Rocche Dei Manzoni, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2010

This producer has turned out some extraordinary wines from this site over the years, and the 2010 will likely turn out to be the equal of the best of them.  Not overly weighty or assertive, it is nevertheless completely charming thanks to lovely scents of cola, wood spice and incense.  The fruit is delectably sweet, with balsamic undertones and a savory hint of cured meat.  Fine-grained tannins lend a soft character to the finish, which is structured for years of improvement, though the tender sweetness of the fruit will lead many to crack into this before it gets much older.