2008 Gianfranco Bovio, Barolo “Arborina” DOCG, Piedmonte, Italy.
Bovio’s traditional and cellar worthy Barolo wines always seem to start hard, tight and solid, but behind these high walls you can glimpse a bright future for those with the time and patience to wait, especially this complex and compelling 2008 Barolo Arborina with it’s inner perfume and classic Nebbiolo intensity. The nose takes a lot of coaxing at the moment, but once open it reveals dried roses, fennel, cinnamon and red fruits leading to a taught firm palate of plum, cherry and strawberry fruits, mineral essence, melted licorice, light animal notes and truffle earthiness. The tannin and acidity holds the fruit back and decanting helps immensely the best results are a few years into the future no question, even a rack of lamb is only going to budge this wine so far, so patience will be of a great reward here. The 2000 vintage Bovio Baroli, which I have sampled recently are drinking lovely, so given that I’d say the potential here is high and if you love classic aged Nebbiolo then grab some of these wines and forget about them until 2018 or 2020! Regardless, this is a very well crafted wine that surly prove outstanding given a chance.
($60 Est.) 91+ Points, grapelive