2015 Barolo Terlo Costa Grimaldi

Barolo. Tasted blind. Mid ruby. Cool strawberry and cherry nose with a hint of iron and minerally notes. Plenty of strawberry fruit but with an elegant, mid-weight feel to it. Tangy acidity adds freshness and nerve to the concentrated fruit as does the layer of sandy tannins. Really concentrated and yet not heavy. (WS)

The 2015 Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi is a powerful, bombastic wine. Smoke, leather, tobacco, dried flowers and menthol add an attractive savory edge to the dark Nebbiolo flavors in this muscular, virile Barolo. A wine with shoulders and breadth, the 2015 needs a few years to unwind, but if has quite a bit of potential. I imagine it will always remain a bit burly in its tannic structure and overall feel.

There’s a wealth of ripe and rich fruit here that makes a convincing impression on the nose with red to darker cherries, plums and an array of fresh leaves and herbs. The palate has seamless, finely grained tannins that carry a smooth array of fresh and juicy red-cherry flavor. Really holds the finish well. Try from 2021.