1996 Barolo Vigneto Arborina
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Tasting notes
Vivid and expressive, the 1996 Barolo Arborina has developed very nicely in bottle. Dark red stone fruit, leather, smoke, tar and licorice add layers of aromatic and flavor nuance throughout. The darker side of this La Morra cru comes through in the 1996, with firm Arborina tannins that propel the super expressive finish. The 1996 should drink well for another decade, maybe more.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Still a youthful wine, the 1996 Barolo Vigneto Arborina is shaping up to be a beauty, and I say shaping up, as the 1996 is still not fully formed. Dark red cherry, plum, minerals and spices all flesh out in the glass, with supporting beams of tannin that give the wine its sense of drive and pure energy. I imagine the 1996 will always retain a certain amount of vintage 1996 austerity.
Altare's 1996 Barolo Arborina is reminiscent of a terrific grand cru from Burgundy's Cote d'Or. Intensely aromatic, with copious quantities of black cherry jam, earth, pain grille, and floral scents, this saturated dark ruby-colored offering reveals superb ripeness, substantial richness, a full-bodied, layered personality, adequate acidity, and sweet tannin in the finish. It is a stunning Barolo to drink now and over the next 15 years. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411
Altare's 1996 Barolo Arborina is reminiscent of a terrific grand cru from Burgundy's Cote d'Or. Intensely aromatic, with copious quantities of black cherry jam, earth, pain grille, and floral scents, this saturated dark ruby-colored offering reveals superb ripeness, substantial richness, a full-bodied, layered personality, adequate acidity, and sweet tannin in the finish. It is a stunning Barolo to drink now and over the next 15 years. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411 Aug 1999, www.robertparker.com