BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

BUYING I GUIDE
tar, licorice and old spice. The wine is elegant
and ethereal with a polished nature to its firm
tannins capped by pleasantly piquant freshness
on the finish. Imported by Dalla Terra Winery
Direct. —M.L.
91
Adriano Marco & Vittorio 2007
Basarin (Barbaresco); $NA. This is a
fully unique expression of Nebbiolo with distinct
aromas of bacon fat, dried salami, bresaola and
playful accents of black fruit and exotic spice. The
intensity and power are terrific and the wine is
tart, chewy and bright on the close. That inherent
freshness makes a nice contrast to those heavier
meaty aromas. Imported by Monsieur Touton
Selection Ltd. —M.L.
91
Albino Rocca 2007 (Barbaresco);
$NA. This beautiful base Barbaresco
from Albino Rocca (a family-run winery with 45
acres of vine) offers elegant and extremely floral
aromas of blue flower, rose petal and cedar followed
by bright shades of tar and licorice. The
wine is firm and drying with polished tannins on
the close. A Marc de Grazia selection; various
American importers. —M.L.
91
Antichi Poderi dei Gallina 2007
Vigneto l’Ciaciaret (Barbaresco);
$NA. This is textbook Barbaresco from the wellreceived
2007 vintage. Vigneto l’Ciaciaret (the
vineyard is part of the Gallina cru in Neive) offers
a delicate embroidery of wild berry, spice and
mineral aromas. The wine is rich and firm in the
mouth with dusty, drying tannins. —M.L.
91
Ca’ du Rabajà 2007 Rabajà (Barbaresco);
$52. Without a doubt one of
the most successful vineyard crus in Barbaresco,
Rabajà delivers unique intensity and sophistication.
You’ll notice aromas of black fruit, spice, tar
and licorice and there’s good balance between the
wine’s acidity and its tannic structure. Pair this
wine with roasted pork stuffed with prunes.
Imported by Rare Wine Company. —M.L.
91
Cantina del Nebbiolo 2007 Barbaresco;
$NA. Cantina del Nebbiolo is
a cooperative winery with 175 members. This
gorgeous base Barbaresco has been shaped by
light wood influences that are integrated so well,
they appear only as aromatic highlights over the
wine’s rich fruit component. There’s spice, cinnamon
and clove and the wine’s mouthfeel is rich
and continuous. —M.L.
91
Carlo Giacosa 2007 Montefico
(Barbaresco); $45. This impressive
Barbaresco shows generous intensity and a very
nice equilibrium between wild berry fruit and
oak-driven tones of spice and tobacco. There’s a
fun touch of pepper and white truffle as well and
the wine is compact, firm and elegant on the
close. Imported by Angelini Wine. —M.L.
91
Cascina Luisin 2007 Sori Paolin
(Barbaresco); $55. This is a big Bar-
baresco executed in a bold, modern style that can
either be consumed immediately, or can be put
aside to age in your cellar. Soft layers of spice,
nutmeg and vanilla are enhanced by bursting flavors
of cherry and blueberry. The wine is rich,
dense and opulent overall. Imported by Zig
Zagando. —M.L.
91
Giacosa Fratelli 2007 Basarin
Vigna Gianmatè (Barbaresco); $52.
This moderately oak-driven Barbaresco from the
Basarin cru delivers rich layers of spice and
vanilla lavished over wild berries and white cherries.
The wine is silky and smooth with drying
tannins on the close. Imported by Bedford International.
—M.L.
91
La Ganghija 2007 (Barbaresco);
$NA. Focused aromas of tar, asphalt,
wild berries and blue flowers open the nose of
this bright and lively Barbaresco. The wine offers
aromatic nuances that peel back slowly and
seductively to reveal red fruit and spice. In the
mouth, it delivers firm, drying tannins and bitter
cherry. —M.L.
91
Marchesi di Barolo 2007 Serragrilli
(Barbaresco); $NA. Loads of crushed
mineral—slate and white stone—characterize the
bouquet at first but are soon followed by delicate
aromas of cherry cola, balsam and exotic spice.
The Serragrilli Barbaresco offers an intense and
pristine aromatic presentation backed by thick
extraction and dense opulence. Imported by
Wine Wave. —M.L.
91
Negro Giuseppe 2007 Pian Cavallo
(Barbaresco); $NA. Pian Cavallo is a
unique and distinct wine that will appeal to those
who appreciate a bigger, more robust style of Barbaresco.
The very intense bouquet brings forth
aromas of perfume, scented candle and sweet
Christmas spice. Bright fruit tones appear in the
mouth along with firmly structured tannins that
3 2 | W I N E E N T H U S I A S T | D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 0
will ensure a long aging future. Imported by
IBESC Wine Distributor. —M.L.
91
Poderi Colla 2007 Roncaglie (Barbaresco);
$65. This is an extremely distinctive
and site-specific expression of Barbaresco
from the celebrated Roncaglie cru. The wine is
characterized by feminine, delicate tones of subtle
Indian spice, pressed rose petal, violets and
light vanilla or white chocolate. It boasts wellintegrated
freshness and finely polished tannins.
Imported by Empson (USA) Ltd. —M.L.
91
Punset 2007 Campo Quadro (Barbaresco);
$NA. Here’s a rich, ripe
expression of Barbaresco with loads of bright
fruit followed by generous notes of exotic spice
and scented candle. The wine is smooth, rich and
drinkable almost immediately. Or, you could
safely cellar this wine five years or more:
the natural fruit promises to evolve evenly
over the years. Imported by Zancanella Importing
Co. —M.L.
91
Ressia 2007 Canova (Barbaresco);
$NA. Here’s a ripe expression of Nebbiolo
from the dry and hot 2007 vintage. You’ll recognize
tones of cherry, raspberry and blackberry
backed by loads of spice and leather. There’s a
tart feeling in the mouth and the tannins are firm
and tight. —M.L.
91
Rivetti Massimo 2005 Serraboella
Riserva (Barbaresco); $NA. This Riserva
Serraboella Barbaresco from the tricky 2005
vintage shows nice concentration and density
backed by generous aromas of smoke, ripe cherry
and smoked ham. There’s a touch of overripe or
candied fruit that only helps add to the overall
intensity. In the mouth, this wine is silky and very
smooth. Imported by Wine Emporium. —M.L.
91
Rivetti Massimo 2007 Froi (Barbaresco);
$NA. Here’s an elegant and
pure Barbaresco that delivers an aromatic
embroidery of spice, wild berry, incense and sandalwood
fragrances. The wine is firm and tart in
the mouth, with an excellent balance between
freshness and tannic structure. Imported by Wine
Emporium. —M.L.
91
Sottimano 2007 Pajoré (Barbaresco);
$55. Sottimano makes five
expressions of Barbaresco and this wine from the
Pajoré cru delivers surprisingly ripe aromas of
cherry, wild berries, white truffle, chopped herbs