Dinner at Cafe Ponte with Jeff, Jory and Jere. WOW! Did this knock me out! Such ripe sweetness, such power and finesse, such silk and grip. Plum, smoke, chocolate, etc. etc. Very well balanced and lots of layers of structure. My only reason for not scoring it higher was that the finish was a little short and there was a slightly bitter after taste. This wine will last 10 more years easy. Drink one now and save the rest.

The fruit seemed to be 'drying out' somewhat at this point. The wine seemed quite mature, and probably is at it's peek currently.

pick up tannins.... hadn't picked up on alchohol level last time... get a mid palate this time.... a little "hot" from alchohol?

Great wine, tastes like a grand cru red burg. Griotte-Chambertin. Good weight, body, excellent structure.

7/17/05- Hahaha! Univerally everyone's favorite wine of the night in a Barolo vs. Barb night. Drink whenever.

Medium red color, mild nose after 1 hour decanting. Red fruit, nice long rich aftertaste. In fact, the best part of the wine is the aftertaste. Mellow, rich and still there approaching a minute. Quite unexpected with the mild nose. A very nice wine. Probably at its peak.

extra ordinary - fabulous gene & gail malibu

7/16/05- Had at a tasting here. First bottle was off. 2nd was amazing Affrimed 1996 geniuous. Great buy. Wait until 2010 and kick ass. -- Rare- Conterno made a tiny amount of Barolo in the great 1996 vintage. But what he made is monumental: Daniel Thomases compares the '96 Monfortino to the legendary 1978 Monfortino, and there is little doubt that 1996 Cascina Francia will also rival its 1978 counterpart. For the first couple of years after release, the Cascina Francia's massive structure dominated the hidden core of dense fruit. But now, after 5 years in bottle, the powerful Conterno nose and rich Serralunga fruit is beginning to emerge. Steve Tanzer calls it 'impressively intense and powerfully structured, with penetrating, precise berry and mineral flavors.??? It is a great Barolo by any measure.

This is a wine with some refinement, a smooth texture, fully mature, with plum and spice on the palate.

Still very, very good. Reviews said to drink before 2002, but this wine was still good, no hint of being too old

Wow. Deep yellow-gold color. Fascinating nose of vanilla, tropical fruit and candied fruit (fruitcake!) ... along with hints of molasses and rum. Thick and mouth-coating, with some oak, minerals and liqueurish notes. The flavor is nicely mellowed with age, but still plenty of acid to keep it fresh (Jennifer, in fact, thought it was "too sour" - ?). Great, long finish gets grassy after 20-30 secons, with a mild, pleasant alcoholic warmth. A fascinating and complex wine. Perfection with both pecorino romano and a mellow aged goat cheese.

Like alot of the 96's the acidic quality doesn't let go. Needs time to soften. Next bottle in 2007.

CHERRY & BLACK CURRENT