BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

delivers impressive extraction and aromatic intensity.
The wine is rich and opulent with aromas of
spice, wild berry, red rose, licorice and a touch of
white truffle. The mouthfeel is smooth, elegant
and the finish is long. Imported by Admiralty
Beverage. —M.L.
92
Adriano Marco & Vittorio 2005
Basarin Riserva (Barbaresco);
$NA. Here’s a generous, opulent Barbaresco
Riserva with aromas of black cherry and soft
vanilla. The wine is not overdone, but elegant:
You’ll detect soft hints of coffee and roasted
almond as well and the tannins are tight and firm
on the close. Imported by Monsieur Touton
Selection Ltd. —M.L.
92
Angelo Negro & Figli 2007 Cascinotta
(Barbaresco); $NA. Here’s a
hefty, big expression of Nebbiolo with thick spice
notes and touches of vanilla and cinnamon that sit
over a core of bright fruit. The wine offers a soft
quality of tannin, followed by tart freshness,
resulting in a pleasurable sensation of richness
and opulence on the palate. Drink now until
2018. Imported by Nardone Wine. —M.L.
92
Battaglio 2007 Barbaresco; $NA.
Mario Battaglio offers a truly fantastic
expression of Nebbiolo from the hot 2007 vintage
that is packed tight with intensity and larger than
life aromatic opulence. In a surprise twist, the
wine also boasts a feminine side thanks to delicate
aromas of wild flowers, licorice and light graphite
or mineral shadings. —M.L.
92
Bruno Rocca 2007 Barbaresco;
$NA. Bruno Rocca releases yet another
beautiful Barbaresco. In the 2007, the wine delivers
a hearty, genuine feel that is reflected in aromas
of black fruit, spice, bresaola, wet earth and
tar. The wine boasts a clean, fine texture with polished
tannins and bright acidity. The finish is long
and spice driven. Imported by Trilussa Wine
Company. —M.L.
92
Cantina del Pino 2007 Barbaresco;
$47. Cantina del Pino delivers a standout
base Barbaresco with a bright ruby color and
distinct aromas of dried cassis, leather, tobacco,
prune, chestnut honey and blue flower. The wine
is packed with bright acidity and tight tannins for
long aging. The complexity here is really very special.
Imported by Artisan Wines, Inc.. —M.L.
92
Castello di Neive 2007 (Barbaresco);
$NA. Bright and tonic, this
cheerful Barbaresco delivers pretty aromas of
perfumed spice, wild flowers, licorice and light
shadings of talc powder. In the mouth, it offers an
especially smooth and silky feel. Pair this elegant
wine with lamb chops topped with crispy fried
shallots. —M.L.
92
Ceretto 2006 Bricco Asili Bernardot
(Barbaresco); $81. Bernardot is a
bold and plump expression of Barbaresco with
soft, ripe tannins and expressive aromatic layers
of cherry, plum, prune and new leather. The elegance
and detailed nature of Nebbiolo shines
through but the emphasis here is on opulence
and richness overall. Imported by Wilson Daniels
Ltd. —M.L.
92
Cigliuti 2007 Vigne Erte (Barbaresco);
$67. Here’s a rich and
densely extracted Barbaresco from the Erte vineyard
in Neive that will appeal to those who like a
bigger, more extracted style of Nebbiolo. The
wine is bursting with intense layers of black fruit,
prune and plum followed by sweet tones of exotic
spice. The mouthfeel is chewy, tart and very firm.
Imported by Indigenous Selections. —M.L.
92
Elio Filippino 2007 San Cristoforo
(Barbaresco); $NA. Fully loaded and
packed tight, this rich Barbaresco ushers forth
aromas of ripe cherry, wet earth, smoked bacon,
black stone and licorice. There’s a strong spice
element as well and the wine tastes thick and
ripe in the mouth with firm, finely textured tannins.
—M.L.
92
Fontanabianca 2007 Sorì Burdin
(Barbaresco); $60. There are some
ripe notes here of black cherry and raspberry
(2007 was a hot, dry vintage in Piedmont) but
you’ll also get territory-driven notes of wet earth
and dried beef or bresaola. The mouthfeel is dry
and firm thanks to the elegantly polished
nature of the tannins. Imported by Tellitalia
Imports. —M.L.
92
Michele Taliano 2007 Ad Altiora
(Barbaresco); $NA. Here’s a nicely
concentrated Barbaresco with distinct notes of
tar, leather, asphalt and spice backed by softer
notes of berry fruit, plum and prune. There’s
immense personality and power here with drying
tannins and plump fruit on the close. —M.L.
92
Molino 2007 Ausario (Barbaresco);
$NA. This beautiful, vineyard-designate
Barbaresco from the Ausario cru is marked by
distinctive mineral notes of graphite and slate followed
by pristine aromas of wild berries, tar and
light smoke. The wine is plump, thick and enduring
with highly polished tannins. Drink after
2015. Imported by Italia Wine Imports. —M.L.
92
Pelissero 2007 Nubiola (Barbaresco);
$38. Nebbiolo, the grape,
and Nubiola, the designate name, stem from the
same Italian word: nebbia, or “fog” that regularly
blankets the Langhe. This bright Barbaresco is
defined by a distinctive aroma of tar or freshly
applied street asphalt that is typical of the variety.
Additional aromas include back fruit, prune and
plum. The mouthfeel is streamlined, tight and
elegant. Imported by Vinifera Imports. —M.L.
92
Punset 2007 Basarin (Barbaresco);
$NA. The Basarin cru has performed
very nicely in 2007 by absorbing the heat, but not
in an exaggerated way. This expression opens with
ripe fruit notes, black cherry and wild raspberries
with elegant background tones of graphite,
smoke and blue flower. The wine imparts an elegant
and smooth feel thanks to the polished
nature of its tannins. Imported by Zancanella
Importing Co. —M.L.
92
Rattalino 2007 Quarantadue42
(Barbaresco); $NA. A relative newcomer,
Massimo Rattalino makes an impressive
debut with this tasty Barbaresco. The wine is
beautifully tonic with vibrant tones of rose,
pressed flower, wild berries, almond skin, cinnamon
and new leather. Those bright aromas are
surrounded by drying graphite nuances, bright
acidity and polished tannins. —M.L.
92
Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi
di Gresy 2006 Martinenga (Barbaresco);
$50. The Martinenga cru selection
of Barbaresco offers beautiful complexity and elegance
with firm tones of red berry fruit, cassis,
white truffle, cola and lingering aromas of exotic
spice. Thanks to its freshness and fine tannins,
this wine will easily age five to ten more years.
Imported by Dalla Terra Winery Direct. —M.L.
92
Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi
di Gresy 2007 Martinenga (Barbaresco);
$20. This intense and determined
Nebbiolo from the Martinenga cru of Barbaresco
delivers enticing aromas of black fruit, smoke,
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