BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

BUYING I GUIDE
Vietti. You’ll fall in love with the wine’s rich intensity
and the ensuing complexity that becomes
apparent as the wine spends more time in the
glass. Thanks to a continuing evolution, you’ll recognize
aromas of wild berry, smoke, crushed
stone, licorice, cola and mesquite. The tannins
are silky and smooth. Hold ten years or more.
Imported by Dalla Terra Winery Direct. Cellar
Selection. —M.L.
94
Brezza 2006 Cannubi (Barolo);
$NA. Here’s yet another extraordinary
wine from the famed Cannubi cru of Barolo. In
this expression from the Brezza family, you’ll be
rewarded with bright aromas of forest berry,
licorice, earth, leather and cola. The wine is
intense, generous and very elegant. Pair it with
chicken in morel mushroom sauce. Imported by
Admiralty Beverage. Cellar Selection. —M.L.
94
Bric Cenciurio 2006 Coste di Rose
(Barolo); $NA. Here’s another Barolo
from the Coste di Rose cru that will blow your
mind. This is a big, bold expression of Nebbiolo
with thick and longlasting aromas backed by
impressive intensity in the mouth. Espresso bean,
cherry, spice, leather and licorice all make an
appearance and the finish can be counted in
many long, long delicious minutes. Imported by
Italia Wine Imports. —M.L.
94
Cascina Ballarin 2004 Bricco Rocca
Riserva Tistot (Barolo); $NA.
Impressive on so many levels, this vineyard designate
Riserva Barolo shows excellent aromatic
intensity and purity. Black cherry, plum, smoke,
spice, asphalt, root beer and black tar are evident
elements of the bouquet. The mouthfeel is
full, firm and generous with a lingering vanilla
fade. Imported by Ideal Wine and Spirits Co.
Inc. —M.L.
94
Castello di Verduno 2004 Monvigliero
Riserva (Barolo); $90.
Although this Riserva already has six years of age,
it opens with surprisingly bright and youthful
tones of cherry, blackberry and cassis. Those fruit
aromas are folded within evident oak-driven aromas
of spice and vanilla. The mouthfeel is firm,
polished and this Barolo should age more years
in the bottle. Imported by Oliver McCrum
Wines. —M.L.
94
Ceretto 2005 Bricco Rocche
Brunate (Barolo); $88. Thanks to its
dense clay soils, the Brunate cru delivers wines
with high color saturation and aromatic caliber.
This Barolo offers layers of black fruit, plum,
spice, tobacco, cola and dark chocolate. The wine
is firm and finely textured with power, dimension
and personality on the long finish. Imported by
Wilson Daniels Ltd. Cellar Selection. —M.L.
94
Claudio Alario 2006 Riva (Barolo);
$NA. Barolo Riva is a fantastic wine with
enormous personality and charm. At the outset,
the wine appears modern and bold with determined
aromas of black fruit and spice. But wait a
second and the wine will surprise you with its sassy
complexity and finesse. Give it 10 more years of
cellar aging. A Marc de Grazia selection; various
American importers. Editors’ Choice. —M.L.
94
Claudio Alario 2006 Sorano
(Barolo); $NA. Barolo Sorano (from
the Serralunga d’Alba area) is an impressive wine
with big color and extraction followed by aromas
of cherry liqueur, spice, vanilla, clove and ginger.
The wine is chewy and succulent in the mouth
with firm tannins that will soften with time. A
Marc de Grazia selection; various American
importers. —M.L.
94
Cordero di Montezemolo 2006
Enrico VI (Barolo); $NA. Enrico VI is
an elegant and unique expression of Nebbiolo
with impressive finesse and sophistication. Save
this bottle for an important occasion and cellar
age the wine five to 10 more years at a minimum.
Aromas include coffee, tar, dried tobacco, leather
and delicate forest fruit. There are hints of vanilla
and toast on the close that will soften with time.
Imported by Omniwines Distribution. —M.L.
94
Elvio Cogno 2006 Cascina Nuova
(Barolo); $45. Wow, what a wonderful
wine, delivering rich notes of black fruit, vanilla,
cherry and spice. But the aromas are in no way
obvious. In fact, this is an ethereal and elegant
wine that pays attention to the little details,
like the light shadings of polished stone and violets
that liven up the long finish. Drink after
2018. Imported by Vias Imports. Cellar Selection.
—M.L.
94
Enzo Boglietti 2006 Fossati
(Barolo); $NA. The Barolo Fossati
from La Morra opens with huge intensity and
determined aromas of black cherry, tobacco,
licorice, mesquite wood and crushed mineral.
What really sets this wine apart is the immediacy
and confident delivery of its aromas. That same
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self-awareness transfers to the mouth, where the
wine is long, satisfying and rich. Imported by
Cutting Edge Selections. —M.L.
94
Gianfranco Alessandria 2006 San
Giovanni (Barolo); $NA. Here’s a
fantastic addition to your cellar collection of
Barolos. Gianfranco Alessandria’s San Giovanni
Barolo is at the top of its class. The wine is elegant
and ethereal with dark, spicy concentration
and loads of pulpy fruit, licorice, ginger, cola and
leather. Open this bottle in ten years or so.
Imported by T. Edward Wines Ltd. —M.L.
94
Gianni Gagliardo 2006 Cannubi
(Barolo); $125. A Barolo superstar on
the rise—keep a close watch on the wines of
Gianni Gagliardo and family. This expression
from the prized Cannubi cru offers impressive
intensity and personality with enticing aromas of
black fruit, cola, root beer, cured beef, cedar and
white truffle. The wine is ethereal and elegant
but the tannic touch is firm enough to promise a
long cellar future ahead. Imported by Enotec
Imports, Inc. Cellar Selection. —M.L.
94
Gianni Voerzio 2006 La Serra
(Barolo); $100. Barolo La Serra from
Gianni Voerzio would make a perfect companion
to pulled pork smoked over hardwood charcoal.
There’s a sassy spice element here backed by
plush layers of blueberry, blackberry and plum.
The tannins are still on the young, astringent side;
give this wine some time to unwind in the cellar.
Imported by BelVino LLC. —M.L.
94
Giuseppe Rinaldi 2006 Cannubi
San Lorenzo Ravera (Barolo); $95.
With fruit sourced from some of Barolo’s best
vineyard crus, this beautiful wine offers fullness,
character and longevity. Textbook Nebbiolo aromas
include wild berry, blue flower, white pepper,
cola and tar. The mouthfeel is spicy, fresh and
well structured. Pair this wine with steak au
poivre (in 5–10 years or so). Imported by Vinifera
Imports. —M.L.
94
Luigi Pira 2006 Vigna Marenca
(Barolo); $65. The Luigi Pira estate
delivers a knockout Barolo (from the Marenca
vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba) with impressive
integrity of fruit, vibrant cherry and blackberry
backed by warming aromas of chocolate and
spice. The wine is velvety-rich and opulent in the
mouth. Drink after 2018. Imported by Michael
Skurnik Wines. Cellar Selection. —M.L.