BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

is drying and firmly tannic. Imported by David
Bowler Wine. —M.L.
91
Seghesio 2006 Vigneto La Villa
(Barolo); $NA. Vigneto La Villa opens
with ripe, pulpy fruit and fresh aromas of plum,
blackberry, crushed mineral and exotic spice. The
wine takes on a ruby color and there is slight
browning on the edges. The mouthfeel shows
great balance between the fresh acidity and drying
tannins. A Marc de Grazia selection; various
American importers. —M.L.
91
Silvano Bolmida 2006 Bussia
(Barolo); $NA. This bold wine from
the acclaimed Bussia cru delivers meaty and
masculine aromas of blackberry, smoked ham,
vanilla bean, cured beef, nutmeg, clove and polished
black stone. The thick, rich mouthfeel is
irresistible and the wine is long lasting and elegant
on the close. Imported by Morgan Import
LLC. —M.L.
91
Stroppiana 2006 Vigna San Giacomo
(Barolo); $NA. Barolo Vigna
San Giacomo is a meaty, masculine expression of
Nebbiolo with dense, dark fruit, cherry, plum and
prune with accents of bresaola, smoked beef and
spice. The tannins are drying and firm and this
style of wine could pair with turkey roast with
raisin, apple and sage stuffing. —M.L.
91
Tenuta Montanello 2006 Montanello
(Barolo); $NA. Here’s a beautifully
bright Barolo with characteristic aromas of
moist earth, pipe tobacco, wild berries, forest
floor and asphalt. The mouthfeel is polished and
fine in texture. Pair with tender, hardwood
smoked pork. —M.L.
91
Terre da Vino 2006 Essenze
(Barolo); $NA. Essenza is a ripe
expression of Nebbiolo from the 2006 vintage
with earthy nuances, wild berry and pressed red
rose. This Barolo offers very good dimension and
overall depth of aroma, backed by a thicker,
pulpier mouthfeel. The tannins are still young so
let this wine age at least five more years.
Imported by International Wine Traders. —M.L.
90
Anselma 2006 (Barolo); $42. Here’s
an earthy, meaty Barolo with characteristic
aromas of smoked honey ham, bresaola, root
beer and exotic spice. The fruit element comes
forward as blackberry and cassis. The wine is
slightly bitter and astringent. Drink it well after
2015 to let those tannins soften. Imported by
Bacchanal Wines. —M.L.
90
Barale Fratelli 2006 Bussia
(Barolo); $NA. This Barolo from the
Bussia cru offers all kinds of smoky aromatic veils
wrapped around tones of cured beef, licorice,
toasted hazelnut, hummus, cola and blackberry. It
sports a lean, compact feel in the mouth with
well-etched tannins on the close. Imported by Lo
Duca Bros. —M.L.
90
Barale Fratelli 2006 Vigna
Castellero (Barolo); $NA. This vine-
yard-designate Barolo opens with slightly gritty
aromas of coffee rinds, crushed mineral and raspberry
or pomegranate fruit. But the aromatic
impact is also surprising as those notes evolve into
cola, root beer and earthy violets. The wine is
silky and firm in the mouth and the tannins are
still young. Imported by Lo Duca Bros. —M.L.
90
Brovia 2006 Ca’ Mia (Barolo); $NA.
This is a distinctive and unique Barolo
with an edgy, brambly quality that comes forth
aromatically as wild berry, forest floor, chopped
herb, furniture wax for antiques and root beer.
The wine leaves your palate with a dry, dusty
impression thanks to the fine nature of its tannins.
Imported by Rosenthal Estate. —M.L.
90
Cascina del Monastero 2006 Bricco
Luciani (Barolo); $NA. Here’s a
Barolo with a light and delicate touch. Bricco
Luciani offers a steady stream of currants, root
beer, tar, licorice and dusty mineral aromas. In
fact, the mineral component is decisive and adds
backbone to the wine in the mouth as well. This
expression focuses less on brawn and extraction
and more on elegance and finesse. Imported by
Metropolis Wine Merchants, Inc. —M.L.
90
Contratto 2003 Tenuta Secolo
(Barolo); $65. The Secolo vineyard is
at the heart of the Cerequio cru and has been
owned and farmed by the Contratto family since
1959. This edition of the wine shows warm notes
of pressed raspberry and plum backed by textured
tannins and solid structure. Imported by
Bedford International. —M.L.
90
Francesco Rinaldi 2006 Cannubbio
(Barolo); $NA. There’s a firmly elegant
and traditional aspect to this ruby-hued Barolo
that suggests a pairing with something like baconwrapped
scallops: in other words, a dish that is
textured, delicate and aromatically intense at the
same time. The bouquet here is redolent of violets,
white cherry, spice and powdered licorice.
Imported by Polaner Selections. —M.L.
90
Franco Conterno 2006 Vigna Pugnane
(Barolo); $NA. Here’s a vinous
and youthful Barolo that definitely needs fiveplus
years of bottle aging. The aromas are fresh
and piquant, including forest berry, cola, balsam
and white truffle. The mouthfeel is satisfying and
pleasantly intense with a long tannic fade. —M.L.
90
Franco Conterno 2006 Bussia
Munie (Barolo); $NA. Despite its
young age, Barolo Bussia Munie already shows
signs of age and evolution: the fruit is on the
dried or candied side and the oak tones are dusty
and well integrated. This wine shows harmony
and class, with tight-drying tannins on the
close. —M.L.
90
Francone 2006 (Barolo); $NA. This
youthful and lively Barolo comes from a
winery in the La Morra municipality of the
Langhe. Although the oak influences are still discernable,
this wine will relax and soften with
time. At this young age, you’ll recognize aromas
of cherry, vanilla, pipe tobacco, spice and red
rose. The mouthfeel is marked by bright acidity
and firmness. Imported by De Benedetto
Imports. —M.L.
90
Gianfranco Bovio 2006 Arborina
(Barolo); $NA. Barolo Arborina is
slightly raw and sharp at first but the quality of
the fruit is evident and, in general, this wine
needs more time to evolve in the bottle. At this
young stage, you’ll taste white cherry, Spanish
cedar, graphite tones, tobacco and light shadings
of smoke. It’s a fine, elegant wine with a long tannic
fade. Imported by Robert Chadderdon Selections.
—M.L.
90
La Querciola 2006 Costa di Rose
(Barolo); $56. La Querciola’s Costa di
Rose Barolo shows an ethereal and feminine side
with delicate aromas of cola, root beer, licorice,
tar, white cherry and raw cassis berry. The wine
exhibits a bright garnet color and tastes both
refined but serious in the mouth thanks to its polished
tannins. Imported by Vignaioli. —M.L.
90
Livia Fontana 2006 Villero
(Barolo); $50. Livia Fontana’s Barolo
from the Villero vineyard opens with a slightly
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