2012 Barolo Otin Fiorin Pie Franco - Michet

Orange peel, white pepper, mint, kirsch and apricot give the 2012 Barolo Piè Franco a wild, exotic quality that is hard to capture with words. Lifted in the glass, with soaring aromatics, the 2012 is a Barolo of allure and total sensuality. Although it is quite perfumed in style, it also has plenty of tannic underpinning. At times, the 2012 is fleeting, while in other moments, it is more overt. But it is always a wine of tremendous fascination, complexity and allure.

The 2012 Barolo Piè Franco opens with striking, explosive aromatics. Rose petal, orange peel, mint, sweet tobacco and spice notes all blossom in the glass, Effortless, silky and gracious to the core, the 2012 Piè Franco is a jewel of a wine. Soft tannins make the 2012 easy to drink young, but there is more than enough depth to support many years of fine drinking. Ultimately, though, the 2012 is a wine that fills all the dimensions. It is at once high-toned and aromatic, and yet has vertical depth to it that is compelling.

A wine of total sensuality and pure pleasure, the 2012 Barolo Piè Franco is nearly seamless in the glass. Lifted, aromatic and delicate, the Piè Franco appears to be going through a slightly muted phase following its bottling last year. In this tasting, the Franco is less impressive and showy than the Rupestris. It will be interesting to see how things develop over time.