On short notice, I needed to bring something Italian to a theme dinner and this is the most ready bottle at hand. Dang it. I didn't even have it upright.
Showing a decently saturated cranberry center for a basic Barolo of ten years, the wine's color pales significantly towards the edge and has an amber edge. The nose opens slowly to give just hints of pleasant strawberry, honeysuckle and brown sugar, and it never really changes in two hours. Supple in the mouth, having very light acid and virtually no tannin, this wine of kings is a prince among kings tonight but a popular one. Simple flavors of sweet cherry and tarragon are about all I find, but it works with Marcello's signature short rib and potato braise. Finishes in a lovely wash, very refreshing. It's a popular wine at the table however, as folks steer away from a Vietti '03 Brunate. Both wines are dwarfed by the amazing nose and flavors of a barely colored '78 Spanna - and I neglected to note the producer, sorry. Bottle #1 of 1, $56.00 from Woodland Hills Wine Co.