Wine Advisor
Domenico Clerico, Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra 1999
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Description
Domenico Clerico, Barolo, Ciabot Mentin, Piedmont, Red, 2008
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
1999 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra—Dark ruby. The Ciabot Mentin Ginestra comes across as a bit more subdued than the Pajana but not one bit less captivating. It features a nuanced nose of violets, flowers, and menthol along with layers of sweet dark fruit that coat the palate with much persistence in a style that is both delicate and powerful at the same time. Much more open than when last tasted a year ago, it is a remarkable Barolo. Which is the greatest Ciabot of the 1990s? Hard to say, but the 1999 is certainly on the short list, 95/drink after 2009, 03/06 Armed with a big, booming voice and a healthy sense of humor, Domenico Clerico is without question one of Piedmont’s most colorful characters. Despite his successes Clerico remains a simple, down-to-earth man who has little time for the pretentiousness and arrogance of others. Stories abound about visitors who have been shown the door here. My favorite of these regards a journalist who proclaimed to be an “expert” taster. Clerico served the journalist three wines and asked him to comment on them. After the journalist waxed poetically about the differences in terroir and micro-climate in the wines, Clerico showed him the corks….three bottles of the same vintage of Ciabot Mentin Ginestra. With that, the appointment was concluded. (A Marc de Grazia Selection. US Importers include Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA)
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Like walking into a flower shop. A beautiful wine showing much freshness on the nose, and notes of minerals and menthol, with superb structure and length, with layers of dark fruit flavors that open up as the wine sits in the glass. A terrific effort.
Reviewed by: Daniel Thomases
The 1999 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra, as in the past several years, remains the standard bearer of the house. Lush and ripe on the nose, plummy and with important notes of kirsch liqueur, licorice, and minerals, its rich flavors, dense, packed texture, and ample tar and chocolate are the evidence of superior grapes and cellar work, force and finesse at a very high level. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2022. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Unfortunately the Pianpolvere Soprano 1999 Barolo Bussia was corked, but we had better luck with a stunning bottle of Domenico Clerico’s 1999 Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra. 1999 remains an underappreciated vintage and it is one Clerico’s finest. The Ciabot was simply phenomenal. It offered an exotic array of ripe fruit, menthol, toasted oak and mineral notes with superb concentration on the palate and plenty of style. It remains a fresh, vibrant and structured Barolo in need of at least several years of cellaring, but it nevertheless provided much pleasure on this day. While others moved into cheese and dessert, I was quite content to relax by the fireplace with a glass of this very fine Barolo.
About the Producer
Clerico Barolo is one of the pioneers of the emerging movement to improve the winemaking of modern Barolo. His wines are round and concentrated, with more fruity aromas, bright ruby red wine with a mulberry taste, reminiscent of burgundy. The Estherso Grand Cru in the Roots, and it is unexpected that these wines are Barolo wines made from Nebbiolo grapes. Clerico was the first state-of-the-art winery in the Barolo region to use the single-campus concept, bottling the wines separately from the different pockets. Let the wine tell the characteristics of the land, so that the wine produced has a unique personality. Clerico believes that the timing of the grape harvest is a very important factor, picking it earlier than other wineries, because he believes that the ripening of tannins is more important than the ripening of grape sweetness. High sweetness only produces wine with a strong alcohol taste. High-quality tannin is the quality guarantee of high-level wine. He especially emphasizes acidity, because acidity will make the wine have a perfect and strong skeleton. Clerico's flagship wine, Cristina, is stored in large oak barrels for 3 years, small oak barrels for 2 years, and 5 years in the bottle for a total of 10 years. Fascinating, is a rare good wine, its wine is to commemorate the unfortunate death of the owner's daughter Cristina when she was 7 years old, and the best grapes are specially selected to make this Percristina wine to commemorate the beloved daughter. Clerico Barolo has been praised as the most representative heavyweight winery in Barolo by virtue of its continuous introduction of amazing wines over the years, and it is also highly praised by wine critics. winery.
