2010 Barbaresco Bric Turot

Prunotto's 2010 Barbaresco Bric Turot is a big step up from the straight bottling. Sweet red cherry, plum, anise, cloves, menthol and new leather notes flesh out in the glass. The Bric Turot is layered and expressive, with gorgeous depth and plenty of resonance. The 2010 drinks well today, but should also age effortlessly for at least another decade, and likely beyond. Here the tannins are a bit livelier than the 2009.

Palish ruby with orange tinges. Only hints of black tea leaves and cherry fruit, but very Nebbiolo-like. Chalky notes and a little medicinal. Transparent, elegant, still-reserved palate with gripping tannins and sweet embryonic fruit. It all just strikes a balance. (WS)

The 2010 Barbaresco Bric Turot opens with a slightly darker color (but not by much) and similarly delicate tones of rose petal and dried spice. There’s a more pronounced mineral element of river stone or lead pencil that gives this wine beautiful definition. Crisp acidity and integrated tannins do a great job of making the wine feel important in the mouth. The is one of the nicest Barbarescos ever produced by this estate. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. The big news at Prunotto (Marchesi Antinori’s estate in Monforte d’Alba) is the near completion of a state-of-the-art winery. This is the latest project added to the Florentine family’s already impressive list of wineries spanning the Italian peninsula. Starting this fall, the new building will house the estate’s more prestigious wine, the Barolo Bussia Riserva Vigna Colonnello. Its first edition, the 2008 vintage, will be released in 2014. I was delighted to see how far this winery has come. Just a few years ago, I recall darkly jammy and over extracted wines from Prunotto. But the current offers are anything but. They show enormous elegance and poise, even in the warmer vintages. Importer: Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, WA; tel. (425) 415-3738