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2000 Luigi Pira Barolo Vigna Rionda - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (9/12/2012)
Pop and pour. Drunk over three hours. A still deep and youthful nose, with dark fruits, tar, asian spice, and a cool perfumey floral lift. Rich and full bodied with loads of spice and flesh. Deep and layered and well put together, living more on the spice and fruit side than savory side, with lots of structure and surprisingly approachable. I’m not sure if it is vintage or elevage, but this is youthfully drinking very well now. there are still plenty of tannins, but they are soft enough not to beat you up. Should show well with Ribeye tonight. (92 pts.)
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1999 Marziano Abbona Barbaresco Vigna Faset - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (9/12/2012)
deep and brooding. Stony and darker side of Barbaresco. Tar and balsam, with some rose and dark fruits hiding in the background. Not so much meaty savory as just dark and brooding. I might call this Barolo blind. Quite structured and a little perturbed at me for opening it this early. That said it shows hints of what lies in store. Lots in reserve here, with cooler and darker and a little minty-eucalyptus on the finish. Wish I had more and I could sit on them for 5+ years. Well done! (91 pts.)