A faint but distinctive and appealing menthol note shows in the bouquet, and it offers an interesting counterpoint to the floral aromas. A scent of sweet red berry fruit is also evident, and it shows up again in the wine’s flavors and persists through the finish. Oak shows up late in the sensory sequence, offering welcome firming but virtually no astringency, and the tannins are also quite fine in grain. Very well done.
Cascina Del Monastero, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2009
By Michael Franz