1999 Barolo Dinner @ Chez Goldberg, Greenwich Village, NYC, 4/2/2022
A group of Barolo lovers got together at the home of Ben & Wendy to enjoy a set of 1999 Barolo.
All the food was prepared by Ben & Wendy and was wonderful as always.
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All the wines:
Jared opens the Champagne:
Starter
Manchego, brie, nuts, dates, and olives.
NV Jacques Selosse Substance - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
[Pop and pour. Disgorged 29 September 2020.] Bright amber color.
Nose of mandarin oranges, apricots, and cinnamon. Complex with a very long finish. A terrific Champagne.
(95 points)
Flight 1: Barolo & Castiglione Falletto
Steve's homemade prosciutto, speck, and culatello with Ben's homemade baguette.
1999 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 2:30pm for 3 hours.] Mature nose of black cherries and forest floor.
Long, complex finish of tar and black fruit. (95 points)
1999 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around noon.] Powerful nose of dark black fruit with just a hint of something floral.
A big wine. Still quite young with a great future. (95–97 points)
Ben in the background in the photo on the left.
Flight 2: Barolo & La Morra
Pappardelle Bolognese [Pappardelle ai Funghi for the vegetarians].
1999 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 2:30pm for 3 hours.] Smoky red fruit nose. Cherries. Light.
I don't think this was a totally sound bottle. (NR)
1999 Roberto Voerzio Barolo Brunate - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Decanted at 7:45 pm. Served at 8:30.] Nose of cocoa and ketchup.
Way over-extracted for a Barolo. Very polished. Could be from anywhere. (88 points)
1999 Paolo Scavino Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata -
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 2:30pm for 3 hours.] Nose of rich black fruit. A powerful wine.
So much rich fruit, the new oak is almost completely hidden.
One of my all-time favorite modernist Barolos. Great length.
Many years of life ahead. (95 points)
Intermezzo
2018 Nervi-Conterno Gattinara - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara
[Opened Wednesday. Consumed Saturday.] Amazing what Roberto Conterno can do.
This held its own in the middle of this tasting.
Even with the sharp price increase, I would say it is still an excellent value.
Beautiful nose of red fruit and pine trees. A delicious young Nebbiolo.
(93 points)
Steve and Jamie in the background in the photo on the left.
Flight 3: Giacosa Falletto MGA
Chicken Marsala with mushrooms and shallots.
1999 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba -
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 2:30pm for 3 hours.] Nose of red fruit and roses.
Still young but tannins are soft and balanced.
Classic Giacosa fruitcake on a very long complex finish. (96 points)
1999 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba -
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 10am.] Sweeter than the Falletto. Richer, with more black fruit.
Expansive in the mouth. The complex finish goes on and on. Just wow!
Bruno knocked it out of the park in 1999. Among the best white labels he ever made.
(98 points)
Flight 4: G. Conterno Francia MGA
Eggplant Parmigiana. This was made for the vegetarians, but
I had some with this last flight and it was delicious.
1999 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 2:30pm for 3 hours.] Powerful nose of black fruit and licorice.
Still young and tannic, but with massive fruit. Long, complex finish. Juicy and rich.
(96 points)
1999 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
[Double-decanted around 2:30pm for 3 hours.] Muted black fruit nose. Huge in the mouth.
Long and juicy, but still so backward. Will this ever be ready in my lifetime?
(96–?? points)
Conclusion
1999 is clearly a very strong vintage, especially in Serralunga d'Alba.