2009 Barolo Lazzarito

Shiny mid ruby with orange tinges. Profound and sweetly perfumed nose and with a hint of oak. Intense ripe fruit with wonderful acidity. Rich and yet lively and juicy and with powerful tannins. (WS)

Commune of Serralunga. Quite dark ruby with orange tinges. Savoury nose with spicy oak notes. Pretty sweet fruit with almost completely absorbed oak and firm tannins. Great balance and interplay between fruit, tannins and acidity. (WS)

Luca recently purchased more land in the Lazzarito cru. The 2009 Barolo Lazzarito delivers subdued notes of red rose and violet that build in intensity as the wine takes on more air in the glass. Black fruit, plum, cassis, leather, tar and licorice soon follow suit. This wine is an absolute, drop-dead stunner. Its tannic crispness makes it feel lively and buoyant in the mouth. The wine shows heft and importance that become firmly etched in the mouth. Each time I went back to the glass, the wine told a new story. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. If forced to inhabit a desert island that only served the wines of a single producer, I would want Luca Currado to be that supplier. He excels at everything he does from his castle perch at the heart of Castiglione Falletto. Despite the difficult 2009 season, his wines remain extraordinary. In fact, they are among the best I tasted from the vintage. Importer: Dalla Terra Winery Direct, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405