2001 Barolo Vigna Cicala

A darker-toned hue of ruby with violet highlights, the 2001 Barolo Cicala suggests new oak and spices on the nose, then opens to reveal a very complete and multi-dimensional wine that offers sensations of ripe dark cherries, minerals, menthol, tar, licorice and violets wrapped around a structured, masculine frame. A very fresh and long finish makes this a superbly well-balanced and beautiful wine. The Cicala cru gives wines of power and intensity owing to its poorer and dryer soils which contain more iron, as well as the vineyard's south to south-east exposure.

A dark-toned hue of ruby with violet highlights, the 2001 Barolo Cicala suggests new oak and spices on the nose, then opens to reveal a very complete and multi-dimensional wine that offers sensations of ripe dark cherries, minerals, menthol, tar, licorice and violets wrapped around a structured, masculine frame. A very fresh and long finish makes this a superbly well-balanced and beautiful wine. The Cicala cru gives wines of power and intensity owing to its poorer and dryer soils which contain more iron, as well as the vineyard’s south to south-east exposure. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799

Nr Monforte d’Alba. Quite pale with wide pale rim. Coffee and spiced black cherry, very sweet and ripe on the nose with quite noticeable oak. First sign of undergrowth and truffles, getting stronger with time in the glass. Complex and delicious. Fresh and not overwhelmed by the oak. (JH)