2010 Olek Bondonio, Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmonte, Italy.
The Olek Bondonio wines are all pure and transparent with opulent fruit, spice and mineral notes, his Nebbiolo wines mostly come from the Barbaresco Cru of Roncagliette, which is known also as Gaja’s Sori Tildin, one of the great sites within Barbaresco and Bondonio’s winemaking is considered organic and natural as he allows native yeast fermentations and adds a minimum amount of sulphur. These are wines of elegant grace and fantastic detail, especially his 2010 Barbaresco, which I absolutely fell head over heals for, this unfined or filtered cuvee is gorgeous and exceptional in everyday, be sure to look this wine up if you are like me a Nebbiolo lover. The 2010 Bondonio Barbresco is sexy and brilliant, it reminds me of a Giacosa, it is a classic example of this region and grape with a nose of violets, dried roses, fennel, tar and cassis, a rich dark hue, lovely refined tannins and a palate of mineral laced fruit, licorice, truffle and soft cedar spice. The plum, raspberry and strawberry notes add to the core of black cherry fruit that flows from start to finish, held together in near perfection by lifting acidity, this is still a baby and very firm yet glorious and stylish already, drink 2014-2022.
($60 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive