5 | Wine | Piedmont, 91 or higher, 750 ml

"This bright red exhibits floral, cherry and tar flavors, with a firm edge of tannins closing the wine down on the finish. An elegant Barbaresco that should fall into place in a few years."

"The 2008 Barbaresco Serra flows with sweet rose petals, cherries, spices and minerals. It shows lovely overall balance and harmony especially in the energetic finish. The Serra is already pretty inviting, but it will be better with a little more bottle age."

"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 2008 Barolo Castiglione is striking. Sweet red berries, freshly cut flowers, spices and mint are some of the many nuances that flow from this impeccable, mid-weight Barolo. The 2008 Castiglione impresses for its exceptional balance, polished finish and sheer beauty. This is a feminine Castiglione graced with exquisite class. With time in the glass, the wine fleshes out beautifully. Once again, the Castiglione delivers incredible value. In 2008 Vietti did not make their Villero Riserva, instead that juice went into the Castiglione."

"The 2008 Barolo Turne is drop-dead gorgeous. Dark red berries, rose petals, mint and spices flow effortlessly from this mid-weight, gracious Barolo. The long maceration time and aging in cask seems especially well-suited to the personality of the vintage. This is one of the most impressive Baroli I have ever tasted from Grasso. The 2008 is classy, elegant and first-rate. The Turne is completely different from the other Grasso Baroli because of the traditional approach to vinficiation and aging, but it is striking in 2008. Ethereal floral notes underpinned by veins of chalky minerality support the long, brilliant finish."

"The 2008 Barolo Gattera shows lovely depth in its dark red fruit, flowers and spices. The Gattera boasts gorgeous transparency in its fruit, fabulous length and great overall balance. Today it is an infant, but the future appears to be very bright. This is the only Revello Barolo aged in cask. In 2008 it is a stunner."

"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."

"It bursts from the glass with tons of richness and concentration for the year. Dark red fruit, flowers and licorice wrap around the insistent, powerful finish. The fleshy, radiant finish is unusual for the year. This is one of the best Baroli readers will find for the money. I loved it."

"An overachiever in this vintage. Crushed flowers, pine, resin, menthol and herbs add layers of complexity to the racy, super-ripe red fruits. Despite its generosity, this remains an understated, representative Gattinara with lovely balance and harmony."