Parusso Barolo Mariondino 1989

The nose was a bit reticent at first with a light note of oak over cherries in alcohol, strong licorice and spice over lovely notes of slate and asphalt. Mouthfilling with great acidity and almost resolved tannins, a great depth of black fruits, still a tinge of oak through the mid-palate and a bit tough as it airs but with refreshing minerality on the end of the palate and leading into the finish. Showing less evolved than the last bottle and less satisfying. The direct and almost piercing acidity really adds much needed lift and vibrancy to compensate for a slight heaviness imparted by the remaining read more...oak notes. This is still young though and if the last, more advanced, bottle is any indication this will continue to improve.    (hide)

July 2007

Warm and plummy on the nose with a touch of toasty and actually quite smoky wood adding a nice accent to the jammy fruit that gains a nice strawberry tone. There are nuanced notes of fennel fronds, roasted meat, menthol cigarettes and a growing note of perfumy wood. On entry there is a touch of woody sweetness followed by lots of tannin leaving the palate a bit lean and astringent with nice red fruit notes. Once you get past that initial burst of sweetness this is actually very dry and while there is some nice fruit lurking it’s simply not enough to handle the tannins which cut the finish short. This is read more...a disappointment considering previous showings of this wine. Drink 2009-2014 85 pts    (hide)

November 2009