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WTN: 3 Barolos of Cordero di Montezemolo

PostPosted: Sun May 28, 2006 11:25 am
by Jay Labrador
About 2 years ago our group did a tasting of the 96 and 97 Enrico VI Barolos of Cordero di Montezemolo. A dinner of risotto and osso bucco last night gave us a good reason to revisit these wines along with a few others.

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc 2005 - Classic guava nose. Light, refreshing and more guava on the finish. Nothing special but a good aperitif with the Filipino version of ceviche.

The 3 Barolos were decanted about an hour before dinner.

Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Enrico VI 1996 - Very deep wine. Still closed in the nose after an hour although it gradually opened up as the night went on. Bitter chocolate, coffee notes. Still has a decent amount of tannin for additional aging. Not quite there yet but drinking nicely anyway. I would rank this wine #2 of the Barolos.

Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Enrico VI 1997 - Much brighter fruit than the 1996. Also markedly more lively acidity. Cherry liqueur. Again still tannic and could use more age although it seems more approachable than the 1996. The least complex of the wines and the one I liked the least.

Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Bricco Gattera 1997 - One of my favorite wines. Seems like a blend of the 96 and 97 Enricos. Some fruit sweetness with the deeper characters of leather, tobacco and chocolate. Many-layered and complex. Still my favorite among the three.

For dessert we finished with a Barsac:

Chateau Climens 1990 from a half bottle - Brown sugar, candied orange peel. Very gentle and not so sweet. No further development can be expected from this wine. Drink it if you have it.