1982 Francesco Rinaldi Barolo
1982 Francesco Rinaldi Barolo
#GDPandThePig
Such a treat to enjoy a perfectly mature bottle of old Barolo, but that’s what I’ve come to expect from Francesco Rinaldi. For my money the most reliable label for old Barolo. I don’t know why that is, but my luck has been terrific with these wines and I won’t hesitate to buy them. Perhaps they paid attention to corks even back then because the cork in this bottle was almost perfect, as was the fill.
I double decanted this, as I always do for old Barolo. Need to remove the sediment, but preserve the aromatics. I planned for a 6 hour double decant here, seems like it’ll work out just fine.
Typical old wine on opening, a bit musty, lots of celery seed, thin and attenuated on the palate, but with red fruit peeking out on the finish.
At the 4 hour mark this has begun to open up showing fruit not he nose along with classic tar and dried rose petal layered over nuanced middle eastern spice notes with an earthy base and notes of saddle leather creeping in. In the mouth this has gained considerable weight, still moderately tannic, with a mint framed core of juicy, tart yet dark cherry fruit that shows excellent persistence. There’s an underlying bullion cube, celery seed note that is an element here but this is terrific tonight, crystal clear on the plate, long and vibrant. Such danced spice notes grace the long, detailed finish.
Hour 7 sees a darker, more vibrant color as expected. That note of age has now faded well into the background, offering a mild detail to the attractive bouquet, all spiced, rose rented, leathery and amply red fruited with a growing note of dusty soil. Fuller, more opulent int he mouth still noticeably tannic, as I expect this will always be, but very well balanced with piercing clarity to the red fruits. Really impressive freshness and clarity on the palate with a gorgeous finale of better cherry fruit and limestone. A moderately powerful, wonderfully preserved classic Barolo
Now sitting with the final glass 8 hours in. The nose is more decisively fruited, darker cherries blend with suggestions of chocolate, tar, leather and mint. In the mouth he wine is as good as it’s going to get, just lovely the way it gently rolls across the tongue, supple yet slightly rustic with so much intensity on the finish. Rich with meaty red fruit, and so perfumed now on the finish, dried flowers, dried soil, that middle eastern spice note all backed up by impressively intact tannins. This must have been such a beast on release! A wine for the ages.
Provenance and storage is everything with aged wines. This delivered the goods. 92 points for those who care.
Uncompromising. A line that connects the past with he present because in my experience Francesco Rinaldi remains uncompromising. They don’t care if you like their wine or not. They make classic wines for people who love classic wines, and they remain affordable for all to enjoy!
#GDPandThePig
Such a treat to enjoy a perfectly mature bottle of old Barolo, but that’s what I’ve come to expect from Francesco Rinaldi. For my money the most reliable label for old Barolo. I don’t know why that is, but my luck has been terrific with these wines and I won’t hesitate to buy them. Perhaps they paid attention to corks even back then because the cork in this bottle was almost perfect, as was the fill.
I double decanted this, as I always do for old Barolo. Need to remove the sediment, but preserve the aromatics. I planned for a 6 hour double decant here, seems like it’ll work out just fine.
Typical old wine on opening, a bit musty, lots of celery seed, thin and attenuated on the palate, but with red fruit peeking out on the finish.
At the 4 hour mark this has begun to open up showing fruit not he nose along with classic tar and dried rose petal layered over nuanced middle eastern spice notes with an earthy base and notes of saddle leather creeping in. In the mouth this has gained considerable weight, still moderately tannic, with a mint framed core of juicy, tart yet dark cherry fruit that shows excellent persistence. There’s an underlying bullion cube, celery seed note that is an element here but this is terrific tonight, crystal clear on the plate, long and vibrant. Such danced spice notes grace the long, detailed finish.
Hour 7 sees a darker, more vibrant color as expected. That note of age has now faded well into the background, offering a mild detail to the attractive bouquet, all spiced, rose rented, leathery and amply red fruited with a growing note of dusty soil. Fuller, more opulent int he mouth still noticeably tannic, as I expect this will always be, but very well balanced with piercing clarity to the red fruits. Really impressive freshness and clarity on the palate with a gorgeous finale of better cherry fruit and limestone. A moderately powerful, wonderfully preserved classic Barolo
Now sitting with the final glass 8 hours in. The nose is more decisively fruited, darker cherries blend with suggestions of chocolate, tar, leather and mint. In the mouth he wine is as good as it’s going to get, just lovely the way it gently rolls across the tongue, supple yet slightly rustic with so much intensity on the finish. Rich with meaty red fruit, and so perfumed now on the finish, dried flowers, dried soil, that middle eastern spice note all backed up by impressively intact tannins. This must have been such a beast on release! A wine for the ages.
Provenance and storage is everything with aged wines. This delivered the goods. 92 points for those who care.
Uncompromising. A line that connects the past with he present because in my experience Francesco Rinaldi remains uncompromising. They don’t care if you like their wine or not. They make classic wines for people who love classic wines, and they remain affordable for all to enjoy!
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