2003 Barolo Vigneto Arborina
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Tasting notes
The 2003 Barolo Vigneto Arborina is remarkably gracious and medium in body considering the scorching hot year. Sweet red cherries, flowers and spices are pushed forward in a super-expressive Barolo that is an absolute delight to taste today. The 2003 is starting to show some signs of advancement, so it is best enjoyed over the next handful of years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2003 Barolo Arborina impresses for its superb balance and harmony. After ten years, the 2003 retains gorgeous freshness and nuance. The warm vintage has softened the contours and tannins that are sometimes a bit overpowering in Arborina. The 2003 can be enjoyed today or cellared for up to another decade. The Arborina was picked in four passes, always with the goal of trying to maintain as much freshness as possible. The warm vintage has given the Brunate a slightly darker and richer profile than is typically the case.
Medium red. Superripe aromas of raspberry liqueur and brown spices; shows a distinctly candied aspect. Supple, broad and sweet; not as complex or fine-grained as the '04 version but this shows plenty of personality and an enticing flavor of red fruit liqueur. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins. Very successful for the vintage.
Minerals on the nose – tasting this feels like sucking on a stone. Then relatively sweet fruit that just about covers the dry tannins. Though these wines struggle to make the fruit sound above the tannin. Very dry finish. Wait and wait! (JR)