Gianfranco Bovio, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2015

 I’ve had my eye on the Gattera cru since tasting some amazing renditions from Mauro Veglio more than a decade ago, so it is a great pleasure to now see a beauty turned out by Bovio.  Moderately expressive aromatically, it turns things up as soon as the wine hits the palate, showing very sexy flavors based on red and black fruits, balsamic notes, spices and thin threads of toast and fresh meat.  There’s a faint flash of alcoholic heat late in the finish, but you’ll already be won over by the time you get to that.