1999 Barolo Ornato
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Medium red. Very closed nose hint at crystallized dark fruits, menthol, marzipan and minerals. Distinctly closed in the mouth, conveying great energy and juiciness but much less fat and early complexity than the 2000. Following the 2000s, this very rich wine comes across as a bit lean today, as it's passing through a sullen stage. Completely different in style from the 2000 and 2001 examples. But this is classic Barolo with great cut and lift, in need of at least a decade of patience.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The high-level 1999 Barolo Ornato, from one of the better vineyards of Serralunga d’Alba, is a classic full garnet in tonality. Its expansive floral, black cherry, clove and asphalt aromas give way to rich and substantial flavors, well supported by the firm tannins, fine definition, and much warmth from the alcohol and the tar and licorice notes of the finish. Deceptively appealing at the moment, this is more a wine for keeping than for immediate drinking, and should be consumed from 2006 to 2020. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900
Deep, bright medium ruby, the darkest of all these Barolos. Cool, precise aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate, menthol and tar. Dense, sweet and huge; a Barolo of uncanny scale and breadth. At once velvety and focused. The major, rich tannins coat the entire palate.