L’Astemia Pentita, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2015

 I cannot recall tasting a wine from this producer or even reading the name, and consequently I had to taste this three times before I could believe my eyes…and my palate.  The second and third tastes came more than an hour after I’d run through all of the day’s wines, so this looks fabulous not only in the context of the exalted Cannubi cru but also against the backdrop of a lot of big-name wines from the communes of Barolo, La Morra and Verduno.  The wine just sings from the first whiff to the last sensory impression in its very long finish.  Aromas of dried flowers mingle with scents of ripe fruit and balsamic notes, followed by flavors that deliver on the bouquet’s promise in spades.  The flavors are full of stuffing, with excellent depth and breadth on the palate, yet the wine retains a sense of prettiness and reserve despite its formidable flavor impact.  Marvelously integrated at this young age, this shows an excellence that seems…well, effortless…a great wine in which everything fell together naturally and beautifully.  I hate to end this review by noting anything negative, but this is the kind of bolt-from-the-blue performance that makes me wonder:  How many of those who tasted this will have the guts to score a less-than-famous wines as generously as it deserves?