2008 Barolo

The 2008 Barolo is pure class. Tobacco, incense, crushed rocks and dried flowers fuse into a juicy, expressive core of dark fruit. The 2008 stands out for its balance and overall sense of harmony. Brovia’s straight Barolo is at once highly nuanced – which makes it approachable young – yet also structured and powerful, especially on the finish. Over the last few years this has been one of the very best entry-level Baroli. The Barolo is essentially a blend of all of Brovia’s single-vineyard wines and is aged in Slavonian cask. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. I can’t say enough good things about the Brovia family and what they have accomplished over the years, but especially over the last decade or so, which has seen them jump into the upper echelon of Barolo producers. The 2008s had just been bottled when I tasted them in November 2011. Now that the wines have been in bottle a little longer, it is clear they are fulfilling all of their early promise. Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchants, Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990

The 2008 Barolo is stupendous. Dark red cherries, flowers, violets and mint are some of the many nuances that emerge from this firm, classically built wine. This is a terrific showing from the straight Barolo. The 2008 possesses dazzling richness. Hard candy, flowers and mint linger on the finish. This is a fabulous showing from an overachieving wine. In 2008 the Barolo is mostly Serralunga fruit.