2000 Paolo Scavino Barolo Carobric

The 2000 Barolo Carobric (magnum) is an exotic, full-bodied wine loaded with scorched earth, licorice, tar and smoke, all of which add considerable nuance to a massive core of fruit. This hulking, seamless Barolo is at least a few years from early maturity and should continue to drink well for many, many years. It is simply magnificent. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. Enrico Scavino’s 2000s must be considered among the successes of the vintage. At the time, the wines were made with short fermentations lasting just four days, if not a little less. Stylistically the wines are among Scavino’s most modern Baroli. The 2000s won’t appeal to all readers, but there is little question the wines have aged exquisitely. I tasted all of the wines from magnum, but lest readers think that was an overwhelming factor in how these wines showed, the most backward wine was the Cannubi, and it was the only wine I tasted from bottle!

The 2000 Carobric is not terribly expressive in its aromatics, but it really shines on the palate where it opens to reveal masses of deeply concentrated fruit and brooding, full-bodied personality. As it sits in the glass notes of tar, licorice and tobacco gradually emerge, but it remains a densely packed wine in need of at least several years of cellaring. It also comes across as the most successful vintage for this wine and is irresistible.

Good full medium red. More floral aromas of strawberry, roasted coffee and meat. Less silky and more backward than the Cannubi, with notes of redcurrant, cola and earth. Not quite as sweet on the back end. I'd wait three or four years on this bottling.