5 | Wine | Barolo, 2006, 750 ml

"A deep, muscular wine endowed with superb richness, inner perfume and structure. From cask this has always been an intense, inward Barolo and now that it is in bottle, those qualities seem even more prominent. Over time, the classic Cascina Francia bouquet of roses, tar, herbs and licorice comes forward, but only reluctantly. A massive wall of tannins prevents the fruit from emerging, but every now and then the wine shows hints of its ultimate potential."

"A fat, juicy wine that comes across as more immediate than some of the other Barolos in this line-up. Smoke, tar and licorice meld into a core of gloriously ripe fruit. There is incredible density and richness to the Brunate, qualities that carry through to the impeccably round, harmonious finish. The Brunate sees a fermentation/maceration lasting roughly 21 days, which is the shortest among the estate’s single-vineyard Barolos, but not entirely surprising for a wine made from this site, which lies on the La Morra/Barolo border."

"The 2006 Barolo Brunate flows from the glass with a powerful, brooding expression of fruit. As is often the case, the Brunate presents dark, burnished tones that are a marvel to behold. The wine’s stunning depth and richness caress the palate all the way through to a mineral-infused harmonious finish. This is another fantastic Barolo from Roberto Voerzio loaded with vintage and vineyard character. It is not to be missed."

"The 2006 Barolo Riserva Vignolo literally sparkles on the palate with layers of brilliant dark red fruit, flowers, mint and spices. It shows striking inner sweetness and perfume, with big yet well-integrated tannins and breathtaking balance. This is a great 2006 Barolo in the making. The tannins are huge, but so is the fruit. The 2006 Vignolo is going to be a fascinating wine to follow over the next few decades."