2011 Giovanni Rosso, Barolo DOCG, Del Comune di Serralunga D’ Alba, Piedmonte, Italy.
The new Giovanni Rosso Barolo Serralunga by Davide Rosso is absolutely outstanding, and it seriously seduces from the first sip, this is wonderfully textured Nebbiolo of richness and purity with firm, but velvet gloved tannins and stunning length. Even young and robust in the glass the Rosso Barolo delivers glorious detail and depth with a beautiful perfume of violets, herbs and rose petals along with subtle meatiness, earth and mineral leading to a mouth filling palate that highlights the warm vintage with full bodied fruit. Still this is an old school wine with deft winemaking and refined class, it is totally transparent and it’s opulence is a reflection of nature and a show of it’s place, the layers are seamless and flowing and there is no overt wood or embellishment, just a gorgeous mix of fruit, savory elements and structural pillars, this is a balanced Barolo that drinks superb now and will age gracefully for many years to come. The main thrust is a core of black cherry, damson plum, fig paste, blueberry and a touch of strawberry fruits with wild mushroom, beef stock, minty herbs, black licorice, gravel stones and cedar spice, and finishes with dried currants and candied citrus rind. The lift from acidity and slight bite of dusty tannins really are well integrated, though certainly you’ll want cuisine to match this Barolo, drink this beauty over the next decade, best from 2016 to 2026. This is another stunning wine from Davide Rosso, I highly recommend getting his Giovanni Rosso offerings from this Barolo Serralunga to his basic Barbera, Langhe Nebbiolo and his Grand Cru class “Serra” Barolo, which is not cheap, but oh so good, Davide Rosso and Giuseppe Vajra are my top picks for the winemaker of the year in Piedmonte!
($54 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
