The 2005 Barolo La Rosa is a graceful, floral wine laced with perfumed red fruit, roses, sweet spices and minerals. The La Rosa possesses gorgeous textural richness in a soft, approachable style, with a long, refined finish that rounds things out. Today the wine comes across as quite primary, but with some additional time in bottle it should develop additional tertiary nuance. The tannins gain on the finish in this deceptively medium- bodied Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. These 2005s are the finest Barolos I can recall tasting here. The estate seems to have toned down the super-ripe style of recent years and the results are striking. As I have written here before, Fontanafredda owns some of the most prized vineyards in all of Piedmont, and clearly has potential for making important wines of the highest level. Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799

Sweet strawberry and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Focused, with clean, rich fruit, offering lots of dark berry notes. Shows plenty of polish. Best after 2011. 1,500 cases made, 300 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add