TN: 1970 Giacomo Borgogno & Figlia - Barolo Riserva
Decanted 1 hour before drinking to both open up the wine and avoid the heavy sediment affecting the wine when it is poured. A clear colour, more brown than red. Plenty of tar and some dry rose petals on the nose. Silky, high acid, fine dried meat, this bottle seems more advanced than the last bottle that I tried from the same parcel some months ago. The cork from this bottle was more spongy than the previous bottle, so this may be a factor. A pleasant wine which paired well with moussaka.
Thanks for the post on the '70. Haven’t had but it sounds like one to look for, if the provenance is solid. There’s something special about these old Borgogne’s. The gamey, rustic, high acid, almost scorched earth quality is unique to old Barolos and such a winner.
I know this gets away from the '70 but seems a good opportunity to talk Borgogno in general. I recently had the '47 Riserva at Maude and the '44 at Tar & Roses - both red cap original releases. The '47 showed beautifully, much more of the rose petal and lightly smoked meat quality, while the '44 was just about the strangest wine I’ve ever had with hints of burned orange rind and intense aged gouda that needed about 90 minutes to resolve. Fascinating, not for everyone, but certainly interesting.
Hi Walker
Yes we had a 1961 Borgogno Riserva on xmas day. I do like old shit!
I like them, but get the impression they are (or at least used to be) somewhat foursquare in youth. Others on the forum are less enthusiastic, so they do seem to divide opinion.
If going back to the 40s then some grand old names (that have been destroyed in our lifetimes) will be worth looking at. Gone are the days though where Vallana’s old wines could be had for a modest sum though.
regards
Ian
Will be opening one of these tomorrow night, will post some pictures, my label looks a bit different. Has the vintage on the main label, notes Superb Red Wine under the vintage and notes in red Antichi Vigneti Propri across the middle of the label.
