1 | Wine | 91 to 95, 2005

"A tasty, opulent 2005 from proprietress Helene Garcin, this sexy wine exhibits a dense ruby/purple color followed by a sweet bouquet of licorice, black cherries, blackberries, oak, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, opulent, fleshy, and disarming, it will drink well in 2-3 years, and should age for 12-15." -Robert Parker

"Vibrant and mouthwatering, this offers a range of patisserie pear and apple fruit, candied lemon zest, pastry dough and marzipan notes set on a finely detailed texture, which imparts a great deal of finesse. The lasting finish echoes a smoky mineral note."

"Deeply pitched aromas of cherry compote, potpourri and Asian spices, with an exotic note of singed orange. Concentrated but surprisingly lively, with densely packed dark berry flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. The floral note comes back strongly on the impressively long, smoky finish."

"Pale-rimmed ruby-red. Pungent aromas of dried cherry, spicecake and vanilla, with smoke and cigarbox overtones. Sweet, palate-coating cherry and cassis flavors are braced by gentle acidity and become spicier with air. Mocha and smoke note linger on a long, supple and gently tannic finish with very good energy."

"The 2005 Barbaresco Rabaja is the densest and richest of these 2005 Barbarescos. Because it is aged in a slightly smaller cask, the wine shows an explosive personality along with some oak nuances that require bottle age to settle down. This muscular Barbaresco resonates on the palate with layers of spiced, mentholated dark cherries, minerals and licorice. It remains a dense, structured and primary wine in need of serious bottle age for the firm tannins to melt away. This, too, is a sublime wine from Bruno Giacosa."

"The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005."

"Exotic aromas of raspberry and blackberry preserves, cherry-vanilla, cola, incense and potpourri. Weighty, creamy red and dark berry flavors are sweetened by vanillin oak and enlivened by pepper and spice qualities. The dark berry notes build with air and carry through the long, sweet finish."

"Floral, lemon, apple and cream with dried pineapple and apricot. Full-bodied, but very focused and refined. It starts slowly and then, wham! It goes on and on. Spicy, dried fruits and spices. Full-bodied, medium-sweet. So long and exciting." 95-100 pts.