2004 Barolo Vigna La Rosa

Deep ruby with small orange rim. More serious and complex than its La Villa counterpart. Undergrowth and a touch of mushroom on the nose. Touch dusty and oaky. Ripe and sweetly concentrated with a minerally note to it. Massive tannin. Closes up. Very good balance and freshness and with huge build. (WS)

The 2004 Barolo La Rosa reveals enticing aromatics and a silky-textured core of ripe dark fruit. This too is made in round, supple style that emphasizes concentration over complexity. I get the impression a lot is being left on the table here, as this is a fairly anonymous offering.

The 2004 Barolo La Rosa reveals enticing aromatics and a silky-textured core of ripe dark fruit. This, too, is made in round, supple style that emphasizes concentration over complexity. I get the impression a lot is being left on the table here, as this is a fairly anonymous offering. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2018. Despite having changed its ownership structure recently there is sadly little reason to hope that Fontanafredda will ever right its ship as the estate is saddled with legacy issues that make it very difficult to compete in today’s environment. This is an underwhelming set of wines, especially considering the superb vineyards the estate owns. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799