1999 Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Big'd Big
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Tasting notes
Dark ruby. Even though it is named after the original owner of the vineyard, the Barolo Big seems to live up to is English translation, with its huge nose of earth, smoke and licorice, and masses of concentrated dark fruit that unfold with superb length. This is a very typical Barolo from the Mosconi zone of Ginestra, although it too seems to suffer from drying new oak tannins. Patience is required, but this Barolo will last to at least age 20.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1999 Barolo Big 'd Big, full in color, offers an oaky nose of cloves and cinnamon, while its long and intense flavors still need some time to find an optimal roundness. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018. Importer: Robert Chadderdon, New York, NY; tel. (212) 757-8185
(this and the other '99 Barolos were bottled in July and early September) Bright red-ruby. Scented nose of strawberry, raspberry, mocha, underbrush and sexy oak. Rich, dense and sweet but quite closed following the bottling, in part due to the firm acids. But this wine offers excellent vinosity, and the serious tannins are nicely buffered by extract.