5 | Wine | 91 or higher, 750 ml | Page 135

"Its dense purple color is followed by notes of wet stones, smoked herbs, black currants, and ink. Deep, rich, backward, and ageworthy, it should be forgotten for a few years, and drunk over the following three decades." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"The 2006 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Scudetto is a wonderfully poised, vibrant wine. Black cherries, minerals, violets, licorice and tar come together beautifully on a mid-weight, elegant frame. The Scudetto is easy to overlook in a lineup with so many great wines, but in top vintages it deserves serious consideration. The 2006 is gorgeous from start to finish."

"This has everything. Super class and elegance, yet ripe and exciting. Fantastic aromas of blackberries, cherries, violets and minerals. Full-bodied, with incredible raspberry, cherry, mineral and silky tannins. Very long."

"Lots of grape on the nose, with hints of dark chocolate and mahogany. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with chewy tannins and a long, raisiny finish. Shows outstanding potential."

"Aromatic, with fine harmony to the creamy flavors of apple pastry, glazed pear, anise, candied lemon zest and biscuit. The mineral undercurrent pushes through on the mouthwatering finish."

"A supple, complex and harmonious reserve, sporting a broad range of currant, anise, coffee, cedar and spice flavors, picking up light toasty oak notes and finishing with a smooth texture. Delicious now, but worthy of cellaring, too."

"Highly complex aromas of raspberry, red cherries macerated in alcohol, violet, balsamic vinegar, rose, and milk and bitter chocolate. Amazingly rich, superconcentrated wine, with flavors of chocolate-covered raspberry, cherries macerated in alcohol and fig jam. Refreshing acidity and very silky tannins make this an elegant blockbuster, a feat only the greatest wines manage to achieve."

"Reveals impressive richness in its wild cherries, sweet herbs, spices, minerals and tobacco that meld with a high-toned bouquet. This gorgeous, medium to full-bodied Brunello blossoms on the palate as intricate layers of fruit continue to emerge with a wonderful classiness. The long, harmonious finish leaves a lasting impression. This is a terrific effort from Costanti."

"Light gold with a lively mousse. Impressively complex bouquet of citrus, pear, toasted hazelnut, flowers and musky herbs. Fleshy and deep, offering a broad array of orchard and pit fruit flavors along with deeper toffee and butter qualities. A snap of dusty minerals adds vivacity and extends through the palate-staining finish, which leaves floral, mineral and fruit skin notes behind. This is already showing a lot of personality but it has the depth to evolve in bottle for at least another decade."

"A firm Champagne, with vibrant acidity enlivening a core of spiced berry and cherry fruit flavors, candied citrus peel and floral notes. There's a subtlety to this wine, despite an intensity that builds toward the finish."