Dario Stroppiana, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2012

Dario Stroppiana has been making some terrific wines during the past few vintages, and they remain relatively little-known among consumers (at least in the USA), which means that there’s also an opportunity to buy them for less than they are worth relative to their peers–at least for now.  Conspicuously dark in color (especially for a blended wine, as opposed to a single-cru bottling), this follows through with impressive concentration and very good depth to the dark-toned fruit.  Definitely styled on the masculine side of the continuum, this may shut down at some point, but it was definitely open and showy in May of 2016.