The 2005 Barolo La Serra is especially generous and inviting this year. Layers of dark cherries, sweet spices, violets and minerals emerge from this remarkable multi-faceted wine. The fruit carries through all the way to the long, polished finish. With time in the glass this perfumed Barolo turns almost Burgundian in a rare display of superb elegance and harmony. The 2005 Barolo La Serra is simply awesome. In fact, it may be the finest version of this wine yet. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025. There is mixed news this year from Roberto Voerzio. The not so good news is that Voerzio decided to bottle just four of his eight 2005 Barolo selections. The better news is that, as is often the case, his Barolos are among the finest of the vintage. Unfortunately the wines will be especially hard to come by this year. There are no Barolos from Sarmassa, Capalot or Rocche dell’Annunziata as the wines did not meet Voerzio’s exacting standards of quality. Small defects that are common in cool vintages could have been addressed with the use of commercial yeasts and other additives, but Voerzio eschews anything that gets in the way of his stripped-down, non-interventionalist approach in the cellar. Voerzio also had hail damage from hail in the upper reaches of La Serra, and his wine from that vineyard was enough to fill one measly 12-hectoliter tank. As partial compensation, there will be a Riserva from Fossati/Case Nere which will be released somewhere around 2015. In today’s business-first world it is a sign of a serious commitment to quality when a producer consciously chooses to not bottle wines over putting a less than perfect product on the market. Voerzio’s wines are never inexpensive, but over the last few years they have rarely failed to deliver the goods. A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

The 2005 Barolo La Serra is especially generous and inviting this year. Layers of dark cherries, sweet spices, violets and minerals emerge from this remarkable multi-faceted wine. The fruit carries through all the way to the long, polished finish. With time in the glass this perfumed Barolo turns almost Burgundian in a rare display of superb elegance and harmony. The 2005 Barolo La Serra is simply awesome. In fact, it may be the finest version of this wine yet. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025. There is mixed news this year from Roberto Voerzio. The not so good news is that Voerzio decided to bottle just four of his eight 2005 Barolo selections. The better news is that, as is often the case, his Barolos are among the finest of the vintage. Unfortunately the wines will be especially hard to come by this year. There are no Barolos from Sarmassa, Capalot or Rocche dell’Annunziata as the wines did not meet Voerzio’s exacting standards of quality. Small defects that are common in cool vintages could have been addressed with the use of commercial yeasts and other additives, but Voerzio eschews anything that gets in the way of his stripped-down, non-interventionalist approach in the cellar. Voerzio also had hail damage from hail in the upper reaches of La Serra, and his wine from that vineyard was enough to fill one measly 12-hectoliter tank. As partial compensation, there will be a Riserva from Fossati/Case Nere which will be released somewhere around 2015. In today’s business-first world it is a sign of a serious commitment to quality when a producer consciously chooses to not bottle wines over putting a less than perfect product on the market. Voerzio’s wines are never inexpensive, but over the last few years they have rarely failed to deliver the goods.A Leonardo Lo Cascio Selection, Winebow, Montvale, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620

There's lovely sweet berry and plum aromas, with hints of cream. Full-bodied, with big, juicy, powerful tannins. A massive wine. Best after 2014. 140 cases made, 45 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add