points)
1989 Prunotto Barolo Cannubi - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 11am.] Stunning bright fruit. Medicinal in a good way.
Complex and silky. A terrific wine at its peak.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening for me. (95 points)
1989 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Riserva Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around noon.] OMFG. Dark fruit in a haunting nose.
A stunningly youthful wine with complex black fruit and great length.
Neck and neck with the first wine in this flight for WOTN.
This wine will continue to improve for at least a decade and drink well for at least a decade more.
Wow. What a great way to finish the evening! (97 points)
Summary
This was a good showing for this vintage, if not a great one.
The wines showed simillarly to a
non-blind 1989 Barolo tasting last year.
I most definitely enjoyed most of the wines, as well as the food and the company.
It was great seeing new friends and old.
My second 1989 tasting in recent times.
The best wines are so great, but there is always some bottle variation.
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Mark S.
Cristi, Tom, and Ali.
Around the table: Alfonso, Josh, Eric, Greg, Cristi, Tom, Ali.