Pira Luigi, Barolo DOCG (Piedmont, Italy) 2016

 The 2015 vintage from this cru was fabulous from the house of Luigi Pira, and the 2016 is hard on its heels, if in a notably different style reflective of the vintage.  Not as bulky or assertive, the 2016 is much more suave and feminine in character, which would be a bit surprising from Serralunga if not for the fact that the 2016 growing season resulted in this sort of profile almost everywhere across the Barolo district… provided that producers didn’t get greedy and wait too long to harvest.  Oak is showing but only in the background, and there’s plenty of tannin, but of an unobtrusive sort.  Both red and black fruit tones are evident, with lovely floral topnotes to the bouquet.  The finish is exceptionally long and pure, and the wine will have a broad window of enjoyability, extending from the minute you bring it into your home until 15 years from now.