Cascina Adelaide, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009

 This shows a distinctly modern-style, with lots of toasty, spicy oak adorning its bouquet, but there’s still enough punchy fruit to work in tandem with the wood, which is of such high quality that its prominence is a net plus for the wine.  I rarely look favorably on Nebbiolo-based wines with this much wood influence, but this is a remarkably well crafted release.