1999 Barolo Costa Grimaldi
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Tasting notes
Dark cherries, plums, menthol, spices and licorice jump from the glass in the 1999 Barolo Costa Grimaldi. Bright and beautifully articulated, the 1999 captures the best qualities of the house style. Tertiary notes are just beginning to develop, but the 1999 has plenty of life ahead. A deeply expressive finish laced with mint, leather and spices rounds things out nicely. The 1999 was aged in a combination of cask and French oak barrique.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1999 Barolo Costa Grimaldi, one of the two single-vineyard selections, a classic medium garnet in color, possesses all the typical fragrance of fine Nebbiolo, the rose petals, the balsamic notes, and the anisette. Ample, well concentrated, and of good depth, its solid flavors and round tannins indicate that the wine will evolve well until 2018. Einaudi was founded by one of Italy’s major twentieth century statesmen, a highly considered economist by training and later president of the Italian republic. The wines, well made and characterful, deserve to be better known. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900
Full medium ruby. Oakier, more complex aromas of redcurrant, plum and cedar. Lush and silky, with sweet acids framing the fruit. But the substantial oak tannins dry the finish today, shortening the wine's youthful fruit. Today I prefer the fruit and balance of the basic Barolo, even if this vineyard-designated bottling should, at least in theory, be the better wine when it reaches its peak.