96 Giacosa Barbaresco Normale question/TN

WINE TALK
1

I was in a somewhat chilly Milan restaurant last night and had the occasion to drink a bottle of 96 Giacosa Barbaresco (I believe the basic bottling) that was dug out of the even cooler cellar and quickly decanted. The glassware was not great but adequate.

The wine had hints of a nice aroma but never really opened up. The wine did not seem to be corked (I am moderately sensitive) but I never really got the rich aromatics that I would have expected. The wine was quite pleasant to drink but something seemed missing.

To those who know this wine better than I do, did I catch it a bad time, was it too cold, an off bottle or just a wine with not that much going on?

Many thanks,

Cole

2

I haven’t had this or any Giacosa 96s, but I’m not surprised that you wouldn’t find much in a major 96 that had just been decanted. Many 96s are still fairly backward. The cool temperature probably didn’t help in the opening up, either. Just a surmise.

3

Cole,
It has been a while. As you may recall you were the first guy that I met at an OL, you brought the 83 Jayer Gilles Echzeaux which was singing.

I had a falletto that was singing and very expressive. We should get together soon.

4

Thanks; probably a bad choice to open that bottle in that situation but sometimes you get lucky.

Kevin, I am back in DC soon and I’d be very happy to get together. I’ve come into a stash of oddball 60s Bordeaux that you and I both enjoy. The wines may have some issues but none are likely to be too young.

5

Sounds like I need to get to DC.

6

Could be any number of issues including no air time for a generally backward vintage or the temp (though it should have come up to room temp eventually). But of all his wines, for me the normale B&B can be underwhelming at times.

7

I’ve run into what you describe with a few of bottles of Giacosa barbaresco over the years – 96s and even 97s. I don’t totally understand what’s going on. I think there is some bottle variation with mild taint at work, and I also think sometimes his wines just shut down for periods. The nose is week, the palate is thinner and more acidic than expected, the finish too dry. Sometimes just a hint, sometimes more than a hint, of tca mushrooms/dirty socks. And then there are those other bottles that are fantastic, so I keep at it … [head-bang.gif] [head-bang.gif]

8

Had a 98 that was singing recently.