Wine Advisor
Bruno Giacosa, Barbaresco Asili 2003
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A pale ruby core with tawny rim. A mellow nose with dried herbs, wild strawberry, singed leather and a touch of autumn bonfire. Good definition. A very traditional Barbaresco with good acidity, lovely leathery, earthy mid-palate with a refined finish. It is drinking perfectly now and therefore, I would not leave this Barbaresco for a long time. Drink now-2010. Tasted October 2008.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The just-bottled 2003 Barbaresco Asili is the only Barbaresco the ultra-perfectionist Bruno Giacosa has decided to release in this difficult vintage and it shows why Giacosa, along with Angelo Gaja, is in a class of his own when it comes to Barbaresco. Medium-red in color, it offers an expressive nose along with delicate nuances of super-ripe red fruits, macerated cherries and alcohol. Made in an atypically lush style, yet balanced by a classic sense of structure and proportion, this medium to full-bodied Barbaresco is one of the highlights of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. Importer: Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620
About the Producer
Bruno Giacosa, located in the south and south-west of Piemonte, has been performing well for three generations, thanks to the careful selection of high quality grapes and the emphasis on traditional winemaking techniques. The vineyard covers 44.7 acres (18 hectares) and is planted with Nebbiolo d'Alba, Barbera and Dolcetto varieties. The average age of the vines is 15 years and the planting density is between 4,500 and 5,000 vines per hectare, with an average yield of 4,800 litres per hectare. In terms of winemaking, the owner has a classic quote: "For us, the philosophy of traditionalism means making wines that are not only strongly local to the vine and the grape variety, but also maintain the various local terroirs. We have always made single-variety wines. Our winemaking techniques have been improved and we also make use of gentle pressing, crushing operations, advanced rotary systems and optimised cold and hot treatment techniques." For Garcosa, technology and tradition are not necessarily at odds with each other. In the winemaking process, the grapes are first fermented in steel containers and then transferred to wooden containers for ageing, which varies slightly depending on the type of wine. Finally, the wine is bottled without filtering. The main wines produced by the winery are the Barbaresco Garina, the Barbaresco Santo Stefano, the Barbaresco Asili, the Barbaresco Wabasha and the Barbaresco Asili. Barbaresco Rabaja, Barolo Falletto and Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto. Some of the more recent vintages are 2001, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1990, 1989, 1982 and 1978. These vintages are often relatively closed and uninteresting when first bottled, but after 10 years in the cellar, they all show an irresistible magic.
