Mario Giribaldi Barolo Ravera DOCG Riserva 2013

A brilliant Barolo with more than a decade in age already under its belt. Drinking beautifully now, but it certainly has another fifteen to twenty years ahead of it, in good cellars. For enjoying today, several hours decanting seems a minimum requirement. There is a brightness to the colour, and yet it is a deep red. The complexity here is immediately obvious. Tobacco leaf notes, florals, hints of orange rind, mulberries and truffles are all present and correct. The texture is supple, the wine is clean and balanced and there is a lingering finish. The wine certainly has the famous tar and roses characters, but there are also notes of sun-dried tomatoes on the palate. This is a cracker.

Enticing scents of red berry, crushed rose petal and wild herb take center stage. Round and savory, the palate offers juicy black cherry, licorice and tobacco framed in polished tannins and fresh acidity. It won't need years to come around, but it will also stand up to midterm aging. Drink 2019–2028.