2008 Barbaresco Serraboella

The 2008 Barbaresco Serraboella is quite compact and closed, but there is a purity and depth to the fruit that is striking. Sweet red berries, crushed flowers, cinnamon and tobacco are all woven together in this attractive, deceptively mid-weight Barbaresco. The rich, round finish leaves a lasting impression. For the first time I can remember, I have a slight preference for the Vigne Erte in this vintage, as it appears to be a better balanced wine, at least at this stage. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. Cigliuti is one of the many small, family-run estates that embodies the finest of the artisan traditions of Piedmont. I found a lot to like in these current releases. The 2009 Barbareschi showed quite well, even though they had been bottled just prior to my visit. They are fresh, vibrant wines with lovely balance for the year. The 2010s are shaping up to be even better, but they are at least a year away from hitting the market. Claudia Cigliuti describes 2009 as a vintage with heavy snowfall in the winter and considerable rain during the spring. The summer was warmer than normal, which resulted in a slightly early harvest that started on September 8 and finished with the Nebbiolo being brought in between the 20th and 25th. Cigliuti makes two Barbareschi. The Vie Erte (formerly Vigne Erte) is aged in cask, while the Serraboella is aged 60% in cask and 40% in French oak. Importers: Indigenous Selections, Fort Lauderdale FL; tel. (954) 530-4021; David Vincent Selection, Union, NJ; tel. (908) 397-9117; Bianco Rosso Imports, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 781-0702