Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo Sotto Castello 2006
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Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
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Wine Spectator
A dose of new oak softens the impact of this red, whose licorice, bitter almond, cherry and iron flavors pack power and backbone, courtesy of the stiff tannins. Well-proportioned, a bit cheesy, with enough sweetness to match the structure. Fine length. Best from 2013 through 2030.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2006 Barolo Sotto Castello di Novello presents an open, gorgeous bouquet that melds into black cherries, plums, licorice, tar, menthol and sweet spices. A supple, round Barolo, the Sotto Castello di Novello reveals plenty of length on the palate and a harmonious finish. This soft, accessible Barolo seems built for near-term pleasure, and there is no shortage of that here. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2016.
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2005-
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Enthusiast
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Robert
In 1996 Ferruccio Grimaldi, Giacomo's son decided to continue the family wine business. Animated by a great passion, Ferruccio started to produce wines exclusively from the family's vineyards. He began acquiring vineyards of Nebbiolo in the most prestigious Barolo zones, firmly convinced of the great potential of Barolo wine. The family's vines grew from 1.5 hectares to 10 hectares. The current vineyards are situated in the communes of Barolo, Novello and Monforte and divided as follows: 6 hectares of Nebbiolo for Barolo, 2 of Barbera d'Alba, 1 of Dolcetto d’Alba, 1 of Nebbiolo.
In the vineyard, there is significant attention and a deep devotion to the care of the vines. Ferruccio is renowned amongst other wine makers for his 'perfectionism' in caring for the plants. Green harvest is vital to Ferruccio, to reduce the quantity of the yield for a better quality.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
The center of the production of the world’s most exclusive and age-worthy red wines made from Nebbiolo, the Barolo wine region includes five core townships: La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Serralunga d’Alba, Castiglione Falletto and the Barolo village itself, as well as a few outlying villages. The landscape of Barolo, characterized by prominent and castle-topped hills, is full of history and romance centered on the Nebbiolo grape. Its wines, with the signature “tar and roses” aromas, have a deceptively light garnet color but full presence on the palate and plenty of tannins and acidity. In a well-made Barolo wine, one can expect to find complexity and good evolution with notes of, for example, strawberry, cherry, plum, leather, truffle, anise, fresh and dried herbs, tobacco and violets.
There are two predominant soil types here, which distinguish Barolo from the lesser surrounding areas. Compact and fertile Tortonian sandy marls define the vineyards farthest west and at higher elevations. Typically the Barolo wines coming from this side, from La Morra and Barolo, can be approachable relatively early on in their evolution and represent the “feminine” side of Barolo, often closer in style to Barbaresco with elegant perfume and fresh fruit.
On the eastern side of the Barolo wine region, Helvetian soils of compressed sandstone and chalks are less fertile, producing wines with intense body, power and structured tannins. This more “masculine” style comes from Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba. The township of Castiglione Falletto covers a spine with both soil types.
The best Barolo wines need 10-15 years before they are ready to drink, and can further age for several decades.