The 2010 Chardonnay Baracca flows across the palate with layers of tropical fruit, French oak and minerals. This really needs at least a few years in bottle to lose its baby fat, but it is immensely appealing, even today. Layers of textured, varietal fruit flow through to the seamless finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.
There are few properties anywhere in the world I look forward to visting more than Miani. Proprietor Enzo Pontoni continues to turn out riveting wines. I have been steadily working through my stash of 2009s and can report that the wines are every bit as fabulous as my reviews suggested. Production remains around 8,000 bottles a year, but Pontoni is developing a number of new vineyards sites, so hopefully that number will increase over the coming years. The 2010 whites are terrific, but they are tightly wound and need to be opened well in advance.
Importer: The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 603-1461