2003 Barolo Ginestra Riserva
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Tasting notes
Proprietor Giorgio Conterno's 2003 Barolo Riserva Ginestra is now fully mature and peaking. Sweet tobacco, dried flowers, menthol, and licorice all take shape in the glass. Like many wines of the, the 2003 has aged on its firm spine of tannin. Now that the fruit is fading the tannins are becoming much prominent. Any remaining bottles need to be finished over the next 2-3 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2003 Barolo Riserva Ginestra is a big, powerful wine built on an intense core of fruit. As is typical of hot vintages, the wine's aromatics are somewhat suppressed in favor of the fruit but the wine nevertheless comes across as beautifully balanced. The tannins are broad yet very nicely integrated. Although I am not a big fan of Riservas in 2003, Ginestra is one of the few vineyards that always maintains quite a bit of acidity and therefore freshness. This Barolo is truly gorgeous. Roasted coffee beans, worn in leather and cedar waft from the empty glass.
The 2003 Barolo Riserva Ginestra is a big, powerful wine built on an intense core of fruit. As is typical of hot vintages, the wine’s aromatics are somewhat suppressed in favor of the fruit but the wine nevertheless comes across as beautifully balanced. The tannins are broad yet very nicely integrated. Although I am not a big fan of Riservas in 2003, Ginestra is one of the few vineyards that always maintains quite a bit of acidity and therefore freshness. This Barolo is truly gorgeous. Roasted coffee beans, worn-in leather, and cedar waft from the empty glass. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. There is a purity to proprietor Giorgio Conterno’s wines that I find incredibly appealing. These three Barolos are essentially different selections, all from the Ginestra vineyard in Monforte. Fermentation takes place using the traditional submerged cap method, after which the Barolos are aged in large, neutral French oak barrels, an approach that works beautifully with the intensely spiced and aromatic Ginestra fruit. Importer: Artisan Wine, Norwalk, CT; tel. (203) 866-4552
The 2003 Barolo Riserva Ginestra is a big, powerful wine built on an intense core of fruit. As is typical of hot vintages, the wine’s aromatics are somewhat suppressed in favor of the fruit but the wine nevertheless comes across as beautifully balanced. The tannins are broad yet very nicely integrated. Although I am not a big fan of Riservas in 2003, Ginestra is one of the few vineyards that always maintains quite a bit of acidity and therefore freshness. This Barolo is truly gorgeous. Roasted coffee beans, worn-in leather, and cedar waft from the empty glass. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. ||There is a purity to proprietor Giorgio Conterno’s wines that I find incredibly appealing. These three Barolos are essentially different selections, all from the Ginestra vineyard in Monforte. Fermentation takes place using the traditional submerged cap method, after which the Barolos are aged in large, neutral French oak barrels, an approach that works beautifully with the intensely spiced and aromatic Ginestra fruit. Wine Advocate.October, 2009