2005 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera
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A dark, brooding beauty, the 2005 Barolo Gavarini Vigna Chiniera is endowed with serious depth and overall intensity. Dark cherry, plum, menthol, spices, leather, smoke and savory herbs are all nicely delineated. Deep, dark and totally explosive in the glass, the 2005 boasts huge power and intensity. At ten years of age, the 2005 is almost impossibly young, with little in the way of aromatic development. A closing blast of tar, smoke, graphite, incense and blood orange have the last say. This is a stellar showing from the 2005.
Critic scores
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Good medium red. Musky, minerally aromas of cherry, plum, nuts and spices. Supple on entry, with moderately dense red fruit flavors complicated by earth, brown spices and a leathery nuance. The sweet finishing fruit is somewhat shortened by dusty tannins. Offers bright acidity (the minerally soil features sand and limestone) but not the perfume of the best vintages. There was no Runcot in 2005 due to a hailstorm that affected this portion of the Gavarini vineyard on August 20.
The 2005 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera reveals gorgeous balance and beautifully integrated tannins. This is a relatively soft, floral Chiniera defined by high-toned aromatics and fresh red fruits. Gavarini contains a higher percentage of sand sits at a higher altitude than Ginestra, both factors that contribute to the wine's personality. The Chiniera spent two and a half years in Slavonian oak prior to being bottled.
The 2005 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera reveals gorgeous balance and beautifully integrated tannins. This is a relatively soft, floral Chiniera defined by high-toned aromatics and fresh red fruits. Gavarini contains a higher percentage of sand and sits at a higher altitude than Ginestra, both factors that contribute to the wine’s personality. The Chiniera spent two and a half years in Slavonian oak prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020. Gianluca Grasso is one of Piedmont’s emerging young growers and winemakers. As always, the wines here are characterized by a strong sense of discipline, vision and elegance. The estate decided against producing its Riserva Runcot in 2005, but these two very fine Barolos deserve careful consideration. Stylistically the wines capture the best of modern and traditional schools, with the former represented by the work in the vineyards and the latter by the approach in the cellar, with the exception of the Runcot, which is aged in small French oak barrels. The 2006, 2007 and 2008 Barolos I tasted from cask and tank are perhaps even more promising. Various American importers, including: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808; Langdon Shiverick Imports, Cleveland, OH; tel. (213) 483-5900; Classic Wine Imports, Norwood, MA; Admirality Beverage Co. Columbia Distributing Company, Portland, Oregon; tel. (503) 289-9600