3 | Wine | Italy, Unrated, 2007

"Riserva Ducale Oro 2007 is ruby red in color, with garnet hues. The wine shows the distinctive Tuscan bouquet of a great Chianti Classico Riserva with notes of violet, cherry and plum which fades into aromas of chocolate and spice. On the palate, the wine has well-defined structure and a generous, fruity core accented by hints of chocolate, cinnamon and spicy hints of black pepper. Full-bodied and well-balanced with powerful fruity notes, Riserva Ducale Oro’s round yet impressive tannins support a good acidity and lead into a lengthy finish featuring notes of plum, clove and sweet tobacco."

"On the nose, a complex blend of dark morello cherries, spice and dark mocha minerality comes together. The flavors of this wine are powerful and harmonious. Blackberry, black cherry and cassis tones are expressed within an integrated core of minerality. The tannins are firm yet integrated, with a long finish, driven by a firm core of acidity."

"A firm, fresh red. ...with a smoky baseline and balanced flavors of black cherry, damson plum, violet, polished oak and spice. This is structured by bright acidity and chewy tannins that come to the fore on the finish."

"The 2007 Barolo Ciabot Mentin is one of the greatest wines I have ever tasted at this address. Deep, sensual layers of fruit flow from the glass as this full-throttle, intense Barolo reveals its profound, breathtaking personality. The 2007 shows tons of Ginestra nuance, but with extra dimensions to the fruit that literally covers every nook and cranny of the palate. Tasting this next to the 2006 is quite a comparison, as both wines are fabulous. Readers who can should be sure to own bottles of both. A side-by-side comparison is sure to be fascinating as the wines develop over the coming years. Astute readers will note the slight name change here, which is the result of new regulations that require the use of the historic vineyard name, in this case Ginestra, or a proprietary name. Call me nostalgic, but it is sad to see one of the iconic labels in Barolo disappear."

"Intense ruby-red with purple highlights. Strong personality and persistence. Generous, spicy and rich with pronounced touches of cherry and blackberry. Full-bodied, warm and harmonious. Gracefully contoured, excellent structure, subtle tannins."