Sometime last month, both bottles thanks to Oliver, who always brings along nice wine when we cook for him.
Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini "Vigna Chiniera" 1998
Thanks to Oliver. Deep pruney garnet-ruby colour. A bit closed on both nose and palate, if opening up reasonably with airing. Touch of raspberry purée, and black and a little white truffle to black cherry and dried rose petal. More forest berry mix with airing. Suggestions of marzipan and dark chocolate. Quite concentrated. Fairly high-acid. Faintly dry and bitter tannin. Medium length at best. Touch reductive? In dubio pro reo. Rating: 89+/90(+?)
Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Ginestra "Vigna Casa Maté" 1998
Thanks to Oliver. Slightly more evolved colour (already verging on orange at the rim), as well as on the nose. More complex, better sense of vinosity. Less bitter albeit more tannic, at least as compact but less compressed. Nobler truffle and more violety-floral rose petal. Meat juice. Soft autumnal leaves. Longer, sweeter. More evolved and yet, more complete. Oliver finds this fleshy or broth-like, and noted he prefers this to Bruno Giacosa’s Asili from the same vintage (not sure why he drew this comparison, perhaps because it is a Piedmontese 1998 Nebbiolo we re-tasted a few days later). Could really use some more bottle age as well. Rating: 92
Greetings from Switzerland, David.
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„J'ai gâché vingt ans de mes plus belles années au billard. Si c'était à refaire, je recommencerais.“ – Roger Conti
Thanks!