Giacomo Anselma, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2012

This terrific wine from Giacomo Anselma is very impressive aromatically, with notes of ripe fruit beautifully intertwined with impressions of cured meat, wild mushrooms and exotic spices.  This strong expressiveness is followed by deep flavors and a soft, sexy texture.  The only element that brought me up short from awarding an even higher score is just a whiff of alcoholic heat, but that doesn’t detract from the wine’s vast appeal, which will surely last for another 5 to 7 years at a minimum.