Thanks Mel - very interesting!
Drinking a Barolo while sitting on the Campo? Donāt know, mateā¦ just feels wrong somehow 
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Iāve had my fill of Sangio the past week! 
(and am currently in Chianti as I type this)
Agreed, the LN Iāve tried are typical post-modern with a fresh and fruity profile and no apparent wood imprint. Havenāt tried their barbera. The Barolo did have obvious oak flavor, although well integrated and I didnāt mind it at all. 2020 being only their second vintage produced I would expect this to mellow out over the next vintages.
Revisited the 2019 Roagna Langhe this past weekend. Definite improvement over first bottle. Still very much on the delicate side, and not nearly as good as the '18, but much better than the prior bottle. This did not feel hollow the way the other did. Iāll wait another 6 months or more before my next bottle to see if this continues to improve. I see from CT that @Sarah_Kirschbaum posted a note with similar impressions.
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Good timing! I just posted that note on CT this morning, having drunk the bottle with Jonathan last night, but hadnāt gotten around to reporting in here. It was a very pleasant experience, so much better than the first bottle, though, as you say, not as good as the 2018. The watery mid-palate had filled in and it no longer drank like a dark rosĆ©. I am cautiously optimistic.
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re Roagna Langhe Nebbiolo - Bottle variation or just the 2 months more age?
I had meant to post as well and seeing your note reminded me. Very similar experience. Maybe my hopes were too high initially as well after the strength of prior vintages and the 2019 vintage itself. Glad its moving in the right direction though.
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I think the time helped and will be more patient now that I have confirmed that. Wanted to see where it was going to determine how to schedule the others. My first bottle had also rather recently arrived when consumed, for whatever that is worth.
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Agree with @Michae1_P0wers There are also several other more positive notes on CT in the last few months, which suggests the additional time is to thank.
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It could be that since 2018 was a lesser vintage to 2019, so more wine got cut from the crus and went into the Rosso in 2018. Kinda like when PdB doesnāt make its crus.
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Thatās also what happened with the Oddero Barolo in 2018. Almost everything except for Brunate and Vignarionda got put into the Classico.
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That was my speculation as well. 2019 may have seen less prime material diverted from the better wines.
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1990 Tenuta Monolo Bramaterra Riserva
This is like riding a horse that grew up in Finland eating wood tar and roses. It took about 1/2 hour to show some fruit, but when it did the wine achieve a very interesting balance between rusticity and finesse.
There is a minimal structure there that is holding everything together, but I donāt know for how long, so for me itās a drink now. Overall, very enjoyable and a steal for $31 out of pocket.
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Where do you get this for $31 or you bought it back in 90s ?
Nope, I bought a mixed case of 1989, 1990 and 2003 at Fass Selections. So far, I had only tried the '90 and Iām very happy with it.
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Iāve considered these when offered, but the reported fail rate of these on CT is kind of astronomical. Seems like if one of every two are sound youāve outperformed the odds. At that price it may still be a bargain for well-aged nebbiolo, but opening flawed bottles is no fun.
would not they refund you if bottle is flawed ?
I have no experience with that from this retailer, but typically with bottles this old, and especially via an email list format, I think it is buyer beware. If I buy an '89 nebbiolo with a high flaw track record and the bottle is flawed, Iād not expect a refund.
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I had two bottles of the 2004. One good, one not so much. I think that I also paid about $30, but it was at auction.
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