1988 Barbaresco Paje Riserva

I am not a huge fan of the 1988 vintage in Piedmont as many wines have aged relatively prematurely, but that is not the case here. To be sure, 1988 is a relatively small-scaled vintage, but these Barbarescos were all very fine. The wines seem to have exhausted their potential for development, but they aren't tired at all and should continue to hold for a number of years. The 1988 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè, on the other hand, was far more extroverted, as layers of plums, violets and spices emerged in striking style. Still deeply-colored, the wine revealed tons of length and a pure, resonating finish.