TN: 2004 Paolo Scavino Barolo

WINE TALK
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  • 2004 Paolo Scavino Barolo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (10/31/2009)
    nose: a bit tight as would be expected from such a young barolo, but extremely pretty with bits of tar, roses, herbs, dark red cherries, perfumes and some bits of herbal spices. Excellent depth and fairly open with a 2 hour decant

taste: firm tannins and medium/high acidity show off the youth of the wine, but its fairly accessible with plush tones of dark red cherries, herbal spices, roses and some tar. Great balance to this with a real nice plump medium feel right now

overall: great acidity and tannins give this a great spine. Its rather shocking how accessible some of the 04s that I’ve come across have been so far, but that’s not to say that they aren’t long distance runners, because they do seem to be. There is a plump aspect to the wine that is extremely enjoyable and sexy. This should really develop and could use a couple of years to get fully going (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Thanks for the ride down memory lane, Keith. I recall the '04 Scavino Barolo was a huge standout for me at Tre Bicchieri, among so many wonderful floral noses that '04 Barolo was known for. I recall seeking it out at the time, but unfortunately never ended up getting any - now I might have to revisit the search.

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For my tastes, the base Barolo chez Scavino is a really strong wine. I do think the cru wines seperate themselves, and I do think the Annunziata rules the roost, but the base wine is excellent. I bought a few 04 but I keep hoping to find it discounted so I can really back up the truck.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think their Langhe Nebbiolo is all that. Their oak regimen is pretty consistent across the lineup (malo / first year in 33% new) so it shows a lot on the early bottled lighter weight Langhe Nebbiolo and shows very little these days on the Barolos.

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todd- I’m also now rethinking my initial move to have passed on them for some reason. Its really enticing right now, and really opened up in the glass a good 4 hours after being opened.

josh- I agree with your assessment on the base barolo and the langhe nebb. I’ve come across a decent amount of producers that make a better langhe nebb for when I want some nebbiolo and don’t feel like opening a barolo or barbaresco. The barolo has always been consistent for me, and while there is the more amped up characteristics that the barriques bring, there really wasn’t any noticeable oak for me