I really could not say anything bad about this wine, it is quite delicious. And what’s more, a real bargain at $14 (TJ’s), not only for a good wine, but especially for a Barolo. Really, it tastes more like a blend of Chianti and Barolo, and isn’t as bold as your typical Barolo, but it is good for the price anyway. It is one of the best wines I’ve had from TJ’s and has much more complexity than others I’ve tried from there. I think it is worth trying because it is so different, and it might become your favorite under $15 wine.
Rating: 88
quaffability.com says (of the 2002 vintage):
Before the cork is fully out of the bottle, I know there’s nothing to fear from this wine. Those are tasty fruit aromas jumping from the neck of the bottle, not cigar butts.
The color is light, and the aroma is youthful, with both fresh and dried cherries, plus leather and spicebox. Clearly this is a wine from the rebel faction in the long-running Barolo wars. The wine turns very dry — and a little thin — in the mouth with more muted fruit and, yeah – tobacco, but it’s fresh, leafy tobacco, not something that has already been smoked and ground out underfoot. The finish is clean but short. This is not bad at all; it’s both tasty and interesting, but it’s light and simple for its price, IMHO, and it neither tastes like a great Barolo, nor gives you enough essence of great Barolo to remind of you of one.
Price: $15.99
Score: 90%