Joel Lara

9.7

Such a beautifully complex, tasty barolo. Has a spectacular nose with tar, leather, burnt maple, and dark cherry. Complex aromas that seem to evolve constantly in the glass. On the palate some initial charcuterie notes quickly burn off, leaving a pure and intense dark cherry that saturates the palate with some earthy cocoa, anise, and balsamic. Mouthfeel is silky smooth. Long finish with cloves, anise, dark cherry, and dry-aged meat. So tasty. This went perfectly with parmesan crusted rack of lamb, spring herb and parmesan risotto, and roasted asparagus. Medium/full bodied with medium- acidity and fully integrated tannins. An intense garnet color with orange bricking on the rim. I’d think this is near its peak. Decanted for an hour, although I don’t think it gained much compared to an initial PnP. Day 2 update: Finished a glass that was remaining in bottle. Holding up well with little change. Still as tasty as Day 1. — 8 days ago

Jamie Amann

9.1

Had a blood red color that was consistent throughout the glass. Smelled of red fruit and tasted of cherry and had a dry feeling from tannins. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Balsamic notes with a trace of mint. Barely medium weight with a soft fleshy palate - red cherries, spice and sweet herbs. This palate reflects the fact that 2013 was a good to very good vintage in Barolo. Great length at the finish. The first of 3 from my cellar. — a month ago

Dave

9.2

Tame is the right word. This Barolo is moving out of its wild youth, but can still age some. Soft fruit and new leather, a little sage. Tannins are mellow, decanted for 2 hours. Paired with pork medallions in a basil cream sauce. Good pairing.
Listening to Willie Nelson — 14 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Has hit its nice widow for drinking. Really good with my Tagliatelle alla Bolognese. — a month ago

Matt Waring

9.0

Approachable after 1 hr decant. Cherry-cranberry fruit, hints of black, leathery palate. A little short and it’s not the most complex. But very good now, and for a Barolo you can buy at Costco and open that night, it’s terrific — a month ago

Joaquin Martinez

9.0

Phenomenal. Given its 21 years of age (tasted in 2026) so alive and vibrant. Tannic and structured but I will say it gave me that blackcurrant and old book smell immediately but the palate was a live and "young" as it opened it up via decanting, the tar, cedar, and rich red fruit began to open up with touches of earth and mushrooms. Great wine. Honestly, towards the last tasting, I got hints of sweet and sour tamarind. — a month ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

floral rich smooth tannins. — 12 days ago

Corbett Foster

8.9

On the nose, a touch smoky. Smoked cherries or plums. On the palate, less sweet than I expected. — 15 days ago

Her Mir Tage

9.7

1955 Giacomo Conterno Barolo (Ditta) – The "Great Emperor"

Appearance: The wine unfurls in the glass with a majestic, deep garnet core that gracefully fades into a wide brick-orange rim—the unmistakable heraldry of seven decades of life. It is perfectly clear and luminous, promising a profound experience.

Nose (Aroma): The aromatic profile is a walk through an ancient, sacred forest after the rain. It opens with a deep sense of humid earth, fungal truffle, and a subtle, refined smoked leather. As it opens, a beautiful core of blueberry compote and dried dark fruits emerges, intertwined with a complex tapestry of Chinese medicinal herbs and dried florals. It is both powerful and hauntingly ethereal.

Palate (Taste): The palate is a breathtaking journey into umami and complexity. True to the legend, the fruit has transformed into an intense medley of sweet preserved fruit (dried apricot, date). This is immediately met with a profound savory depth: a distinct salted Chinese preserved plum character provides a mouthwatering salinity, while a fine dusting of astragalus root powder and angelica root brings an authentic, warming medicinal bitterness that defines the wine’s regal structure. A hint of spicy dried ginger soda lingers on the mid-palate, adding a lift of unexpected freshness.

Acidity & Structure: The acidity is the heartbeat of this wine—sustained, mellow, and incredibly refined. It does not jab but rather flows continuously, carrying the dense, dried flavors across the palate with remarkable energy. The tannins have fully resolved into a silken, powdery texture, leaving nothing but harmony.

Finish: The finish is eternal, echoing with notes of dried citrus peel, forest floor, and a final whisper of sweet tobacco and herbs. A truly humbling experience; this is not merely a wine, but a living artifact of time, worthy of the title "Great Emperor." — a month ago