The humble tasting note fights back

O

Oswaldo Costa

Oswaldo Costa
2005 Luigi Ferrando Carema (White Label) 13.5%
100% Nebbiolo from the northernmost reaches of Piemonte, near the Val d'Aosta. Lighter ruby than your average Barolo/Barbaresco. Delicious Nebbiolo aromas of blackberries, tar and leather with a streak of iron and airplane glue. Clear and present acidity, medium grained tannins (that should benefit from polymerization), perfect acid/sweet balance, satisfying body. No discernible wood, alcohol civilized and well integrated. Drinking beautifully right now. In short, a thingamabob of yummy beauty, and a fine way to recover our pleasure bearings after the last three days' frustrating foray into the land of Barberella. All I can say is: like minded palates of the world, unite; put your money on this bona fide honey.

PS: why anyone would want the more expensive oaked version of this, with a black label, is beyond me; though perhaps I should try it before objecting in principle.
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
PS: why anyone would want the more expensive oaked version of this, with a black label, is beyond me; though perhaps I should try it before objecting in principle.
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the black label is amazing, it just needs more time... a lot more time.

there have been some questions put forth in this forum as to the decreasing quality of oak used lately. but, for what it's worth, rosenthal assures me the oak sources remain the same.
 
originally posted by scottreiner:
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
PS: why anyone would want the more expensive oaked version of this, with a black label, is beyond me; though perhaps I should try it before objecting in principle.
Click to expand...

the black label is amazing, it just needs more time... a lot more time.

there have been some questions put forth in this forum as to the decreasing quality of oak used lately. but, for what it's worth, rosenthal assures me the oak sources remain the same.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I knew I should have kept my mouth shut, but if I had, I wouldn't have learned this.
 
I read these posts all the time, but never seem to comment much. I really appreciate everyone's tasting notes. Keep them up! I had a bottle of this at La Ciccia the other day and it was surprisingly fantastic with most of the seafood. By itself, it was a fun little Nebbiolo with light brushstrokes of leather and earth with crystalline acid. Though, days later, when Spring arrived, I found myself craving it more and more. What a jubilant wine to celebrate the end of a long winter. Looking forward to trying that Black Label now.
 
This is the first red wine I ever bought with any regularity - I probably drank more than a case of the 1974! Back then it was under $5/bottle - of course, that was before Neal Rosenthal got his hands on it.

Glad to hear the 05 is good, as I bought some a few months ago - and then last month I also bought some of the black label (the '98 is amazingly delicious, btw).

I'm not a fan of much oak so Oswaldo I think you can safely try the black label.

By the way, if you don't mind me asking - what does this sell for down in your neck of the woods?
 
originally posted by maureen: By the way, if you don't mind me asking - what does this sell for down in your neck of the woods?
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My guess is that Oswaldo 'imported' the wine himself after one of his frequent trips to the US. At least that's the impression he has given us of much of his wine drinking.
 
originally posted by maureen:
This is the first red wine I ever bought with any regularity - I probably drank more than a case of the 1974! Back then it was under $5/bottle - of course, that was before Neal Rosenthal got his hands on it.

Glad to hear the 05 is good, as I bought some a few months ago - and then last month I also bought some of the black label (the '98 is amazingly delicious, btw).

I'm not a fan of much oak so Oswaldo I think you can safely try the black label.

By the way, if you don't mind me asking - what does this sell for down in your neck of the woods?
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Oh my...1974...I like that vintage a lot. Don't ask why.

I tried to order an '04 white label on a list of a local Italian bistro last night...they brought the '03, so I ordered something else...Anyone had either? I have the '04 in my cellar, but was planning to give it some time....
 
originally posted by Mark Davis:

Oh my...1974...I like that vintage a lot. Don't ask why.

I tried to order an '04 white label on a list of a local Italian bistro last night...they brought the '03, so I ordered something else...Anyone had either? I have the '04 in my cellar, but was planning to give it some time....
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I like the '04 vintage. Haven't opened one since last August. It was drinkable but needs more time.
 
I wasn't too fond of the white label '03 when I tried it awhile back. I adored the '02 and used to pour it by the glass.

Generally I find the black label has too much oak for my taste, at least for some years.
 
originally posted by Mark Davis:
I tried to order an '04 white label on a list of a local Italian bistro last night...they brought the '03, so I ordered something else...Anyone had either?
Click to expand...
I've had the '04 and like it. I have not had the '03.

And good for you for returning the wine. The resto should advertise what it has, not what it would like to have. (I am similarly annoyed with wine store websites that list lots of lovely wines -- and say "out of stock" next to each one -- just so that they get the Google/Wine-Searcher hits.)
 
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