99 point Breathtaking Barolo
Yesterday's 99 point Syrah email was so much fun that we're back with another 99 pointer, this one from the other side of the Atlantic. What more to say about Cavallotto, which within the last decade went from being the best Barolo producer you hadn't heard of to being simply one of the best wine producers in the world, period. No Barolo collection is complete without their San Giuseppe Riserva '13, which just grabbed a massive 99 from Wine Advocate. That's as close to perfection as we're comfortable with!
$161.95 in any 12 bottle or Build a Case order ($179.95 regular)
99 points Wine Advocate: "The Cavallotto 2013 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe feels magically cool even as the wine warms in the glass. Eucalyptus, menthol and medicinal herbs rise from the bouquet, with dark fruit and savory spice in tow. When you first open the bottle, it shows a distinct mineral character with crushed aspirin, limestone and graphite. I opened a second bottle a few days before this tasting and had both bottles side by side to compare. Both showed impressive results with a pristine level of focus, sharpness and linearity. With aeration, those dark fruit nuances come to the forefront, showing dried cherry, plum and candied orange peel. A few hours later, you pick up on leather, tobacco and cedar wood. This is a fluid and ever-changing wine that is well worth adding to your cellar selection. What a beauty."
96 points Wine Spectator: "A classically proportioned Barolo, featuring cherry, plum, tar, iron and eucalyptus flavors, with floral hints. Dense and tannic, offering balance and a long, mouthwatering finish. Solid tannins are offset by ripe fruit and fresh acidity. Best from 2023 through 2046."
Us: A breathtaking wine, the kind that makes you close your eyes and focus on nothing else. If you're a Barolo fan and don't have San Giuseppe, your collection is incomplete. I savored a bottle over three days beginning with Christmas eve, paired with a bone-in pork loin roast from Bryan Flannery, the best meat purveyor in the country.
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