2013 Barolo Vigna S Caterina

The 2013 Barolo Vigna S. Caterina opens with a captivating mélange of orange zest, Christmas cake, kirsch and rose petal notes. Medium in body, with a super-classic sense of structure and drive, the 2013 is another winner from Guido Porro. I would prefer to give it a few years to allow the tannins to soften.

Santa Caterina is a lieu-dit in the Lazzarito cru of Serralunga d’Alba. Concentrated ruby with narrow orange rim. Very youthful and reluctant on the nose. Minerally but firmly closed. Firm muscular structure with plenty of supple cherry fruit. The tannins only melt slowly on the finish. (WS)

Serralunga d’Alba. From the southern part of the Lazzarito vineyard. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Concentrated, mid ruby with orange tinges. A little marked by oxidation on the nose due to the fact that this is a cask sample. Sweet, ripe cherry fruit and mouth-filling, chewy tannins. The whole is pretty neatly balanced. (WS)