1958 Barolo

I recently noticed a 1958 Borgogno Barolo Riserva in an e-mail from a guy who sells over the internet. This got me thinking as that's my birth year and it's quite rare to see these. They want $185 for it, which is steep for me even given a birthday splurge. Anyone have any experience with Barolo from back then? Is there even a chance that the wine is worth the price? Or would I do better with a port?


Thanks in advance!

[David M. Bueker]

A friend at work is looking at buying the same wine (for a friend's 50th). Michael Broadbent had good things to say about a few 1958 Barolos back in about 1998. He was pretty positive on the Ports as well. The Barolo (Is it the Borgogno?) is likely a recent estate release, so provenance is great. I had a late release 1967 Giacomo Borgogno Barolo last year that was really good if that's any help.

Thanks, David. It is the Borgogno. Makes sense that it would be a late release and that would certainly help ease my mind a bit.

I'd roll the dice. In the grand scheme of things, $185 isn't that steep for a round number birthday.
Pity me, I was born in '59 - have you checked the price of 59 Bordeaux lately?
I've lusted after the 59 Latour for my 50th birthday celebration - but it's close to $2M now.

I'd roll the dice. In the grand scheme of things, $185 isn't that steep for a round number birthday.
Pity me, I was born in '59 - have you checked the price of 59 Bordeaux lately?
I've lusted after the 59 Latour for my 50th birthday celebration - but it's close to $2M now.

Yikes!!!

OK, the Barolo sounds like a bargain.

I'd roll the dice. In the grand scheme of things, $185 isn't that steep for a round number birthday.
Pity me, I was born in '59 - have you checked the price of 59 Bordeaux lately?
I've lusted after the 59 Latour for my 50th birthday celebration - but it's close to $2M now.

'

I'm a '59 baby, too, John, and have been lucky enough to have had '59s twice: '59 Meyney on my 30th and the same wine on my 40th. (To my eternal shame, tasting the Meyney blind the first time I mistook it for a young Zinfandel, which gives you some idea of how fruity and primary the damn thing was in '89). My advice would be to avoid the first growths and super seconds, unless you've got a major inheritcance in hand, and look for a good 4th or 5th growth. Broadbent is a great source of information for those older bottles, and some can still be found at auction or from a few reputable retailers. My wife was born in '61, which presents an even greater problem for birth year wines.

Mark Lipton

Great year, great price.

There has been talk of these old Borgogno being touched up (I've had a few myself). I wont go any further into it unless this has been recognized by Borgogno. That said, every bottle of Borgogno from the 50's I've tasted has been amazing.

Best,
Joe

For what it's worth, I drank some on my birthday about 15 years ago, having bought it at the domaine ... it was great then (sorry no notes) and probably at a plateau stage - so it's a case of how long the plateau goes on for. A good risk, though I would think. Piedmont is the only region, as far as I know, that produced great, age-worthy wines in 1958 - only other option is Port, and that's a bit dicey, I've been told.

Thanks, everyone! Sounds worth a shot. The kicker is that we'll be celebrating in September with a very good friend who will also be hitting 50 then. I think he'd appreciate a chance to drink something from that year.

Can I come over too, please? That's my birthday month too!

For any of you who have had the luck to try both, how would you compare the '58 Borgogno Barolo with the '58 Vallana Spanna thats around. My wife is a '58 and loves Nebbiolo. I remember reading some positive notes on that Spanna.

TIA,
Marc

For any of you who have had the luck to try both, how would you compare the '58 Borgogno Barolo with the '58 Vallana Spanna thats around. My wife is a '58 and loves Nebbiolo. I remember reading some positive notes on that Spanna.

Extraordinary! That was the other one I found and drank many years ago. My memory of it is that it was excellent but needed to be drunk soon - and that was probably at least 12 years ago.

Fontanafredda produced a good Barolo in this vintage as well. Don't think I've had this vintage of Vallana Spanna, but would expect it to be alive and in a graceful decline - worth a gamble.

Can I come over too, please? That's my birthday month too!

You're on, Wink! Current plan is to meet up in Manhattan for a long weekend.

Hmmm. Might have to get two bottles.....

[James Roscoe]

Can I come over too, please? That's my birthday month too!

You're on, Wink! Current plan is to meet up in Manhattan for a long weekend.

Hmmm. Might have to get two bottles.....

Details?

Can I come over too, please? That's my birthday month too!

You're on, Wink! Current plan is to meet up in Manhattan for a long weekend.

Hmmm. Might have to get two bottles.....

Details?

My friend lives in Minnesota and has reeserved a couple of places for a week or so in Manhattan. He's inviting a bunch of people to come out for all or part of that time to celebrate. We're tentatively planning on going, and I'm looking forward to finally getting a chance to step inside of Chambers Street Wines!

Mike, I havent had the '58 Borgogno but the '58 Vallana Spanna ($160 at RWC) is worth the price.