2008 Barolo Vigneto Albarella

The 2008 Barolo Albarella is a tasty, fleshy wine graced with supple red fruit, flowers, spices and licorice. It shows lovely mid-palate juiciness and an approchable personality that makes it very appealing today. The 2008 can be enjoyed with minimum cellaring or aged for a few years. Sweet rose petals and spices inform the generous finish. The Albarella, from a site in Barolo, was aged for six months new French oak barrels followed by 20 months in 16-hectoliter casks.

The 2008 Barolo Albarella is a tasty, fleshy wine graced with supple red fruit, flowers, spices and licorice. It shows lovely mid-palate juiciness and an approachable personality that makes it very appealing today. The 2008 can be enjoyed with minimum cellaring or aged for a few years. Sweet rose petals and spices inform the generous finish. The Albarella, from a site in Barolo, was aged for six months new French oak barrels followed by 20 months in 16-hectoliter casks. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023. Fabio and Andrea Oberto are arguably La Morra’s most important under-the-radar growers. Various American importers, including: Chambers & Chambers, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 642-5500; Vinvino Wine Co., Inc., New York, NY; tel. (212) 463-7880; Worldwide Cellars, Minneapolis, MN; tel. (612) 378-0316

1.5 ha. Wonderfully aromatic. Sweet cherry, with gentle notes of pepper and spice and floral. But also a hint of savoury umami. Almost exotic. Rich, chewy, not chalky. Generous but well behaved. Alcohol doesn't show though there is a spice of oak on the finish. (JH)