2004 Paolo Scavino Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata has developed beautifully since I last tasted it a few years ago. That said, I am amazed how bright and primary the fruit still is. Sweet, perfumed aromatics lead to a core of silky fruit as this elegant, pedigreed Barolo emerges from the glass. The tannins are exceptionally refined all the way through to the finish, while the French oak is virtually imperceptible. What remains is a gorgeous, fruit-driven Barolo that captures the essence of the Scavino style at its best. The wine should enjoy a long drinking window to age 25 and quite likely longer.

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata has developed beautifully since I last tasted it a few years ago. That said, I am amazed how bright and primary the fruit still is. Sweet, perfumed aromatics lead to a core of silky fruit as this elegant, pedigreed Barolo emerges from the glass. The tannins are exceptionally refined all the way through to the finish, while the French oak is virtually imperceptible. What remains is a gorgeous, fruit-driven Barolo that captures the essence of the Scavino style at its best. The wine should enjoy a long drinking window to age 25 and quite likely longer. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029. This is a wonderful set of new wines from Enrico Scavino and his daughters Enrica and Elisa. The dark, almost impenetrable color of the 1990s is gone and these Barolos now look like Barolos. To be sure, Scavino’s wines are still characterized by a plushness and opulence of fruit that sets them apart. Yet all of these 2006 Barolos reveal exceptional length, beautifully balanced tannins and gorgeous overall harmony. They should be on anyone’s short list of must-have wines. The Barolos are fermented in stainless steel, undergo malolactic fermentation in French oak and are subsequently aged for a year in French oak barrels followed by a second year in cask. Importer: Banville & Jones Wine Merchants, New York, NY; tel. (204) 294-4899

The estate's 2004 Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata is a feminine, seductive Barolo. This beautiful wine offers the essence of sweet red fruit, menthol and spices with superb depth and richness. With air the perfumed qualities of this site emerge to complete this gorgeous Barolo. Despite its sensual personality it possesses superb depth and weight that ensures it will age gracefully for 20+ years, It is a stunning effort from Scavino, but like all his 2004s it will require quite a bit of patience. Today it comes across as quite a bit less expressive than it was from barrel.