Scoring 18+ points on the Dionysian scale of a possible 20, and with 14% alcohol, the 1982 Barolo from Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa was bought on February 24, 1988 for $29. I should have bought the entire container.

Rose petal, fresh road tar, and spicy smoke along with a mouth-filling body and flavor, made this 38 year-old wine the focal point of the meal.

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This was bottle number 14,533 out of the 22,360 bottles that they made. It was served with a meat-laced pasta.

Giacosa is my pick for one of the top three Barolo producers from Neive, Piedmonte, Italy. The wine still had another decade to go, but was holding at peak. Too many modern-made Barolo’s are designed not to age, are too fruity and some over-oaked with French wood. This one was classic. In Vino Veritas.