2001 Barolo Cerequio

The 2001 Barolo Cerequio comes across as rich, round, seamless and pretty. Here, too, the aromas and flavors are just a bit forwad, but there is more than enough density to support another decade of aging. The wine comes together beautifully with time in the glass. Sweet rose petals, spices and licorice wrap around the big, seamless finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021. Contrary to the vast majority of growers, Roberto Voerzio has always maintained that 2000 was a better vintage for him than 2001. After having tasted both vintages extensively over the last few years, its pretty clear Voerzio is right. The 2001s haven’t held up as well as the 2000s I reviewed last year and are developing at a faster pace. Not surprisingly, both of the Baroli Voerzio bottles only in magnum have developed particularly gracefully. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

Voerzio's 2001 Barolo Cerequio is another outstanding effort. It displays a deep, captivating nose of roses, spices and macerated cherries which melds seamlessly into layers of ripe dark fruit, offering great persistence on the palate and a lingering note of minerality on the finish. It is a wine of tremendous overall beauty and harmony as well as one of the highlights of the vintage.

Good deep red. Nuanced nose combines raspberry, woodsmoke and an intriguing element of roasted herbs. Sweeter than the Brunate and higher-pitched, with strawberry and cherry fruit enlivened by balsamic and eucalyptus notes. Very complex, juicy wine that's currently a bit more typically backward than the Brunate, and just beginning to unfold .spanstyle='mso-spacerunyes' spanThebigbutripetannins arrive very late, allowing the fruit to expand on the back end.