2005 Barolo Cannubi Boschis

Plum, black cherry, menthol, spice and leather are some of the notes that emerge from Luciano Sandrone's 2005 Barolo Cannubi Boschis (Library Release). The 2005 has fleshed out nicely since it was first released, although the slightly firm tannins of a year in which the fruit was picked a little ahead of schedule remain. Today, the 2005 Cannubi Boschis is fresher and more alive than Le Vigne. All things considered, this is a stellar showing.

Good deep, bright red. Compelling perfume to the aromas of raspberry, smoke and minerals. At once silky and firmly built, with terrific juiciness and grip from sound acids. Not as dense as some vintages but boasts lovely fruit intensity and verve. Finishes with a firm tannic spine and lingering aromatic character. This seems even fresher in bottle than it was in barrel two years ago.

Sandrone's 2005 Barolo Cannubi Boschis offers up pretty notes of mint, flowers, spices and dark red berries, with sweet notes of French oak that linger on the finish. This is a decidedly slender Cannubi Boschis that lacks some of the sheer pedigree and explosiveness of the best vintages. The tannins need some time to soften, but this is a wine that has continued to grow in bottle. It could very well turn out to be one of the vintage's surprises. In 2005 the harvest took place at the end of September and the wine was aged in 500-liter barrels (1/3rd new).