Opinions of the 1990 Barolo Vintage

I could Google this question, but there are some real Italophiles here. I saw a bottle of 1990 Barolo (can't remember the producer ) in a wine shop and I'm curious as to opinions about the overall quality of 1990 for Barolos.

1990 is a great vintage.

I prefer 1989, but if the producer, provenance and price is right, it's a no brainer. Unlike 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, the 1990s wont punish you!

1990 is a great vintage.

I prefer 1989, but if the producer, provenance and price is right, it's a no brainer. Unlike 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, the 1990s wont punish you!

Ditto, a great vintage, but like Bordeaux of the same year, many to me have a 'cooked', overripe taste. I would prefer an 89 or 88.

Depending on the price, I'll pick up a bottle and report back.

Let us know who the producer is!

Let us know who the producer is!

Just sent her an e-mail.

I'm actually quite intrigued. I have some young barolos including a 1997 Cavalotto, but would love to try a young/middle-aged one like a 1990.

1990 is a great vintage.

I prefer 1989, but if the producer, provenance and price is right, it's a no brainer. Unlike 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, the 1990s wont punish you!

Ditto, a great vintage, but like Bordeaux of the same year, many to me have a 'cooked', overripe taste. I would prefer an 89 or 88.

I've had rather similar tastes (but I have tasted much too few Barolos of this age). Some (incl. G. Conterno's Monfortino) have been much too raisiny and over-ripe even though the style of the producer is one I like. Others, (most notably a recent Cavallotto's Vigna S. Giuseppe Riserva Briccho Boschis 1990 was tear-inducingly sublime) are just lovely - though very ripe of course.

I haven't had much experience, but my hunch at this moment is that if you are as allergic to over-ripe/raisiny scents as I am, then approach with caution as even producers who one should like can be over the top. If you do not mind a touch of over-ripeness, however, then you are in for a treat as the wines do seem to have genuine depth and complexity.

-O-

I have some young barolos including a 1997 Cavalotto, but would love to try a young/middle-aged one like a 1990

'97 is a pretty ripe year as well, Brian. The only Cavalotto I have is also a '97 (Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe). Don't think I'll open it for a while though.

And let us know the price too, once you find the producer.