2009 Terra di Lavoro

I suppose after so many important vintages it is only natural that Mother Nature takes a break. Terra di Lavoro is usually a huge wine in its youth, but not so in 2009. This is one of the most open, approachable young Terra di Lavoros I have ever tasted. The wine shows good intensity in its dark fruit, with layers of ash, smoke, crushed flowers and minerals that develop in the glass. The 2009 is a pretty, accessible Terra di Lavoro that will make a great introduction for readers who are new to the wine and don't want to wait for some of the more important vintages to come around. Terra di Lavoro is 80% Aglianico and 20% Piedirosso. The 2009 spent 14 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. Readers who want to see how some of the older vintages are developing may want to take a look at notes from my vertical tasting last year, published in Issue 190. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029. May 2011, www.robertparker.com