2009 Barolo Brunate

Minuscule portion poured by the Marengos. Pale ruby. Leafy cherry with a hint of dried fruit and black tea. Far less marked by oak or dried fruit than you would expect on the basis of this vintage. Youthful sweet fruit palate and quite full with rather firm, somewhat drying tannins betraying the hot 2009 vintage. Strikes a good balance on a very long finish. (WS)

Good deep red. Plum, redcurrant and wild herbs, plus a lovely floral quality for a 2009. Plush, sweet and stuffed with fruit; really wonderfully sweet and deep. Finishes with noble, broad, fine-grained tannins and superb building length. This is delicious right now but should age well for a decade or more.

Mid ruby. Lifted herbal fragrance and just a touch of oak spice. Powerful but still surprisingly juicy with the freshness creeping out on the finish. Very long. (JH)