2002 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Le Gramolere
Medium red. Decadent aromas of raspberry, leather, game and flowers. Smooth and moderately sweet in the mouth, but with modest definition and thrust. Hints of leather, earth and game. Finishes with slightly dry-edged tannins.
2001 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Le Gramolere
Full red. Expressive aromas of raspberry, rose petal, brown spices, nuts and cedary oak. Sweet, spicy and fresh, with lush fruit lifted by pungent cinnamon and mace. The firmly tannic finish hints at leather and meat, but this wine comes across as distinctly less rustic than the 2000 example.
2001 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Bricat Gramolere
Good deep red. Reticent aromas of dark berries and nutty oak. Full, sweet and fairly primary, with red berry, floral and mineral flavors along with a faint mintiness. My enthusiasm was somewhat tempered by a slight greenness on the back end, but this wine may simply be in a somewhat stunted stage today.
2001 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Santo Stefano
Good medium red. Spicy raspberry, flowers and mint on the somewhat high-toned, pinot-like nose; the cleanest of these three 2001s. Sweet, suave and pure, with very ripe but lively flavors of red fruits, flowers and spices. Finishes juicy and long, with lovely retention of fruit and firm tannins that avoid dryness.
2000 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Le Gramolere
($46) Medium red. Rather rustic aromas of raspberry, tobacco, smoked meat and leather. Soft, sweet and approachable, with a floral note lifting the fruit. Finishes with sweet tannins and good length, but the rustic leathery note runs through the wine from start to finish.
2000 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Bricat Gramolere
($53) Good medium red. Superripe aromas of roasted red berries and nuts. Rich, lush and sweet, with strawberry fruit flavor lifted by flowers and marzipan. Appealing in a rather decadent way. Finishes persistent and ripely tannic. This strikes me as rustic in a positive way, not to mention quite accessible already.
2000 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Santo Stefano
($68) Moderately saturated medium red. Slightly subdued nose hints at pepper and leather. Sweet, spicy red berry flavors turn a bit dry on the end. Not as sweet today as the Bricat, but has good breadth and palate presence.
1999 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Gramolere Riserva
Medium red. Highly spicy aromas of redcurrant and cocoa powder. Rich, plump and spicy, with slightly wild but sweet flavors of marzipan, leather and underbrush. The leathery note carries through on the finish, which features some drying tannins. (Marc de Grazia; numerous importers, including Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY; Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; and Estate Wines Ltd., San Rafael, CA)
