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2000 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Rabajà - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (10/19/2014)
Decanted for two hours and followed for three more. Medium ruby hue. Dense, imploded nose at first but with time yielded scents of graphite, stone, blackberry, rose petals, asphalt. At the get-go there were hints of tar and stone-anchored red fruit on the palate. At about the 4 hour mark the palate gave forth an unreal combination of tar, resin, and grippy sweet red cherry and strawberry fruit which just seemed to take off. By the next hour the effect had faded somewhat. Still-fresh acidity and quite structured tannins kept in balance by the majestic fruit, leading to a long finish of earth, limestone, and tart cherry. Still very young but exhibiting great things. Will leave the remaining bottle slumbering for another 5 years at least. (93 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
Thanks for the note. I have a few of these left, but have enjoyed at least six bottles over the last five years. I love it. 2000 gets mediocre press, but Giacosa nailed it, and it makes for great drinking while waiting for the vintages on either side of it.
Brady,
Thanks. I had read somewhere that the 2000 vintage was showing somewhat precociously so I have had two bottles over the last two years. If anything, they have seemed quite young (but definitely beautiful) each time. Really a nice bottle, and capable of lots of further development.
Cheers,
Doug
I’m hanging on to two bottles of the 2000 Asili red label (one in mag). Recent feedback about these wines has been all over the map. My uninformed speculation (hope?) is that they are passing through a phase, not maturing early.
Thanks to Brady, this was my epiphany Piedmont.
Kevin,
I am no expert but I think your strategy is the correct one, particularly regarding red label bottlings (not that I have ever had one).
Dan,
You could do a lot worse than get introduced to Giacosa with this wine!
Cheers,
Doug