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Tasting notes
From magnum, the 1996 Barolo is quite the powerhouse. Dense and potent to the core, the 1996 is packed with dark fruit, tobacco, leather, incense and dried herbs. This is an impressive showing.
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
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Tasted from magnum, the 1996 Barolo is absolutely stunning. Vibrant and wonderfully alive, the 1996 exudes class. Time has gently softened the 1996 tannins, rendering the 1996 super-expressive today. Balsamic, mentholated notes, along with scents of tobacco and dried stone fruit continue to open up with time in the glass. The 1996 is still firm and quite powerful, but not as austere as many wines are in this vintage. Tar, licorice and scorched earth add the closing shades of nuance in an impeccably balanced, vivid Barolo that captures the personality of the vintage at its best.
Another of the truly epic wines of the evening, the 1996 Barolo is sublime. Black cherry, plum, leather, spice and menthol give the 1996 its dark, brooding personality. Powerful, dense and super-appealing, the 1996 has enough depth to drink beautifully for another two decades or more. This is a fabulous example of the best the year has to offer.
The 1996 Barolo reveals surprisingly high acidity in its relatively backward, tannic profile. It was closed and tough-textured when I saw it, with sour cherry, dried nut and kirsch liqueur. The wine did not develop in the glass, remaining austere and compressed. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2014. Importers: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200 and Riservati, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 623-5758
About the producer
Bartolo Mascarello is one of the most respected, traditionalist Barolo producers. The Piedmont estate makes one of the region’s finest expressions of Nebbiolo.