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"Intense, rich and remarkably focused, this offers stunning purity of fruit, such as Jonagold apple and Cavaillon melon, along with enticing heather honey, roasted macadamia nut, orange blossom and dried persimmon notes, all laid over a dense but brilliantly defined palate. The nearly endless finish of beeswax and buttered brioche is absolutely fantastic. Drink now or hold for a decade. Perhaps the best white produced here to date."

"Subdued, slightly wild nose hints at redcurrant, cherry, licorice, menthol and clove. At once dense and juicy, with primary fruit flavors in the deep background today. This serious pinot has excellent lift but comes across as uncompromisingly dry today and in need of patience. The tight finish features substantial tannins. A bit of a cipher today, but structured to age." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Revealing a concentrated, splendidly saturated dark purple color, wonderfully sweet, intense aromas of chocolate, smoke, vanilla beans, and rich blackcurrant fruit. The wine tastes more extracted than the 1992, with a sweeter, more expansive, glycerin-imbued mid-section and finish. Although it carries as much tannin as the 1992, the tannin is riper as well as better integrated. The 1993 is a 25-30 years wine...." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Subdued aromas of lemon pith, lanolin and anise. Offers decent texture and lemony intensity, but some streaky acidity gives the back half of the wine a tart character." -Stephen Tanzer

"Exhibits subtle, complex aromas of black olive, mushroom and crushed berry. Full-bodied, with a velvety tannin structure and a decadent, ripe fruit aftertaste. Slightly earthy, but with loads of delicious fruit."

"Bright golden color. Vibrant aromas of creme brulee, singed flowers, dense spices, turkey jerky, and Provence herb soap follow through on a round, supple entry to dryish medium-full body with layers of praline, vanilla bean, and exotic peppercorns. Finishes with very long, evolving honeyed cereal and grassy, slightly iodine tinged peat fade. Superb." Gold Medal.

"Leads off with graphite, honey and citrus aromas and flavors, matched to a soft structure that firms up on the finish with a chalklike sensation."

"Giacosa's 2004 Barbaresco Santo Stefano is a superb wine. Sweet, floral, mentholated aromatics meld into an expressive core of ripe fruit, with superb length and elegant tannins to round out the finish. Made in a more linear style than the Asili and Rabaja, it doesn-t possess the expansiveness of those two wines, but it does reveal tremendous depth, harmony and balance. This pure, sweet, long Barbaresco is the best Santo Stefano in years."