2003 Barolo Via Nuova

Beautiful mid ruby with bright orange rim. Malty and hints of fruit pie and dried cherry and a little peppery and alcoholic. Tannins are a little coarse and a little dry, but there is freshness as well as succulence. Not hugely complex but certainly one of the best wines of the vintage. (WS)

Boschis' Barolo Via Nuova is typically leaner than the Cannubi, but in 2003the heat has filled out this wine nicely, while still leaving it with the freshness that is the hallmark of this site. It reveals gorgeous purity in its dark cherries, violets, menthol and chocolate, with terrific vibrancy on the palate and a long, elegant fin ish. this styl ish Barolo needs another few years to come together and should drink well to age 15, perhaps beyond.

Boschis’ Barolo Via Nuova is typically leaner than the Cannubi, but in 2003 the heat has filled out this wine nicely, while still leaving it with the freshness that is the hallmark of this site. It reveals gorgeous purity in its dark cherries, violets, menthol and chocolate, with terrific vibrancy on the palate and a long, elegant finish. This stylish Barolo needs another few years to come together and should drink well to age 15, perhaps beyond. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018. Chiara Boschis has once again turned out two very pretty Barolos in 2003. The wines have a fair amount of new oak, but with time, the specific terroir qualities of the sites she works with always come through. These 2003 Barolos are a great example of how a less-well regarded vineyard outperformed one of the region’s most historic sites in this freakishly hot and dry vintage. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411