Ciao Berzerkers,
Luigi Einaudi has always been a favorite producer of mine, I think the first vintage of their Barolo I ever had was the 1982, and it was excellent. I managed to collect a little stash of their 1993 Barolo “normale” back in the day, for a good price, about 9 bottles or so total, maybe averaged about $25 per bottle, if memory serves (it doesn’t serve as well as it used to since I hit 50). I grabbed this from my stash at my brother’s in CT last Thanksgiving, I think there is maybe one left. I have enjoyed watching it develop over the years, the wine gave great pleasure from the first bottle and hasn’t stopped, but at this point I say it is time to drink up.
Decanted about half an hour before dinner (I would have decanted much sooner but did not know Wilma wanted wine with the spaghetti bolognese I made until it was almost ready) and a pretty good amount of sediment was removed. A very solid cork made me confident the wine was going to be in good condition. The color is a beautiful medium garnet with a hint of oranging at the rim, it says it is mature and ready to drink, and healthy. The nose is quite aromatic, with spicy black cherry fruit, smoky incense, and red rose - this wine has always been more about the black cherry than the red raspberry of most other Barolo. I took it outside and admired the color in the natural sunlight.
On the palate it has more spice and black cherry/black raspberry fruit, a sense of earthiness, juicy acidity, mild tannins, and a lip smacking finish. The second night I had it with roast chicken, a better match for it than the pasta, and it performed just as well. I could not ask for more from the wine than it gave, especially for the price. In my opinion, 1993 was a very under appreciated vintage. That being said, I think this wine is as good as it is going to get, maybe even just passed it’s peak, so drink them up within the next 2-3 years if you have any. Grade: B+.
In the FWIW department, I got to taste some Einaudi Barolo normale from the 2001 vintage when I worked retail, very impressive. Today they make two crus as well, “Costa Grimaldi” and Cannubi", and I believe they may see some new oak in barrique (the normale also). I wonder which vineyards went into the 93 normale?
Ciao,
Dave.