2009 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole

Good deep red. Complex, rather dark aromas of black cherry, violet, licorice and earth, complicated by brown spices. Then full and savory on the palate, with terrific energy to its primary, cool dark fruit flavors. Finishes with firm but integrated tannins, persistent fruit and excellent nerve for the vintage. Yet another example of a 2009 with real energy. A far cry from the older-styled Barolos made here as recently as the late 1990s--or is this simply the vintage talking? Give this four or five years in the cellar before pulling the cork.

Just mid crimson. Subtle backward cherry with complex spice notes and hint of shoe polish. Slow burner on the palate too, with fine cherry fruit. Fully integrated acidity at first, but tunes up on a crunchy red fruit finish. Seems to be a consequence of the warm 2009 vintage? Delicious chewy tannic finish. Long and understated and embryonic. (WS)

The 2009 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is simply exceptional. Sweet, seductive and layered, the 2009 graces the palate with exquisite beauty. Hard candy, cherries, cinnamon, wild flowers and mint are some of the nuances that meld together in the glass. Bricco delle Viole can be a bit compact in its youth, but the 2009 has a little more immediacy and mid-palate pliancy than is typically the case. That just makes it absolutely delicious today. What a gorgeous wine this is.