2004 Marcarini Barolo Brunate 14.0%

O

Oswaldo Costa

Oswaldo Costa
Yesterday's thread about an upcoming bloodbath in Barolo/Barbaresco prices reminded me that I had picked up a half bottle of this at a NY liquidator.

Blackberry and tar with a touch of sweat. No rose petals or violets (but yesterday was not a flower day).

In the mouth it sits upon the tongue like a firm stool. Not as in the English term for merde, but as in a seating appartus firmly established upon the triple pillars of ample fruit, balancing acidity and satisfying body.

Washboard tannins afford pleasant tactility. Generous weight bears high alcohol like gossamer mantle.

Attractive QPR in the mid $20s but, at this premature stage, does not seem to promise idiosyncratic pleasures that warrant stashing a case and waiting a decade for appropriate payoff.
 
Attractive QPR in the mid $20s but, at this premature stage, does not seem to promise idiosyncratic pleasures that warrant stashing a case and waiting a decade for appropriate payoff.
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Marcarini has never promised 'great' pleasures, but will offer a solid Barolo at a decent price, and will be better in 8-10 years than it is now (my drinking window on these appears to be shorter than many others opinions). And what is wrong with that? Mind, the ones offering the 'great' pleasures are those around $100+/bottle.
 
True, not bold by Barolo standards, just by my 12.5-tropic standards.

Longer drinking windows have to be age appropriate and this one may be fine for yours. Me, I want stuff now, or soon. Have too many 05 Burgs waiting forever.
 
...Have too many 05 Burgs waiting forever.
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This is not a bad situation to find one's self in. In the meantime, you seem to be finding wines to fill the early-drinking niche (and quite well, too!).

If you can get your hands on Vajra's 2005 Albe bottling, this might be better suited to your purposes.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
Attractive QPR in the mid $20s but, at this premature stage, does not seem to promise idiosyncratic pleasures that warrant stashing a case and waiting a decade for appropriate payoff.
Click to expand...

Marcarini has never promised 'great' pleasures, but will offer a solid Barolo at a decent price, and will be better in 8-10 years than it is now (my drinking window on these appears to be shorter than many others opinions). And what is wrong with that? Mind, the ones offering the 'great' pleasures are those around $100+/bottle.
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Correct, 71 and 67 Marcarini are $100+ a bottle.
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
In the mouth it sits upon the tongue like a firm stool. Not as in the English term for merde, but as in a seating appartus firmly established upon the triple pillars of ample fruit, balancing acidity and satisfying body
Click to expand...

You make it sound like a tripod.
 
originally posted by Tvrtko Cernos:
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
In the mouth it sits upon the tongue like a firm stool. Not as in the English term for merde, but as in a seating appartus firmly established upon the triple pillars of ample fruit, balancing acidity and satisfying body
Click to expand...

You make it sound like a tripod.
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I couldn't use that word because Apple owns the trademark.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
...Have too many 05 Burgs waiting forever.
Click to expand...

This is not a bad situation to find one's self in. In the meantime, you seem to be finding wines to fill the early-drinking niche (and quite well, too!).

If you can get your hands on Vajra's 2005 Albe bottling, this might be better suited to your purposes.
Click to expand...

Going way down-market, Vajra's 07 Langhe Rosso is a pretty good cheap date. Supposed to have more than the usual amount of Nebbiolo juice.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Going way down-market, Varja's 07 Langhe Rosso is a pretty good cheap date. Supposed to have more than the usual amount of Nebbiolo juice.
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You're so right! (Except about how the winemaker's name is spelled.)

I served 07 Vajra Langhe on a cheap date! It was very nifty.
 
originally posted by MarkS:
...Have too many 05 Burgs waiting forever.
Click to expand...

This is not a bad situation to find one's self in. In the meantime, you seem to be finding wines to fill the early-drinking niche (and quite well, too!).

If you can get your hands on Vajra's 2005 Albe bottling, this might be better suited to your purposes.
Click to expand...

I'm wondering if the hype surrounding the 2005 vintage is really merited? I've found some concerning bitter tannins in quite a few Burgundies I've tried.
 
originally posted by Nicolas Mestre: I'm wondering if the hype surrounding the 2005 vintage is really merited? I've found some concerning bitter tannins in quite a few Burgundies I've tried.
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Are these from recently-tasted wines? Wines that were acclaimed by other folks?

I don't think anyone said everything from 2005 was great or even good.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Nicolas Mestre: I'm wondering if the hype surrounding the 2005 vintage is really merited? I've found some concerning bitter tannins in quite a few Burgundies I've tried.
Click to expand...

Are these from recently-tasted wines? Wines that were acclaimed by other folks?

I don't think anyone said everything from 2005 was great or even good.
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A lot of people said precisely that.

I hope to live long enough to enjoy the 2005s I bought.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
You said 'everything' was good/great?

I guess that's what I get for not reading reviews.
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No, I said NOT everything was good or great. There are certain sectors that were less successful than others, there are certain producers that overcropped, others that overextracted, etc. Sorry, I got my nots twisted.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
originally posted by Nicolas Mestre: I'm wondering if the hype surrounding the 2005 vintage is really merited? I've found some concerning bitter tannins in quite a few Burgundies I've tried.
Click to expand...

Are these from recently-tasted wines? Wines that were acclaimed by other folks?

I don't think anyone said everything from 2005 was great or even good.
Click to expand...

A general observation. And my experience is limited mostly (but not exclusively) to the Cotes de Beaune.

Recent barrel tastings of 2009s were impressive (in terms of overall texture), more so than the same exercise for the 2005s.
 
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