2011 Barolo Ginestra Casa Mate

The 2011 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè sees a fresher quality of fruit compared to the Barolo Gavarini Chiniera. Vines are picked at slightly lower altitudes and harvest starts a few days earlier in this vineyard. The wine reveals an elegant and streamlined bouquet with lively tones of wild berry, spice, white truffle and balsam herb. The complexity here is very enticing indeed. I also appreciated the quality of tannins. They are silky and structured without feeling harsh or astringent. ||Now celebrating his 19th harvest, Gianluca Grasso describes some of the challenges of the hot 2011 vintage. In order to avoid overripe fruit, he opted for a shorter vegetative cycle and an early harvest. His maceration times were slightly shorter this vintage to avoid any harshness of tannins that may come from the seeds. In all, these careful decisions have helped to preserve that impeccable house style that distinguishes the wines of Elio Grasso. Collectors should order a bottle or two of the excellent 2008 Barolo Riserva Rüncot. This is one of the top Italian wines on the market today. eRobertParker.com.June, 2015