2010 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Romirasco

The 2010 Barolo Romirasco stands out for its pure texture and balance. Today the 2010 is a bit compact, but that is not at all surprising given its underlying structure and very recent bottling. Those two factors considered, the 2010 Romirasco is a wine with tremendous future. The style is a little more sensual and less severe than the Cicala, with generally softer contours, all which should give it a slight upper hand in terms of accessibility.

Good bright, deep red. Deep, highly perfumed aromas of cherry, menthol, spices and graphite minerality. Wonderfully dense and super-concentrated, with terrific grip and minty medicinal reserve currently giving the wine a youthfully austere character. This tactile, powerful, hugely tannic Barolo is more compressed today than the 2009 but ultimately less aggressive.

Last but not least in this spectacular flight, the 2010 Barolo Bussia Romirasco is an absolute stunner that shows a level of excellence that is not easy to forget. This is one of the top five wines of the widely celebrated 2010 vintage. At this young stage, the bouquet is fresh and fruit-driven with evident tones of black currant and dried cranberry. Beyond those primary aromas, are a slew of interesting secondary tones that include tar, white truffle, forest floor, leather, cola and balsam herb. Most significant, however, is the superior performance this Barolo gives in the mouth. The structure is firm and unyielding, yet the wine’s texture is supple and silky. That’s a difficult balance to achieve. Put this bottle aside for more years of aging. Drink: 2018-2042. Jun 2014, www.robertparker.com