1978 Barbaresco Pora

1978 is of course a legendary vintage in Piedmont and well-kept bottles still deliver the goods. A hot summer followed a cool spring in which yields were lowered dramatically by an irregular fruit set, resulting in some of the most powerful and age worthy wines that have ever been made in the region. This was an incredible flight with which to close out the tasting, even if two wines were flawed. The 1978 Barbaresco Riserva Pora was a grand, sweeping Barbaresco loaded with dark fruit, flowers, earthiness, spices and licorice. Slightly advanced aromas suggested this wine was at peak. This bottle was a treat as it was totally complete, even if some rustic elements came through from time to time.