Giacosa Fratelli Barolo Scarrone Vigna Mandorlo Riserva DOCG 2013

Serious stuff here, a Riserva from 2013. Opportunities for wines like these become rarer every day. Notes of coffee beans, roses, dark berries, licorice, truffles, spices and florals. Prominent tannins but they are so sleek and silky. Good grip, though it is deceptive. It is a wine which exhibits what the locals call the ’13 tannins. Excellent balance throughout and impressive length. Certainly enjoyable now but many years ahead of it for those with the patience.

Ripe berry, menthol, licorice and tobacco aromas mingle with whiffs of new leather and truffle. The delicious palate shows both generous fruit and restrained elegance, doling out raspberry jam, anise, clove, vanilla and dried herb framed in firm fine-grained tannins.

The 2013 Vigna Mandorlo Barolo is a wonderful showing from Giacosa Fratelli in this vintage. As this opens aromatics of fresh strawberries and cassis begin to take shape along side spices, minerals, licorice and hints of herbs. This beautifully structured Barolo is balanced and focused, with a gorgeous velvety texture backed by sweet red fruits, spices and minerals, which continue to expand on to the long, pretty finish. While impressive now, this will only become more appealing with a few more years of bottle age. (Best 2019-2030)