1989 Barolo Bricco Rocche Brunate

The 1989 Barolo Brunate is quite a bit fresher than the 1990 but shows the slightly leaner style typical of many wines in this vintage. The bouquet of spices, menthol, sweet tobacco and licorice melds into layers of dark fruit that come to life in the glass. The wine puts on additional richness with air and continues to develop lovely complexity in a very classic, mid-weight style. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. I tasted these 1989s and 1990s during a visit to the winery in November, 2009. I was struck by how fast the 1990s have developed. I am tempted to think those wines were not stored perfectly for their entire lives, as I have tasted far fresher examples in the US. As a group, the 1989s were more satisfying. At the time these wines were made vinification and aging were still traditional in approach.

The 1989 Barolo Brunate is quite a bit fresher than the 1990 but shows the slightly leaner style typical of many wines in this vintage. The bouquet of spices, menthol, sweet tobacco and licorice melds into layers of dark fruit that come to life in the glass. The wine puts on additional richness with air and continues to develop lovely complexity in a very classic, mid-weight style. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2012. Feb 2010, www.robertparker.com